Managers leading change: “We’re with you”

In the last People Matter (Your Say) survey WSLHD staff ranked “I feel senior leaders effectively lead and manage change” in the bottom six responses.

An example of senior managers leading and directing change has occured in how inpatients at Blacktown Hospital order their food.

Food services staff now go around to all the inpatients and enter their food orders on iPads right up to an hour before food delivery.

Updated menus give patients up to 30 nutritionally balanced food and drink options each day. They can choose any dish for any meal.

Western Sydney Local Health District and HealthShare NSW trialled the system last year in a pilot called My Food Choice.

It was rolled out at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals in 2016 and preparations are underway for Westmead and Auburn hospitals to adopt the system in 2017.

“This really improves the quality of a patient’s stay with us,” Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals operational design director Peter Rophail said.

“There are huge clinical benefits for the patients, plenty of cost savings and massive reductions in waste.”

Food Services staff now record how much patients are eating at each meal and clinicians can also track patient nutrition.

Mr Rophail believes the success of the program at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals is largely due to the leadership and commitment of the senior managers with support from staff.

“By developing trust and open communication, senior managers can actively support staff by providing the resources and reinforcement needed to sustain the change,” he said.

To find out more about the People Matter 2016 results, visit goo.gl/zgHRLX