Health stars shine at 2019 western Sydney awards night

The health heroes of western Sydney swapped their work clothes for glittery gowns and stylish suits as their contribution to health and patient care was celebrated at Western Sydney University Parramatta campus. 

Guests were surprised with a performance by patient Edward Kremmer, an 88-year-old who has a history of singing to other patients and staff while receiving treatment in his bright coloured suits.

Edward delivered the big finale of the night, with the audience rising to their feet to clap and dance along as the Westmead Hospital patient belted out the lyrics to Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’.

Eleven awards were presented to Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) teams who have made a difference to the health of the community and improved patient care in the region. 

One of the peak awards at the event, the NewsLocal People’s Choice award, was awarded to the ‘Joining the I and MI in IMI: muscle matters!” project which improved the way anti-psychotic injections are given to mental health patients.

This year the NewsLocal People’s Choice award generated 17,000 votes online.

Using a high-tech plastic model of a human’s lower torso, the winning People’s Choice project saw staff training several hospital mental health clinicians on the best practice method of safely administering the injection in the correct area of the body for optimal absorption.

Mental health pharmacist Selina Leung said that administering the intramuscular (IM) injection requires staff to identify the correct muscle in the person’s bottom. 

“Our plastic model gives us a wrong signal if the injection has been identified in the wrong spot,” Selina said.

“The light turns green when the injection is administered in the right spot. This has ensured we are maintaining best practice, skills and techniques for our patients.” 

WSLHD chief executive Graeme Loy said he left the event feeling very proud of what staff had achieved.  

“Congratulations to all of our winners and finalists,” Graeme said.  

“Our staff have worked very hard to make a real difference to patient care, safety and health outcomes in western Sydney.

“The community should be very proud of our staff who are so passionate about innovating and delivering the best possible care.”  

The winners of the 2019 WSLHD Quality Awards were:

• Chief Executive award – Supply, Storage and Administration of Medications (Blacktown Hospital)
• Board Chair award – It takes two – a partnership between WSLHD and Blacktown City Council (Integrated and Community Health)
• NewsLocal People’s Choice award – Joining the I and MI in IMI: Muscle Matters!(Mental Health Services)
• Patients as Partners – Physical Health Promotion Project (Mental Health Services)
• Delivering Integrated Care – Providing Antenatal Care in an Outreach Setting in Riverstone (Blacktown Hospital)
• Keeping People Healthy – Don’t fall for it: A Falls Prevention Initiative (Westmead Hospital)
• Supporting Our Teams – Emergency Care to the Sound of Music (WSLHD)
• Education and Training – Getting the Basics Right – Supplemental Oxygen (Westmead Hospital)
• Innovation and Health Research – Streamlining Bowel Cancer Screening (Westmead Hospital)
• A Safe and Healthy Workplace – Food for thought: Didn’t think we do healthy in the west (Integrated and Community Health)
• Patient Safety First – Saving Lives: Priorities in Action (Mental Health Services)

A full description of award winners will be available on the WSLHD website. A photo gallery will soon be posted on the WSLHD Facebook page.