Western Sydney Health Forum answers pressing community questions and shares future vision

Western Sydney community members were invited to join online and reflect on the year that was on Monday 21 November at the 2022 Western Sydney Health Forum (Annual Public Meeting).

Hosted by Australian Entertainment Reporter Justin Hill, the hour-long live virtual panel featured Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) chief executive Graeme Loy, WSLHD general manager of Integrated and Community Health Jasmin Ellis, acting district director Aboriginal Health Strategy Belinda Cashman and WSLHD director Nursing and Midwifery and Clinical Governance Maria Lingam.

Key topics covered during the forum included Rouse Hill Hospital, nursing staff, mental health services, virtual care, emergency department treatment times, Aboriginal health and palliative care at Westmead Hospital.

“Our focus as a health district is to help all of the community in western Sydney to live well, stay well and manage their health well; and our successes come down to our extraordinary staff who have patient care at the centre of what they do, day in and day out,” said deputy board chair Loretta Di Mento.

The Board and I are excited for the future ahead, the partnerships formed and the opportunities we have with new models of care and we look forward to continuing to provide support for the health care needs of the western Sydney community.”

Graeme Loy spoke of the challenges of 2022 and highlighted the triumphs across the District.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved in the last 12 months and the future planning we’ve been doing with a focus on co-designing with consumers, contemporary care moving forward and making the patient experience better,” said Graeme.

“I couldn’t be prouder of what has been achieved this year, the staff are phenomenal, and I look forward to 2023.”