PHOTO GALLERY: Outstanding Allied Health professionals honoured at Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Westmead hospitals

13 Oct, 2023, 10:40 am17 Oct, 2023, 11:59 am Sarah Mason

International Allied Health Professions Day celebrations at Westmead Hospital in Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD)

Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Westmead hospitals celebrated International Allied Health Professions Day (officially 14 October, 2023) to connect, care, and inspire patients and one another.

Allied Health professionals play a key role in the delivery of health and well-being to the western Sydney community and are represented by:

Child Life Therapists
Dietitians
Diversional Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Physiotherapists
Podiatrists
Pharmacists
Psychologists
Social Workers
Speech Pathologists

BMDH Director Allied Health Chris Horley said these professions play a crucial role in BMDH’s multidisciplinary teams ensuring collaboration in patient centered care and the delivery of patient goals no matter how big or small are achieved.

“We have gathered today to celebrate our successes and acknowledge and recognise your hard work and achievements,” Chris said.

“Your collective dedication, compassion and expertise in your professions ensure the highest levels of care is consistently delivered to our patients.

“BMDH had the highest number of award nominations across WSLHD. The sheer volume of nominations clearly highlights the respect and admiration you have for each other and the tireless work you do for our community.”

The award ceremony followed a heart-felt thank you from former BMDH patient Samuel Mercardo. Samuel was admitted to Blacktown Hospital in August 2022 after he was paralysed from the neck down following a diagnosis of Guillain Barre Syndrome. After 11 months at BMDH, Sam was able to walk out of Mount Druitt Hospital and return to his home with support and thanks to the hard work of the BMDH Allied Health Team, nursing, and medical teams.

“The staff treated me like family and not a patient. Everyday it’s like meeting someone who will actively walk and have a conversation with me and I’m sure the staff didn’t realise how much that helped me,” Samuel said.

“You give us (patients) hope and see us not just as a patient or a statistic to work with every day, but with a person who is struggling and sometimes depressed but your conversations give us hope.

“I’m walking and standing by the grace of God, my family but also the hospital staff.”

Sam spoke about a discussion he had an Allied Health staff member that the pay is not the main reason on why our staff stay and continue to work at BMDH.

“It’s because the staff have seen us at our worst and then they see us feeling better or recovered. The moment they see us stand up or walk these are the joys they feel that is priceless and with a smile on their face.”

This year the theme of International Allied Health Professions Day is “Stronger Together” highlighting the benefits of multidisciplinary team-based care.