The future s so bright, I gotta wear shades! The Latrobe Way

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1 The Latrobe Way ISSUE NUMBER 2 LATROBE REGIONAL HOSPITAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2004 Baby Chelsea takes it easy during her treatment in one of the Special Care Nursery s incubators. The future s so bright, I gotta wear shades! At just a few weeks old, Chelsea looks like she is enjoying a lazy day in the sun but she is really receiving an important treatment at Latrobe Regional Hospital s Special Care Nursery. Chelsea is being treated for a condition sometimes found in newborn babies - jaundice. Some babies are born with jaundice - a condition that causes a yellowing discolouration of the skin and the whites of the eyes. To recover from this, many babies require simple treatment through extra feeding and exposure to sunlight. Other babies are admitted to the Special Care Nursery to receive light treatment called Phototherapy for the jaundice. Tested by a simple heel prick, jaundice is commonly seen in the first week of life and is due to an increase in the level of bile pigments called bilirubin in the blood and body tissues. Prior to the birth, the mothers liver removes the bilirubin. Following the birth, the baby s liver takes a few days to take over the role and as a consequence the baby s body may have difficulty coping with the increased bilirubin level. Phototherapy is the usual treatment for a baby with jaundice if blood tests show the bilirubin reaching certain levels. Phototherapy involves the baby being placed in an incubator under fluorescent lights. This treatment helps break down the bile in the babys blood, which he or she is then able to excrete in their stools or urine. Phototherapy usually takes around 48 hours and as you can see, to protect the baby s eyes during treatment, they gotta wear shades. Page 3 - Special Care Nursery Feature PO Box 424, Princes Highway, Traralgon West 3844 Telephone: Website:

2 THE LATROBE WAY 2LATROBE REGIONAL HOSPITAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2004 Message to the community The New Year always comes around more quickly than expected and 2004 will bring continued growth and significant achievement for Latrobe Regional Hospital. The Gippsland Cancer Care Centre wheels are beginning to turn with some speed and determination. We are currently revising the final design and completing documentation prior to commencing the tender process. We will continue to provide regular updates to the community and the May edition of The Latrobe Way will contain more detailed information. Our aim is to commence construction before the end of this financial year so that we can treat our first patients by August While our main focus will be on the development of the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre, we will continue to ensure that our services are sustainable and meet the needs of the regional and local community in a timely and accessible manner while providing high quality care within available resources. To assist LRH in the challenging way forward, we recently welcomed two new board members to our Leadership Group - Keith Hamilton from Churchill and Mark Biggs from Warragul. Our new members are part of a Board of eight dedicated individuals who govern the Hospital. I am grateful to the Board and the Executive for their willingness to work together and share the responsibility of leadership between them. Latrobe Regional Hospital is as viable and successful as our community. My thanks to our staff and volunteers for their hard work and commitment and for the goodwill shown to us by patients, clients, family, friends and our local and wider Gippsland community. We are very grateful and humbled by your encouragement to continue the good work we do here. Thankyou for your continued support. Felix Pintado, Chief Executive WHO S WHO on your hospital board Paul Burns Occupation: Manager Position on the Board: Board Member Why did you nominate to become a member of the LRH Board? Having originally been invited to take up a position on the first Board following the Hospital s return to public ownership, I decided to re-nominate for a further term because I believe I still have something to offer the Hospital and the community it serves. There are still transitional issues that need satisfactory conclusion and I believe I can add to the Hospital s good governance. My job is to provide the Hospital s Executive and their staff the support and appropriate governance required so that they can continue to excel in service provision. What challenges does LRH face for the future? The challenges are to set the Hospital, and ensure it continues to operate, on a sound financial footing. This is so that it can continue to deliver quality health services to the Gippsland community. Other challenges are to ensure the satisfactory completion of the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre, to provide adequate infrastructure for the delivery of quality Mental Health Services and to attract and retain quality and committed staff. Keryn Coghill Occupation: Pharmacist Position on the Board: Board Member Community Interests: Aged care, non-profit support, charity groups and sporting clubs Why did you nominate to become a member of the LRH Board? Having a background in the public hospital pharmacy arena as well as in private pharmacy practice, I feel that I have the skills to understand and improve paramedical workflows. I have also many years of experience in the aged care sector and have developed and implemented systems and structures that have enhanced medication delivery in these areas. With this work, I have had exposure to hospital discharge practices and often see the transition from community to institutional care. My passion is to improve systems to provide better outcomes for all. The Hospital is a vital part of our community and I believe needs far more recognition and ownership by the community. My desire is to help develop the vision of Latrobe Regional Hospital and embrace the community in endeavours to develop flagship health. What challenges does LRH face for the future? The biggest challenge I can see is dealing with funding from the government. More work is needed by our State and Federal health departments to deliver rational financial solutions to our community, understanding that preventative health dollars must be included to alter outcomes. Health is paramount to everyone s quality of life and needs the appropriate priority. In the last issue of The Latrobe Way we profiled two of our eight Board members, Barry Dunstan and Margaret Peters. In this issue we profile two more of our Board members - Paul Burns and Keryn Coghill. Other members of the LRH Board are: Barry Dunstan - President Margaret Peters - Vice President Greg Hade Lorraine Bartling Keith Hamilton Mark Biggs Walking Sticks Proud to support Reachers Bathroom & Toilet Aids Lift & Recline Chairs GMS REHABILITATION SUPPLIERS OF HOME HEALTH & REHABILITIATION EQUIPMENT Established in Gippsland for 11 years offering a wide range of Rehabilitiation products including sales and service Rollators Pressure Care SALES AND HIRE Telephone Scooters Melbourne: Shop 5, 6a Klauer Street. Seaford, 3198 Phone: Fax: showroom@gmsrehab.com.au Gippsland: 154 Princes Highway Traralgon, 3844 Phone: Fax: sales@gmsrehab.com.au Wheel Chairs

3 JANUARY 2004 LATROBE REGIONAL HOSPITAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER3THE LATROBE WAY SPECIAL CARE NURSERY Special Care for special babies The future for babies has never looked brighter thanks to the Special Care Nursery at Latrobe Regional Hospital. A room of tiny beds, a resuscitation bay and equipment for temperature control, oxygen therapy and emergency intravenous infusion may look daunting for some people but for the parents of the babies cared for in the Special Care Nursery it is nothing short of a life saver. Thomson Unit Manager Heather Taylor said over 270 babies with a variety of conditions had been admitted to the Special Care Nursery since January The babies admitted have a variety of conditions such as prematurity (born before 37 weeks), a low birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, seizures, multiple births, hypothermia, hypoglycaemia, cardiac conditions, anaemia, feeding problems and other abnormalities as well as babies that are withdrawing if mother is chemically dependent, Heather said. The Special Care Nursery at LRH is a Level 2 nursery and Babies receive constant monitoring and care while being treated in the incubator. is staffed by qualified midwives. The nursery also has a qualified mother-craft nurse, lactation consultants and division 2 nurses who assist in caring for the babies in the nursery. Unstable babies who require transfer to a Level 3 centre are retrieved by the Neonatal Emergency Transport Team. The Special Care Nursery also receives babies back from Level 3 units to manage ongoing care and feeding, Heather said. All hospitals providing obstetric and neonatal care must have access to a 24 hour anaesthetic and resuscitation service. This includes obstetric and neonatal staff and equipment essential for managing unexpected obstetric emergencies and emergency complications including caesarean section and resuscitation and stabilization of babies with unexpected problems. Heather said the nursery has just recently received a generous donation of $2,000 from Melrossa Art Studio and International Power Hazelwood, which has enabled a Kanmed Baby Warmer to be purchased. This means that babies can be nursed in the room with their mother instead of incubators, if their condition permits. The Warmer is a heating pad inserted under a water mattress, Heather said. This is placed in a nest and the baby lies on top of the prepared mattress. The Warmer assists in helping to regulate the baby s temperature. If this equipment was not available, many more babies would be separated from their mothers because they would need to be placed in an incubator. The future for the Special Care Nursery is brighter than ever before. The nursery has been modified twice to allow better access to the resuscitation area. A wall was removed and an area was created for the mothers to access the fridge and breast pump equipment to reduce the flow of traffic through the nursery. The long term plan for LRH is to accommodate a larger Special Care Nursery so more babies can benefit. Memorable moments in the Special Care Nursery are many and varied, Heather said. Often mothers return to visit with their healthy babies and leave us with beautiful photos. The staff of Thomson Unit welcome enquiries and will answer any questions or concerns about pregnancy or breastfeeding. Trained staff are in attendance at all times. Please phone Expectant mothers are encouraged to attend the Midwives Pre-Admission Antenatal Service and to book into the Thomson Unit. Ideally, women need to book between weeks of their pregnancy. Please telephone for an appointment. Antenatal and breastfeeding classes can be booked at this time. Women are required to visit a doctor who has visiting privileges at LRH before they can be booked in to have their baby. Baby Friendly Hospital The number of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their baby after they have completed their stay at LRH has increased dramatically in the last two years. More than 80% of new mothers are now breastfeeding. The increase, from 51% in 2001, has been officially recognised by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, with LRH receiving accreditation as a Baby Friendly Hospital from these organisations. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) aims to give every baby the best start in life by creating a health care environment where breastfeeding is the norm. Working towards the internationally recognised BFHI accreditation required the staff to address a series of steps to promote and support breastfeeding for those women who choose to breastfeed their babies. Successful implementation of the ten steps has led to an increase in exclusive breastfeeding rates. All midwives are trained to support mothers with breastfeeding and specifically trained Lactation Consultants are on hand to address any particular concerns. These LRH staff can assist with breastfeeding enquiries at any time and ante-natal classes in breastfeeding are also available. Please phone for more information. Nurse Sarah Wilke and new mother Nicole Dunbar check over baby Hugh while he sleeps. 50% OFF Enjoy a water cooler for only $ 99 * pa Great tasting water at your fingertips. No chemicals. 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4 THE LATROBE WAY 4LATROBE REGIONAL HOSPITAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2004 EXCELLENCE Excellence through continued education Lorraine Keene, Clinical Nurse Educator for Tanjil/ Tyers assists nurse Renee Micallef update her Advanced Life Support training. Excellence in health care through quality education and professional development is the aim of the Staff Development Team at Latrobe Regional Hospital. The Team is responsible for facilitating education and professional development for the entire organisation and offers many of its education programs across the region according to Staff Development Manager, Marg Radmore. In 2003 we had attendances of more than 8000 clinical and non-clinical staff as well as external participants in more than 50 courses, seminars and workshops, Marg said. The courses have varied from Basic or Advanced Life Support for Nursing and Medical Staff to a Certificate III in Business Administration for nonclinical staff and a Trauma Seminar conducted for 100 delegates from as far away as Gelantipy, Orbost and Phillip Island. One of the Team s main achievements of 2003 was supporting 38 postgraduate nurses, providing clinical places for 260 nursing students and an increased graduate nurse intake from 26 to 27 positions from 68 applicants. Graduate Nurses are also provided with study days once a month, to participate in learning techniques such as time management to chest x-ray interpretation, Marg said. The Staff Development Team also participated in developing career information, the Latrobe City/ LRH Look Local Careers Day, and the 2003 Nursing Expo in Melbourne. The Staff Development Team consists of a manager, a secretary, a graduate nurse program coordinator and nine clinical nurse educators. All education is based on the latest best practice evidenced by our involvement with the Australian Resuscitation Council, affiliation with Monash University and other tertiary bodies, Marg said. LRH is also a corporate member of the Joanna Briggs Institute of evidence based practice. Then.. and now! Latrobe Regional Hospital was established from the merging of several local hospitals. Many of our current staff members have seen a number of years working in the local heath care sector and continue to provide quality care to our community. Here, we feature one of our staff members who would like to share their experiences and memories of years gone by and how their past has brought them to the present. Anne Gumpold Then: 1973 I commenced working as a temporary ward assistant in what was the Hobson Park Mental Institution. About 130 patients lived there, with two community nurses visiting people at home. One psychiatrist and two medical officers made up the entire medical team. The bulk of the staff were involved in the non-direct care of the patients: drivers, painters, carpenters, gardeners, storemen, boilermakers, a seamstress and cleaners. As the Institution provided all daily living activities, my time included square-dancing, running a coffee shop, taking patients to sporting activities and on holidays as well as assisting in their health care. The Institution included a School of Nursing and a Nurses Home. A number of other staff lived in houses located on the grounds. Now: 2003 I m the Senior Psychiatric Nurse for Latrobe Regional Hospital and I still love the job and working with clients and their families. We now have clinical teams based in Orbost, Bairnsdale, Sale, Traralgon, Warragul, Korumburra and Wonthaggi, with 51 mental health inpatient beds located on-site at LRH. We have expanded our services and now assist over 230,000 people across Gippsland. We have a Professor of Rural Psychiatry who leads a fully staffed medical team including a Psycho- Geriatrician. There is a substantial number of allied health professionals who, along with the nursing team, provide an extensive range of clinical services in partnership with GPs and other community services across the Gippsland region. Integral to the team are a number of consumer and carer consultants. One of the highlights of my career includes being asked to work for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney for 12 months. I believe I have chosen the best career - Psychiatric Nursing is great! Anne Gumpold, Senior Psychiatric Nurse for LRH Mental Health Services. Providing a totally integrated approach to managing human capital in the workplace. Management Human Resources Occupational Health & Safety Servicing small to large business throughout Gippsland and Melbourne. Proudly supporting Latrobe Regional Hospital TELEPHONE: /

5 JANUARY 2004 LATROBE REGIONAL HOSPITAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER5THE LATROBE WAY CUSTOMER FOCUS Taking care of our carers Latrobe Regional Hospital has been proactive as a health care provider in responding to the Gippsland community s very real need to involve Mental Health Carers in the provision of health services. Frith Dennis has recently been appointed to the position of LRH Mental Health Carer Consultant where she provides support in making the appropriate hospital and community services more accessible to carers, consumers and their families. I liaise with the carers of those who require mental health services and with the staff of the LRH Mental Health Service to help the carers access support, information and education programs, Frith said. As the position is new to the Gippsland region, the days have not been predictable but Frith said this is what makes the role interesting as it is more about listening, learning and being open to other people s ideas, opinions and visions. Generally, there are emotional issues for which people often need space, in order to recognise and deal with the issues, before learning work can take place, Frith said. Carers are asking for and need current information and understanding about the mental health system. They want to be able to build their knowledge base and prepare for times other than crisis and this is what I hope to assist with. Frith has worked at LRH for just over three months and said her role involves visiting various country areas across Gippsland that have diverse communities. The people of Omeo and surrounding districts have had to cope with drought, fires and floods and many other areas have been coping with diminishing services to their rural communities. This places increasing demands on the goodwill of volunteers to assist where possible. However, it is not unusual to find many of these people in the position of being a carer as well. As a community we need to be mindful of taking care of our carers too. For the mental health staff who have been stretched without any Carer Consultants in place previously, Frith Mental Health Carer Consultant Frith Dennis is often on the roads across Gippsland visiting, liaising and supporting the carers of those who suffer from mental health problems. said this is the beginning of an exciting challenge. The wealth of experience that staff and carers have shared in open and frank ways is inspiring and the strength of spirit that carers display in coping really encourages others, Frith said. 24 Hour Mental Health Triage Service: or Keeping on your feet Stan (not his real name) used to be an active 77-year-old who enjoyed socialising with his wife and friends. Following the passing of his wife last year, Stan began to take anti-depressant tablets, started keeping to himself more and reduced his social bowls to once a week. Stan was watering the garden recently when he tripped over the hose and fell. Picking himself up he scolded himself for being clumsy and not seeing the hose. The fall was one of a number of trips and stumbles that had happened recently but Stan just put it down to old age. Stan did not think he needed to see the doctor as he only had a few bruises and he would be embarrassed about making a fuss. In any case, the doctor would probably make him buy new glasses, when he thought the glasses he had been wearing for the last seven years were fine - even though he had to squint to read the paper. Does Stan sound like anyone you know? Maybe a neighbour, relative or friend? Stan is typical of people in our community who should be aware of the danger of falls and the ways to prevent them. Stan eventually went to see his doctor about the dizziness he was experiencing when he got out of his bed or chair. Stan s doctor asked a few more questions about the bruises he found on his knees and legs and informed him that he was at risk of more falls and would probably do some major damage next time. The doctor referred Stan to the Falls and Mobility Clinic for a full assessment. Latrobe Regional Hospital s Falls and Mobility Clinic assesses men and women who are at risk of falling, or who have had an increased number of falls. Typically, these people are over the age of 65, take three or more medications - particularly antidepressants, wear glasses or have poor vision, lowered activity levels and poor nutrition. The Clinic provides a complete inter-disciplinary assessment of a person s falls risk and provides strategies to decrease such risks. The Falls and Mobility Clinic team consists of a physiothisapist who tests Balance tests are a common feature in the Falls and Mobility Clinic. Physician Dr David Ogilvie and physiothisapist Karen Thomas test Phyllis Hutcheson s balance while standing with his eyes closed. balance and muscle strength, an occupational thisapist who assesses any fall hazards around the home, a nurse who may assess vision and general health levels and a geriatrician/ physician who tests reflexes, strength, medication levels and general health. Referrals may come from any area in the community - family, GP or the individual. Following assessment, the falls prevention strategies arranged by the Falls and Mobility team will be put into place by community health providers. For more information on the LRH Falls & Mobility Clinic, please call Nicole at LRH Allied Health on When you hear the best club you know you ve called... Princes Drive, Morwell. Telephone For the information of members and guests Proudly supporting Latrobe Regional Hospital In today s uncertain world, who can you rely on for future health care services? 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6 THE LATROBE WAY INTEGRITY 6LATROBE REGIONAL HOSPITAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2004 Measuring up People are not perfect. It is part of human nature to slip up every now and then and make mistakes. At Latrobe Regional Hospital, we understand this and take every opportunity to reduce risks and minimise harm as well as implement evidence-based practices and measure ourselves against other services to ensure we are performing to a high standard. LRH receives performance reports from the Victorian Department of Human Services (DHS) and is measured against other hospitals of similar size and services. In addition, LRH also voluntarily measures itself up against other hospitals across Australia and New Zealand. The DHS Hospital Services Report is produced every three months and provides information such as the number of people waiting for aged care placements, the number of patients admitted, time waiting in Emergency Departments and waiting lists for elective surgery. LRH is measured directly against other major regional hospitals - Ballarat Health Services, Barwon Health (Geelong), Bendigo Healthcare Group and Goulburn Valley (Shepparton). The Reports are made public and can be accessed on the DHS website LRH is a member of the Regional Health Improvement Network (RHIN) - a membership organisation for not-for-profit healthcare organisations interested in continuous improvement. RHIN provides LRH with the opportunity to compare itself against interstate and overseas hospitals of similar size and purpose with a view to sharing ways to achieve better patient, staff and community outcomes through evidence-based, clinical practice improvement. Some of the RHIN hospitals are Lismore (NSW), Toowoomba (Q), Rockhampton (Q) and Burnie (Tas), with recent comparisons and activities surrounding improvements in maternity and acute medical services. Sometimes the best improvements can occur because of the suggestions of our staff and community. All patients, families and visitors to the Hospital are encouraged to comment on their positive or negative experience at LRH. Staff are encouraged to have a say as their opinions are held in high regard by the LRH Leadership Group. All staff suggestions are followed up and reported on regularly. With continual improvements through DHS and RHIN, along with addressing the concerns and ideas of our customers, staff and the general community, we aim to continue to be a leading regional health care provider. Council connects community Learning what a community wants from health services is a challenge for all health care providers. In order to meet this challenge, Latrobe Regional Hospital has access to an independent community forum for advice. The Central West Gippsland Community Advisory Council (CWGCAC), established two years ago, advises health care providers, local government and other support providers as requested. A representative group of nine people come together to provide this service. We are the link between the community and health and wellbeing providers, David Blythman, chairperson of the Council said. Hospitals and other agencies from Latrobe City and Baw Baw Shire commission our group for advice for a wide range of reasons. We are a forum that presents a broad community perspective. The work of the Council has included drafting of the Consumer and Carers Charter and involvement in quality of care and planning activities. The Community Advisory Council is currently seeking expressions of interest from prospective members. Contact Jess Porter for an information pack. The Central West Gippsland Community Advisory Council logo depicts people with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives coming together. From us to you - information on your hospital Each year, Latrobe Regional Hospital is required to publish reports outlining how we have performed as a health service provider in both quality and financial terms. The Report to Our Community, or annual report, and the Quality of Care Report are open to public scrutiny and free to access. The main document, Latrobe Regional Hospital s Report to Our Community , is a representation of the performance of the Hospital during the past financial year. It outlines our achievements, profiles our Leadership Group, and highlights our most valued asset - our staff. The Report also details ways in which we involve our community and how we deliver quality care across the Gippsland region. The second document is Latrobe Regional Hospital s Quality of Care Report This Report provides useful and honest information about the quality of the care we provide - how we monitor and measure the quality of our services, how the Karen Smith - Customer Services Officer, Leone Watson - Manager of Quality & Safety and Jenny Ginnane - Community Relations display the LRH reports available to the community. quality of care is maintained and the steps taken to improve quality of care over the last year. Both the Report to Our Community and Quality of Care Report are public documents and available upon request to all members of the community. They are available in many formats, including audiotape and large print to meet the needs of people with a range of communication needs. For more information, please contact the Health Development & Community Relations team on or Members and Education Credit Union Limited ABN AFSL your well-being is our business At mecu we care about the well-being of you and your family. That s why we ve developed health cover packages in conjunction with our health insurance partner Federation Health. By having private health cover, you and your family can enjoy a healthy lifestyle without worrying about ongoing medical costs.* Our hospitals and extras cover offers great value and can be paid monthly from your mecu account. To find out more contact us on , visit mecu.com.au or your local service centre. 50 Moore Street Moe 248 Commercial Road Morwell 90 Hotham Street Traralgon *Terms and conditions apply.

7 JANUARY 2004 LATROBE REGIONAL HOSPITAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER7THE LATROBE WAY Flynn Flowers for Clients Therapeutic, peaceful and picturesque are the best ways to describe the recently established Flynn Unit garden area. Flynn Unit Manager Bruce Metcalfe said the support and hard work of the clients, the community, staff and patients have been phenomenal in making the garden possible. Visitors, patients and staff are now provided with a refreshing and inspiring view on entering and leaving the area as well as a quiet place for contemplation and relaxation from the drama, discomfort and frenzied activity which can occur within the Hospital, Bruce said. LRH Recreational Therapist Andrew Jenkins said the initiative was put into action through the Flynn Leisure and Lifestyle Program over a period of six months. Flynn patients drew designs Bright flowers, lush grass and inviting garden seating greet the clients and visitors of the Flynn and Macalister Units. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the garden. and with the help of Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE Horticulture Department Coordinator, James Farmer and myself, the design was finalised, Andrew said. The total cost of the project exceeded $4,000 and all of these Music for Health costs were met by donations from local people and businesses to whom we are very grateful. The garden was completed in five days and includes a wide range of flowers including cottage flowers, roses, natives and herbs. WORKING TOGETHER We d like to say thanks The generosity of the Gippsland community was overwhelming in Latrobe Regional Hospital is humbled and extremely thankful to all donors who gave during the year. Individuals, the elderly, young people, organisations, corporate entities and service clubs were among the hundreds who provided donations and gifts in kind to patient areas at LRH. The SeaFM Gimme 5 for Kids campaign raised money for paediatric services for Latrobe Regional Hospital and West Gippsland Healthcare Group. SeaFM Marketing Manager Steve O Halloran and ANZ Bank Regional Manager for Gippsland Cliff Simkin are pictured with Thomson Unit Manager Heather Taylor. Many months of work culminated in an outstanding orchestral performance enjoyed by more than 800 people at Kernot Hall. Latrobe Regional Hospital, Latrobe City and a number of other community groups and individuals from across Gippsland worked with Orchestra Victoria to provide a night of no cost entertainment, preceded by a daytime chamber performance at Moe Town Hall and two music workshops for school students. Professor Barry Dunstan, LRH Board President said the daytime concert in Moe provided an opportunity for people who don t like to go out at night or who needed assistance with transport to attend a chamber concert of a very high quality. The Hospital sees activities like this as an opportunity to promote health in the The Latrobe City Youth Band was a feature of the night s entertainment. community, Professor Dunstan said. The evening concert at Kernot Hall provided a fantastic end to the tour of Orchestra Victoria. The high quality entertainment was capped off by a relaxed community supper. The Latrobe City Youth Band also featured on the night, playing an excellent curtain raising performance impressing the large local audience. The Youth Band is to be commended on their skilled performance in the presence of the large, discerning audience and Latrobe City complimented on the support they give them. They are a great asset in this community. LRH would like to publicly acknowledge Orchestra Victoria and their supporters for providing this wonderful opportunity for our community. Tattersall s Regional Business Manager David Elder and Italian Australian Social Club (IASC) Manager Mario Fava present LRH Chief Executive Felix Pintado with a cheque for $5,000. The donation was a combined effort between Tattersall s and the IASC, with the money going towards a new chair for the Chemotherapy Unit when relocated to the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre. Edison Mission Energy and its employees combined donations recently to present a cheque to the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre for $25,000. Pictured receiving the cheque is LRH Chief Executive Felix Pintado, LRH Board President Barry Dunstan from Loy Yang B Plant Manager Barry Warrillow, Edison Mission employee Adam Halsall and Alan Stewart from the Australian Services Union. a new energy in community building Volunteers needed for Meals on Wheels The Meals on Wheels programme in Traralgon has become desperate for volunteers. We would like to reach out to anyone who can spare about an hour and half one day a week, fortnight or month to deliver the meals to those in our community who are in need of a little assistance. All you need is a willingness to lend a hand and a smile. Corporate businesses - Have you thought of helping your community by providing the services of a staff member for Meals on Wheels for ninety minutes once a week, fortnight or month? To register your help with Meals on Wheels or for further information please telephone Rachel Holt at Latrobe City Council on What happens when I go home? Hospital stays are often a stressful time for us all. As well as being unwell, patients are in a strange and new environment. Today, hospital stays are becoming shorter than ever, putting new emphasis on health care in the home. That s where Lifetime Health Pharmacy can help you. We offer many services of particular importance to patients following a hospital stay. 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8 THE LATROBE WAY 8LATROBE REGIONAL HOSPITAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2004 Gippsland Cancer Care Centre - a reality On 3 October 2003, the announcement was made that the State and Federal Governments would jointly provide $21million for the new Gippsland Cancer Care Centre at Latrobe Regional Hospital. The total project as outlined in the Hospital s Master Plan will cost approximately $24.5 million with the balance of $3.5 million being raised during from the Gippsland community and other philanthropic sources. The new Centre will contain Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy, Dialysis, Pharmacy and An artist s impression of the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre at Latrobe Regional Hospital. Oncology Specialist s suites - the first one stop shop for cancer treatment in Victoria. The Gippsland Cancer Care Centre will be built on land inside the entrance to the Teamwork and fun was the name of the game behind the Great Victorian Bike Ride fundraising efforts of Latrobe City and 3TRFM. Pictured from left is Janiene Ayre - Events Latrobe, David Urie - Latrobe City, Arnie - 3TRFM, Cr Lisa Proctor - Latrobe City, Felix Pintado - LRH Chief Executive and Cr Sheridan Bond - Latrobe City. Great Victorian Bike Ride Early morning training sessions were made easier to bear when two local cyclists, preparing to ride in the 2003 VicRoads Great Victorian Bike Ride added a special purpose to their participation. Lisa Proctor and Sheridan Bond, better known for their roles as Latrobe City Councillors, recently participated in the 580 kilometre ride from Mt Hotham to Mornington. We were doing well with our training but needed more motivation. The announcement of the State and Federal Governments funding for the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre at Latrobe Regional Hospital gave us the idea to ride to raise funds to support to the Centre, Lisa Proctor said. The pair gathered support from local businesses and organisations and raised more than $8000 during the ride. Many organisations including Maurice Blackburn Cashman Lawyers, 3TR FM and 3GV, Lions Club of Traralgon, Australian Paper, Bike Land, The Riversleigh in Bairnsdale and International Power Hazelwood united to support the cause. Felix Pintado, LRH Chief Executive, said that community support for the region s Cancer Care Centre has increased dramatically since the Governments announcement. We are seeing a pronounced increase in support. The Gippsland community is really getting behind this project and Lisa and Sheridan s fine effort is a great example of this. Hospital grounds with construction due to commence before June 2004 with the first patient receiving treatment by August During the next 12 months groups and individuals will conduct many fundraising events across Gippsland. Major corporations, business people and members of the Gippsland community will be asked for financial support. All donations over $2 to the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre Appeal are tax deductible. Further information can be obtained from Trevor Mason, LRH Fundraising Coordinator on Stop Press: Outage Benefits Cancer The Gippsland Cancer Care Centre (GCCC) received an injection of funds from Loy Yang Power and its contractors prior to Christmas in Loy Yang Power employees and maintenance contractors from Downer, Siemens, Silcar and Lucon finished the Loy Yang Power Unit 1 Outage two days before Christmas, giving the GCCC an early present. The donation of $10,150 was determined by the number of days that were deemed to have no lost time injuries. During the Outage, only 70 minor first aid incidences were recorded, which is an amazing feat with over 630 people on site at any one time. Leigh Smith, Chief Radiation Therapist with the William Buckland Radiotherapy Centre at The Alfred Hospital accepted the cheque on behalf of the GCCC, and said the money would go into immediate use. This donation is quite timely as we are beginning to purchase the equipment needed to fit out the Radiotherapy Unit of the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre, Leigh said. The Contrast Injector Pump will be the first item of radiotherapy equipment bought through community donations for the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre. The first item to be purchased will be a Contrast Injector Pump. Prior to beginning radiotherapy, many patients have a CT scan - similar to what may be experienced in x-ray. The patient is injected with a fluid called a contrast before the CT scan. The Contrast Injector Pump injects the contrast into the patient and delivers a measured and accurate dosage relative to the individual patient needs. The contrast fluid is then transported throughout the body via the blood system and enables the CT scan to register a clear and accurate image of the body. Radiotherapists are then able to recreate a 3-dimensional image of the patient on computer. The CT scan takes an average of 15 minutes to complete. The 3-dimensional image of the patient enables a clear picture of the location, size and attributes of the cancer to be treated. This computer-generated image enables the Radiotherapists to plan the correct site/s for radiotherapy treatment, without the patient having to be physically present. The planning for accurate radiation sites on the body can take many days, thus could be extremely inconvenient and traumatic if the patient had to be physically present during the entire planning stage. The Contrast Injector Pump allows the patient to have an accurate 3-dimensional photocopy image of their body registered on computer within 15 minutes, instead of having to spend hours, even days, waiting and re-visiting radiotherapy treatment rooms. YES! I will help Latrobe Regional Hospital care for my community I would like my donation to go towards: Gippsland Cancer Care Centre Acute Care Aged Care Children Mental Health Critical Care Emergency Maternity Rehabilitation PLEASE FORWARD YOUR DONATION TO: Health Development & Community Relations Latrobe Regional Hospital PO Box 424, Traralgon, Vic, 3844 Here is my donation for (please tick:) $20 $40 $100 $ your choice Cheque (Make cheques payable to Latrobe Regional Hospital) OR Bankcard Visa Mastercard [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Expiry Date: / Name on Card: Cardholder s Signature: Donor s Name: Address: Postcode: Telephone: ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ABN: