Murdoch Monthly May 2024

MURDOCH Monthly

CAREGIVER NEWS FROM ST JOHN OF GOD MURDOCH HOSPITAL

Murdoch RecognitionCaregiver CelebratingMonth: our people.

CAREGIVERS CELEBRATE MURDOCH’S >80 NPS SCORE FOR FEBRUARY page 7

HMC ROLL UP TO FIGHT THE FLU page 12

RACHEL EATON STRIVES FOR EXCELLENCE page 16

A message from the CEO, Ben Irish

Welcome to the May Murdoch Monthly.

This month, the focus is on caregiver appreciation, with lots of acts of gratitude happening around the hospital:

International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day: On 5 May and 12 May, we take the opportunity to show gratitude for our incredible midwives and nurses on International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day.

Every Caregiver Counts Day: Wednesday 15 May is Every Caregiver Counts Day to celebrate all of our caregivers who help deliver the exceptional care we pride ourselves on. On this day, you will be treated to FREE coffees and a ‘sweet’ treat as a token of our appreciation for all that you do. More information on page 3.

Volunteer Week: Starting 20 May is National Volunteer Week, and we will host a garden party to thank our more

than 100 Murdoch volunteers who selflessly give their time and talents to the hospital community.

National Reconciliation Week: 27 May begins National Reconciliation Week, which is a time of deep reflection, understanding our history, education, and commitment to reconciliation. Turn to page 5 for more information on how you can pledge your commitment during National Reconciliation Week.

Thank you once again to everyone for everything you do each and every day to look after our patients and each other. I wish you all a great month ahead.

Ben

At Murdoch

Every caregiver contributes to making Murdoch a fantastic place to work.

Wednesday 15 May

counts

Every caregiver brings unique and different skills, which makes Murdoch the place it is.

Every caregiver contributes to creating positive patient experiences.

FREE COFFEE in the Dining Room, Ferns or Fontenays 6am - 3pm.

Pop your note of thanks to a caregiver into our ECC box at Main Reception.

May 15 is our Every Caregiver Counts Celebration, a day to say thank you and celebrate our wonderful caregivers across the Hospital. From Engineering to Patient Administration, Catering to PCAs, Housekeeping to CSSD and everyone in between, we want to celebrate all that you do and all that you contribute to our Hospital.

Reflection

Dear Creator,

We come before you this Reconciliation Week, with hearts filled with hope and determination. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this beautiful land, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and we thank you for their wisdom, resilience, and knowledge.

We pray for healing in our nation, as we confront the injustices and disparities that have plagued our Indigenous brothers and sisters for too long. We pray for the health professionals who work tirelessly to Close the Gap, that they may be filled with compassion and understanding.

Guide us, Lord, in our journey towards reconciliation and true friendship. Help us to bridge the gap in cultural understanding and access to health services. Show us how we can each contribute to creating a more equitable and inclusive society.

We lift up those who feel hopeless, especially the families and communities affected by suicide. Bring them comfort and peace and help us to support and care for them in their grief. With the same hands, we also lift up the young people who are struggling, feeling lost or hopeless. May they find strength and resilience and may we as a community offer them support and guidance towards a brighter future.

We also give thanks for the wisdom and resilience of our Elders, who have carried the stories and traditions of their people for generations. May they be filled with strength and courage as they continue to guide their communities, and may we learn from their teachings and wisdom.

May we be agents of your healing, Lord, working together to build a better future for all Australians. Give us the wisdom to learn from the past, the courage to address the present, and the vision to create a future where all Australians stand together in equality and harmony.

In your name, we pray.

Amen.

Adapted from Cameron Balcombe’s prayer. Cameron Balcombe is a proud Olkola and Djabuguy Catholic man.

Jenni Ashton, Director Mission Integration

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week begins on 27 May, and during this week we have activities planned to help caregivers pause and reflect on the ways we can contribute to reconciliation – as an organisation and as individuals.

• From Wednesday 29 May you can pledge your reconciliation intentions through our Sea of Hands activation, at the hospital’s main entrance.

• On Thursday 30 May, you can join us for a ‘lunch and learn’ screening of Kanyini documentary.

Patient Experience Matters

Murdoch NPS for APRIL

NPS Rewards

St Francis ward chose to celebrate their >80 NPS score for February with dining room vouchers for the team! One patient said,” I would like to recognise the team of St Francis Ward for giving me first rate care, very professional and caring. Nothing was too much trouble. That includes everyone from the coordinator, nursing, cleaning and PCAs.”

Incredible work, St Francis!

Murdoch patients are saying:

Comment 1: BRIDGET CLANCY

Every single staff member encountered was professional and showed genuine care for my needs. Thank you to all!

Comment 2: THOMAS FURLONG

Care and communication are important and I felt that the staff took extra care and communicated clearly and with compassion.

Comment 3: ST LUKE WARD

Thank you for the care I received. I felt very comfortable and safe, and at times I felt like I was in a 5-star hotel!

heros

Surgicentre celebrated their >80 NPS score for February with dining room vouchers for the team! “I will always sing your praise and recommend you. The staff are always so attentive to my needs and the nursing staff are very caring. The incredibly attentive staff and the way things are so well organised made my procedure flow so well,” one patient commented.

Fantastic job, Surgicentre!

Wards and departments celebrate >80 NPS for February

CSSD celebrated with coffee vouchers and cookies for the team!

Theatre celebrated with pizzas and doughnuts!

Allied Health celebrated with coffee vouchers and cookies for the team!

St Emilie ward celebrated with dining room vouchers for the team!

Angiography celebrated with dining room vouchers for the team!

Pastoral Care celebrated with a donation to our Charity of the Year!

Engineering celebrated with pizza and doughnuts!

Emergency Department celebrated with coffee vouchers and cookies for the team!

Admin 3 celebrated with massages!

Duty Managers celebrated with dining room vouchers for the team!

CDS and Health Information Services celebrated with dining room vouchers.

Security celebrated with a donation to our Charity of the Year!

Caregiver of the Month

Laura Omodei, Cassandra Street, and Cece Bueser: January 2024

Nominated by a patient’s family

“My mum was admitted to the St Luke ward in November. Laura was the Coordinator on duty who did the admission. She was fantastic. Mum ended up being there for 23 days and sadly, passed away, but during that period I spent many, many hours beside Mum’s bed and got to know Laura, Cassy, and Cece quite well. The level of care they provided to Mum and I was exceptional and it was comforting and reassuring to know they were on duty looking after her. I’m convinced they all

went above and beyond in terms of the care they provided to my family during the most difficult weeks of our lives. They were patient with us and supported us with our decision making. The hugs, hand holding, and smiles meant so much to me. I don’t think they will ever fully understand what it meant to me. They were angels.

At the time of Mum’s death, such was her care that Cassy came and had a cry with me. Truly amazing. I don’t know how they do their jobs every day under such difficult circumstances. I just want them to know they made a difference to me through their genuine kindness and love. I’m not sure how you as

an organisation reward and recognise individuals but I’d like to think you can do something for these very special people. There were of course others on the ward who were amazing too. Mum made me promise when I took her to hospital it had to be the nice one (St John of God Murdoch Hospital) as she had stayed there on many occasions and loved the nurses. I am so glad I was able to do that for her on this last occasion. I’m sure it also provided her with a level of comfort knowing she would be looked after so well.

Thanks to everyone who delivered exceptional service, I’ll never forget what these amazing ladies did for us.”

Laura Omodei

Cece Bueser Cassandra Street

Caregiver of the Month

Jessica-Ann Taylor: February 2024

Nominated by several caregivers

“Jess embodies our values here at Murdoch and holds herself to an incredibly high standard. This is both towards her own work and assisting others. She never hesitates to lend a hand and is constantly going above and beyond for the patients of this hospital. I believe that without Jess’s contributions a void would be left at Murdoch that could not be filled. In summary Jess is constantly achieving excellent results in both her day to day duties and interactions with patients, she always manages to affect their feelings in such a positive way regardless of the situation and for this I believe she is deserving of this award.”

“Jess goes above and beyond

with every job and position she works. She constantly puts herself out to help anyone and everyone. The amount of care and empathy she has for her patients on a day to day basis is so genuine. She always makes an effort to remember their names as well as their next of kin who come in with them, giving each individual a feeling of importance and care.”

DPU, but we are very proud of her achievements in the Cancer Centre so far.

“Jess is the most amazing caregiver, not only does she go over and above her duties every day, she also demonstrates the St John of God Health Care core values to both patients and caregivers alike. Jess is reliable, kind, caring, and has the most amazing memory, and she works to the highest of standards at all times. We miss having her working with us every day in

Values awards

Rebecca Saunders for a Compassion Award

Nominated by a patient

“My night nurse Rebecca was absolutely amazing. I was initially disappointed at having a shared room, but Rebecca went above and beyond to make me feel so special. I felt so sick during the night and she was wiping my face and rubbing my back when I felt the worst. Nothing was rushed, she encouraged me to take my time in the bathroom. She was also like this with my neighbour. I really felt like she looked after me with a personal touch. I would like her to be recognised for her work, please.”

A recent email from Dr Feeney's rooms has shown us (which we already knew) how her consistent hard work, dedication to St John of God Murdoch and commitment to learn a new role is being recognised outside of our organisation. I cannot praise Jess enough and we are very lucky to have her.”

Amina Tobal for an Excellence Award

Nominated by several patients

“Amina goes above and beyond for her patients, and is a well-loved member of the St Rose team.”

“I was privileged to receive exceptionally high levels of care from all the staff in the unit but I particularly want to acknowledge and affirm Amina who embodied knowledge, care, compassion and empathy in her nursing practice. Amina was organised and supportive showing attention to detail together with warmth and professionalism. I felt privileged to receive this care and attention.”

“Thank you for the care and compassion of the Theatre Staff and St Rose and to my main nurse Amina an extra thank you.”

'Angels of mercy'... Thank you

Dear Hospice,

Amid the sadness of our only sister Betty’s rapid onset of breast cancer - with its ultimately terminal implications, a miracle was delivered for Betty and our family when she moved under your loving care for the final ten days of her earthly life.

During our individual and collective visits to the Hospice, we met many staff and medical professionals who, without exception administered to Betty the most compassionate and capable care that we feet sure is impossible to replicate elsewhere.

We are unable to put a name to any of these many angels of mercy, but if this letter receives wider circulation within your internal structure, can it be made known please that we are eternally grateful for the comfort that you provided to Betty on her final journey and for the many courtesies extended so readily to each of us on our visits and in the aftermath of Betty’s passing.

Sincerely,

Geoff Havercroft On behalf of the entire Havercroft Family

21 Hearts: Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of Vyner Brooke

On 11 April, Sarah-Jayne Powell joined St John of God Health Care Board Chair, Kerry Sanderson and colleagues to to see ’21 Hearts: Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of Vyner Brooke’, which tells the compelling tale of Vivian Bullwinkle and the nurses who boarded the Vyner Brooke.

“Vivian Bullwinkel was one of 65 Australian nurses who boarded the Vyner Brooke in an attempt to flee the Japanese invasion of Singapore in February, 1942. Bombed by Japanese fighter planes and after spending days at sea, she and some other survivors found their way to Radji Beach on Banka Island where they surrendered. In one of the most atrocious acts of war crimes in our history, 22 nurses were forced to march into the sea where they were callously machine gunned. The only survivor and witness, Vivian spent the rest of the war in a prison camp before liberation, and her remaining years fighting

for recognition of the bravery of her friends and colleagues; their strength and courage in the face of death sustaining her for the rest of her illustrious life.

21 Hearts relays the resilient Aussie humour displayed by the women in the camp and provides a respectful and authentic voice to those who were silenced, remembering them for who they were and not just for what happened to them.”

The play was on at the Como Theatre and is due to come back to Perth from 30 October to 10

November. Sarah-Jayne highly recommends that anyone who can go marks it in their diaries.

“It is a heart wrenching story of what these brave women were forced to endure as POWs and how throughout it all, their desire to nurse and serve the civilians that were also captured shone through.

“A must see for everyone and a beautiful way to acknowledge those who served our country in war time. May they be forever remembered.”

Director of Nursing, Sarah-Jayne Powell with St John of God Health Care colleagues and Board Chair, Kerry Sanderson

HMC roll up to fight the flu!

With winter well on its way, our Hospital Executive rolled up their sleeves to fight the flu by getting the free flu vaccination from our Infection Control team.

The flu vaccine is now available to all caregivers, volunteers and doctors from 8:00am to 3:00pm in the Infection Control office on the lower ground floor. Just make sure you fill out your consent form before you attend by scanning the QR code on page 13.

For those who get the jab elsewhere, we ask that you please declare so we can get an accurate picture of the hospital’s overall protection against the flu. Do this via the second QR code on p11.

8:00am - 3:00pm (Monday to Friday)

Infection Control Office (Lower Ground Floor)

Walk-in clinic - just complete consent form

For after hours appointments, contact Infection Control (88639).

If you get it elsewhere, please d declare Roll up for your f free vaccination at Murdoch

Murdoch the top pick for student midwifery program

St John of God Health Care recently received applications for Registered Nurse/Student Midwife positions, and of the 31 applications they received, 12 listed Murdoch as their first hospital preference, which was the highest number in the across the St John of God Health Care group!

We love seeing people choose Murdoch!

and Ben an opportunity to trial a new virtual reality occupational violence and aggression training program.

In partnership with Edith Cowan University researchers, our OHS team gave

Dilwyn, James

Slam dunk outcomes at Binar Health Embassy, in Bunbury

500 kids registered for the tournament

Over 250 children received a health check

20 children required referrals to local health services for:

• low haemoglobin

• abnormal blood sugar levels

• hypertension

One adult was accompanied to the local ED for urgent medical attention

Thank you and well done to the eight Murdoch caregivers who volunteered their time to attend and help conduct health checks at the basketball tournament for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, held during the April school holidays.

Murdoch lake update!

You may have seen some curious activities going on in the Murdoch lake on the afternoon of Wednesday 1 May. Here’s why:

• We have installed a wetland panel to increase the habitat for all wildlife and assist in reducing nitrate, phosphate,

sludge, and pollutants. The wetland panel will remain covered in protective netting for 3-6 months to establish the plants.

• Aquatic blue was added to the water to reduce UV light penetration, which filters out the red-orange and blue-violet rays from

the sun. This will decrease the algae growth and has a cooling effect to allow the water to hold more oxygen, benefitting the health of fish. The blue tint also helps to make the fish less visible to predators. It is perfectly safe for all aquatic life and won’t stain.

Scholarship recipient strives for excellence in health care management

St John of God Murdoch Hospital Clinical Nurse and CHARM Project Nurse Rachel Eaton has been selected as one of 20 recipients of a scholarship to further her education.

Rachel, who works in the Cancer Centre, is using the Sister Bridget Clancy Scholarship for the Empowerment of Women through Education to study a Graduate Certificate in Health Care Management at Murdoch University, with the intention to complete a Masters.

“Management was actually an area I thought I would never go into. However, I changed my mind because of the amazing managers I have had over the past two years,” she said.

“It’s a great course as there is all kinds of health professionals studying, so we can share and gain through each other’s point of view and experiences.”

“The scholarship helps with the financial side of study, which has previously put me off studying sooner.”

The scholarship, which was first offered in 2021 in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Sister’s foundation, seeks to continue the legacy of the visionary and courageous women who founded St John of God Health Care in Australia.

It was open to female caregivers undertaking studies focused

on leadership development or related to women’s health.

Rachel has worked at St John of God Murdoch Hospital since 2022, and chose the course in order to gain insight and understanding of the basic theory of health care management.

“I don’t like the idea of going in blind to a role,” she said.

“When you get into that higher level of management, there are all these unfamiliar concepts and terminology, and so I felt like this course would give me a basic broad understanding of health care management.

“The course has helped when I’ve stepped up into the Acting

Nurse Manager role, as I could see the bigger picture.

“It also gave me some real life experiences to add to the learnings.”

Rachel said the best thing about working in health care is the impact it has on people.

“Working in health care gives you a career to be proud of. You work alongside some amazing people and get to care for amazing patients and their families. You know you make a real difference,” she said.

Red Cross Soup Patrol – Call out for donations!

Dilwyn, Sarah-Jayne, and St John of God Health Care Chief Operating Officer, Ben Edwards volunteered for the Red Cross Soup Patrol in April and noticed that, as winter is on its way, they are in need of donations of warm clothing, food items, and toiletries.

Please bring any donations to Admin 2.

If you would like more information about donating or joining the Murdoch team, please contact: ronelle.bosua@sjog.org.au or emily.falconer@sjog.org.au

emily.falconer@sjog.org.au.

Red Cross Donations

Please

Warm clothing:

• Socks

• Men's jackets

• Sleeping bags

• Beanies

you are interested

If you would like more information, contact ronelle.bosua@sjog.org.au or emily.falconer@sjog.org.au

• Cereals

• Soft muesli bars

• Biscuits / crackers

• Other soft baked goods

• Long life milks

• Juices, etc.

• Fruit cups

• Bottled water

ood items and toiletries:

• Deodorant

• Sanitary items

• Toothbrush / toothpaste

• Wet wipes

• Shower gel

• Shampoo / conditioner

• Hand sanitiser

• Moisturiser

• Mouthwash

• Hairbrush / comb etc.

Foods should be ready to eat and ideally not require preparation to best suit the needs of the people receiving the donations.

St John of God Murdoch Hospital is a proud supporter of the Red Cross.

Volunteer Update

We have a new Events and Volunteer Coordinator!

Andrea Hegney has been appointed Events and Volunteer Coordinator. This is an expansion of Andrea’s previous Marketing and Events Officer role, as she now also manages our hospital volunteers.

Congratulations, Andrea!

Celebrating the life of beloved volunteer, Barry Page

ANZAC Day – Hospice display

The volunteers in Hospice put together a beautiful and impactful display in honour of Anzac Day.

Lest we forget.

It is with sadness that we share the passing of one of our beloved volunteers, Dr Barry Page.

Barry was a valued member of our volunteer community here at St John of God Murdoch Hospital since 2018.

He volunteered on St Luke’s, St Joseph’s and Surgicentre.

A funeral service was held for Barry to celebrate his life on Saturday 20 April.

We extend our love and heartfelt condolences onto his wife Ninfe, their family, and those who knew Barry.

EXPLORE FITNESS PASSPORT FACILITIES

Foundation Update - Community donations to help people like Anna*

St John of God Foundation’s mid-year fundraising appeal is on now.

St John of God Murdoch Hospital has built a proud reputation for delivering world-class cancer treatments, and compassionate, personalised care for our patients.

Many caregivers will be aware that not all cancer treatments or tests are covered by Medicare or private health insurance. Some are often so new that no funding options are available yet, which means the cost can make them out of reach for many people.

The last thing patients should be worrying about is how to afford the best treatment for their cancer, which is why St John of God Foundation is raising funds for Gifts of Hope.

A Gift of Hope directly help a patient who can’t afford the cost of their cancer treatment, giving people like Anna* hope at a time when they feel they have nowhere else to turn.

Anna, a mother of three, is only 39 years old and has a

rare subtype of cervical cancer. Anna’s doctor discovered that a new immunotherapy treatment could help. It could extend her life by months, even years, and give her a chance to see her children grow up. But the new treatment wasn’t covered by private insurance or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and the cost was more than Anna could afford.

Thanks to donations from our community, a Gift of Hope

helped Anna to get the cancer treatment she needed.

Donations to this year’s appeal will help patients at St John of God Murdoch Hospital, and across the country, to access vital treatments when they need them. Find out more here: https://www.sjogfoundation.org. au/our-projects/2024-mid-yearappeal-landing-page

*Names and images changed to protect family's privacy