Finding cures. The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
Saving lives. The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation is dedicated to finding cures and saving lives. It’s at the very heart of what we do.
The Prince Charles Hospital has Queensland’s fastest-growing Emergency Department.
Swine Flu Pandemic
Beating the odds The scars and missing toes are the reminder of how close she came to dying. “The night I went in to The Prince Charles Hospital they put me in a coma and then it was touch and go for the next four or five weeks,” says Alison Schuttloffel. “I didn’t ever anticipate it was going to be like that. It was shocking really because no one knew swine flu was that bad.” The 37-year-old Brisbane mother of five was sick for several days in July 2009 before realising she might have swine flu. The pathology backlog due to the pandemic meant she was sick for about 10 days before being hospitalised. Although she
didn’t look particularly sick, Alison’s kidneys and liver were already struggling when she was admitted, she had pneumonia and very little lung capacity. Asking her mother to turn down an imagined heater in the car seat on the way to the hospital was the last thing she remembered until the end of August. “I spent 52 days in hospital but I don’t remember about 90% of that time,” Alison says. “I had memory loss due to induced coma. It doesn’t feel real. It’s like you’re looking at a picture. It’s like I wasn’t really there.” Alison was treated with ECMO – extracorporeal membrane oxygenation – which took her blood through a machine to force extra oxygen into her heart and lungs. She suffered frostbite on her hands and feet, causing some of the tissue to
Alison Schuttloffel with ICU staff who helped save her life: (r-l) Senior Staff Specialist Dr Daniel Mullany, Perfusionist Gary Walker andThe Clinical Nurse Sanne Hospital Pedersen. Foundation 2010 Annual Report iv Prince Charles
die. “You can survive without hands and feet,” she says. “They had to focus on my heart and lungs to keep me alive.” Husband Alex stayed by her side while she was in an induced coma for five weeks. Alex was told many times that Alison was unlikely to survive the night. There were times ICU staff sent Alex home to rest after days not leaving her bedside. The couple’s five children, aged from 2½ to 11 years old, remember needing gloves to visit, but were largely protected from the severity of Alison’s illness. “I think my four-year-old son was greatly affected by it,” Alison says. “He would say ‘You held my hand but you didn’t talk to me, Mummy.’” Alison’s own memories of her seven and a half weeks at The Prince Charles Hospital are
fragmented and fuzzy. She has some recall of physiotherapy, being on the tilt table when she wanted to lie flat, of terrible hallucinations and of hating rehabilitation. Alison returned home in mid-September and was running her mobile hair extension business again by October, initially from her wheelchair. “I just wanted to get out of there and get home,” she says. “I’m not a hospital person. That’s probably why I had problems getting in there in the first place. I didn’t want to go to hospital hence I was so far gone by the time I got here.” Until December, Alison had twice-weekly physiotherapy and excruciating podiatry sessions to remove dead flesh from her toes, so painful she required anxiety medication
Swine Flu Pandemic
and painkillers to get through the treatment. “My toes were like they’d been dipped in tar,” she says. “It feels like you’ve got ants biting your feet because all the nerve endings are healing. I would have to shake my feet like a cat on wet ground.” Although she doesn’t really remember the experience, Alison is grateful to the hundred or so people who treated her in ICU, in the wards, and in rehabilitation. “Thank you to everybody for putting up with me and actually saving me and getting me here today,” she says. “And here I was just thinking I’d have an upset stomach for a couple of days and I’d be right. But 52 days later I woke up in The Prince Charles Hospital.”
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report v
Critical Care Medicine
Saving lives every day Queensland’s fastest-growing emergency service, The Prince Charles Hospital emergency department treats around 130 patients a day. By the end of 2010 the Emergency Department expects to have seen in excess of 50,000 patients for the year, an increase of 10,000 on the previous year. The development of the Paediatric Emergency Department will bring the numbers to 70,000 by the end of 2012. Around 30% of patients presenting to Emergency are admitted to the hospital. With the rapidly increasing workload, Emergency is committed to training staff Education Registrar Dr Chris Edwards has established a training program for the Emergency Department.
6 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
to manage diverse injuries and illnesses. Registrar Dr Chris Edwards has received 12 months’ funding to pilot an education and skills centre and in May started running emergency training scenarios in resuscitation and team management. The training centre is a pocket of the Queensland Health Skills Development Centre and now runs staff training at least twice a week. Although the hospital is not a trauma centre the Emergency Department is equipped to handle trauma patients in the event of a mass casualty incident with many injured people. With the closure of the Royal Children’s Hospital, The Prince Charles Hospital staff will need to be prepared to manage sick and injured children when the new Paediatric Emergency
Critical Care Medicine
Department comes online in 2012.
trained physiotherapists and social workers.
Emergency’s short stay area is suitable for people who require admission to hospital for up to 12 hours of assessment and treatment but who, after that time, are likely to be safe to return home. Conditions managed in the short stay
Emergency has received funding to do a cutting edge trial study with Radiology using CT coronary angiogram (CTCA) for primary chest pain. Half of the patients presenting with chest pain and eligible for the trial will be referred via the
Emergency will see in excess of 50,000 patients in 2010. It is likely to see 70,000 in 2012. ward include asthma, post procedural recovery, conditions and injuries requiring pain relief, as well as people awaiting test results such as toxicology. Currently five to ten people are seen in this area each day. The department also has dedicated and highly
normal pathway to the Chest Pain Assessment Service and the other 50% will be managed by the Emergency Department with a CTCA as the primary diagnostic test. The Department has also been funded to undertake a trial to
evaluate the effectiveness of non-invasive cardiac output monitoring to measure the efficiency of the heart as a pump when the patient is in shock.
Swine flu pandemic In 2009 the World Health Organisation declared the H1N1 flu strain a pandemic. As Queensland’s major respiratory centre The Prince Charles Hospital Emergency Department saw more patients with swine flu than most other hospitals in Queensland. On the busiest days the Emergency Department saw 190 patients including up to 70 with swine flu symptoms.
virulent infection to spread. To reduce the chances of cross infection a pandemic assessment area was set up in the training room. All patients with flu-like symptoms were assessed in this area and staff working with these patients were dressed in full personal protective equipment. In this way cross infection rates were kept extremely low and The Prince Charles Hospital was fortunate to see almost no Emergency Department staff contract H1N1 from contact with patients at work.
Due to their open plan emergency departments are an easy place for a
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 7
Chairman’s Report
Contents 4 Swine Flu Pandemic 6 Critical Care Medicine 8 Chairman’s Report 10 CEO’s Report 12 Our Hospital 14 Thoracic Medicine 18 Cardiology 22 Research Grants 26 Nursing Research 28 Orthopaedics 32 Internal Medicine 34 The Foundation 42 Allied Health 44 Governance 49 The Foundation 50 200th Lung Transplant This report is also available online at www.tpchfoundation.org.au/Events--Publications/Annual-Reports.aspx. If you have difficulty in understanding the annual report, you can contact us on (07) 3139 4636 and we will arrange an interpreter to effectively communicate the report to you.
Committed to finding cures The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation has continued to build on hard work with a focus on external communication and developing strong strategic partnerships. We undertook a re-branding exercise to develop a professional image which reflects both our proud past and our promising future. Through this project we focused our attention on our core business of finding cures and saving lives. We ran our first major campaign featuring four real people who are alive thanks to The Prince Charles Hospital. Our hard work paid
8 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
off when we attracted two high-profile Ambassadors, The Honourable Wayne Swan MP and Mr Sharif Deen. The Foundation and the hospital were put in the spotlight for our two major events of the year, our biennial Woolcock Memorial dinner with Dr Fiona Wood AM, and our Men’s Health & the Economy lunch with Federal Treasurer The Hon Wayne Swan MP. Both demonstrated our ability to deliver high quality events to showcase research excellence to new audiences. We signed our first partnership memoranda with Q Invest and Kedron Wavell Services Club. We also launched a partnership with international engineering firm Baulderstone. These agreements mean that we enter the new financial year supported by significant
corporate partners. Having revamped our grants framework, it was extremely pleasing to fund 10 Equipment Grants and 11 New Researcher Grants. We allocated $222,130 to these two grant rounds providing the opportunity to foster new research at The Prince Charles Hospital. We currently have a commitment of more than $1.3 Million to grants in payment and our 2010 Main Strategic Grants will be allocated later this year. The long-awaited refit of the Breeze Cafe kitchen will be unveiled in September 2010. The Breeze is an important income source for the Foundation as it offsets our administrative costs in order to dedicate donated money to research funding. We thank the hospital, in particular Jon Roberts, for supporting the Foundation.
Chairman’s Report
We were thrilled to welcome Greg Meek, Raynuha Sinnathamby, Terry Sullivan and Toby Innes to our board. The diverse knowledge and experience represented on our Board reflects the incredible distance the Foundation has travelled over the past few years. Thank you to all of our Board members whose commitment is helping us to continue delivering excellence. Thank you to Deputy Premier and Health Minister The Hon Paul Lucas MP, The Hon Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Mr Murray Watt MP and Cr Norm Wyndham for your support, to Kate Ashton and the Foundation team, to our partners, and especially the staff and researchers of The Prince Charles Hospital and our wonderful donors. John Hamilton, Chairman
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 9
CEO’s Report
Finding cures. Saving lives. The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation is all about working together to help find cures and save lives. During 2009 –2010, with the precious help of our valued supporters, we have achieved greater financial support for research, more volunteers working with us, and increased the numbers of people hearing about the lifesaving work of The Prince Charles Hospital. For the first time ever, the Foundation went to the community to tell the stories of real people through our “I lived” campaign. Nick, Shelley, Melinda and Laurie, like many of our valued supporters received a precious second
10 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
chance at life because of The Prince Charles Hospital. They inspired people to support our research work into lung diseases, mental health, orthopaedics, nutrition, the development of an artificial heart, transplant studies, cardiac research, cystic fibrosis, aged care research and more. I invite you to read about the lifesaving research online at www.findingcures.com.au and presented in this report. This year we refreshed our look by updating our heart logo with a blue ribbon for excellence forming the shape of a heart. Our work, which is achieved in precious partnership with The Prince Charles Hospital, can be summed up as “Finding cures. Saving Lives” and now this theme is being promoted because it encapsulates the
CEO’s Report
vital research and lifesaving work of the Foundation. As the leading cardiac public hospital in the Asia Pacific region, our commitment to cardiac research and heart health is second to none.
Charles Hospital, refreshed its entire grants framework and included for the first time, grants for research equipment and novice researchers. Other highlights include the redevelopment of the Breeze kitchen, the development of a
all of whom are now funding research at The Prince Charles Hospital through the Foundation. We are supported by our newly appointed Ambassadors, The Hon Wayne Swan MP and
Our work, which is achieved in precious partnership with The Prince Charles Hospital, can be summed up as “Finding cures. Saving Lives”. This year marked the 20th anniversary of The Prince Charles Hospital’s heart and lung transplant unit, one of only four in the country, and the successful 200th lung transplant. This year the Foundation, in consultation with The Prince
three year strategic plan, and a risk management framework. The Foundation has been significantly enhanced by corporate support during the year. We are thrilled by new, innovative and special relationships with Kedron Wavell Services Club, Baulderstone and Q Invest,
Next year is our 25th birthday and we look forward to celebrating this important milestone with all of you, our tireless volunteers, our advocates, our researchers, our Board members, our staff, our hospital and of course our Patron. I commend our 2010 Annual Report to you. Regards, KATE ASHTON, CEO
Mr Sharif Deen who have committed to promote the work of The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation. Our Patron, His Royal Highness, Prince Charles has retained an active interest in our work and I pass on his thanks and warm wishes to all our supporters.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 11
Our Hospital
Our most important partner The Prince Charles Hospital is Australia’s largest cardiothoracic service and a leader in orthopaedics, mental health, geriatric rehabilitation, general medicine, and critical care. Under the Executive Direction of Mr Jon Roberts, the hospital is Queensland’s centre for heart and lung transplantation and a pioneer in triple organ heartlung-liver transplants. Recognised internationally for its research, the hospital is a world class teaching facility with a strong focus on fostering new generations of clinical and scientific researchers.
The hospital sits in Brisbane’s Metro North Health Service District. Professor Keith McNeil is the Clinical CEO. In 2012 a new Paediatric Emergency Department, including a short-stay ward, will open at The Prince Charles Hospital in line with the planned closure of the Royal Children’s Hospital. This will be the final piece in the hospital’s expansion project which has seen the construction of the Emergency Department and new operating theatres, the introduction of Internal Medicine and General Surgery, and the new Medical Engineering Research Facility, jointly owned by Queensland University of Technology, and located on the hospital campus. The General Surgery program has significantly expanded,
12 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
providing increased acute and after hours service in line with the growth of the Emergency Department. This will continue to increase as the Paediatric Emergency service is developed. The Prince Charles Hospital now offers a broad range of elective and acute General Surgery, complimenting the established Orthopaedic and Cardiothoracic Surgery programs. The strong relationship between General Surgery and the hospital’s specialist medical programs makes it possible to treat patients who come for simple surgery but are complicated by significant other health problems. The hospital currently has no overdue categories on the General Surgery waiting list.
Our Hospital
During 2009-2010, the Hospital had 32,644 admissions, including 20,573 overnight. It had 588 beds. Throughout the year there were: 893 stent procedures 423 pacemakers and 229 defibrillators implanted 506 coronary bypasses 686 joint replacements 2,184 General Surgery procedures 160,892 Outpatient Clinic attendances.
Mr Jon Roberts, Executive Director of The Prince Charles Hospital.
Thoracic Medicine
Queensland’s complex lung disease specialists The Thoracic Medicine Program, headed by Dr Scott Bell, has five clinical units. Research programs are embedded within each clinical unit: General Thoracic, Sleep and Respiratory Failure, Transplantation and Pulmonary Hypertension, Cystic Fibrosis, and Pulmonary Malignancy. Throughout the year, the Program has approximately 4,000 admissions, with just under half being admitted through the Emergency Department. This is a 30% increase over the past five years and 16% in the past year. In 2009-2010, approximately 20,000 thoracic consultations were performed in the
Outpatient Department. Half the Program’s work involves the management of patients with chronic respiratory disease within specialty areas. Many of these patients come from throughout Queensland, northern New South Wales, and the Northern Territory, and require lifelong management. The hospital is well-known for its expertise in lung cancer, and houses Australia’s largest lung tissue bank. The Sleep and Respiratory Failure Unit has an increasing population of patients with complex respiratory failure and has close links with the Neurology Services at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. The Queensland Centre for
Pulmonary Transplantation and Vascular Disease this year celebrated Queensland’s 200th lung transplant since the Unit opened in 1996, and has one of the largest groups of patients with pulmonary hypertension nationally.
Thoracic Medicine
The Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre is amongst the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Many patients with asthma, COPD, and a range of other lung diseases are cared for by the Thoracic Program.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-threatening genetic disease affecting Caucasians.
key research centre for the condition. Headed by Associate Professor Scott Bell , the research unit undertakes a multidisciplinary approach and spans four facilities.
Laboratory work is performed at the Queensland Children’s Medical Research Institute, One in 2,500 Australians will be born with cystic fibrosis and Queensland Medical Research Institute, the St Lucia one in 25 will carry the cystic campus of The University of fibrosis gene. Queensland and The Prince There is currently no cure. Only Charles Hospital. a few years ago, people with cystic fibrosis did not expect to The Adult Cystic Fibrosis live beyond 20 years of age, but Research Centre this year celebrated its 10th year. with improved treatments and care over the past two decades, life expectancy has increased to All members of the mid- to late-30s, with this figure multidisciplinary team are anticipated to increase well into involved in research in some way. The research covers a the 40s. broad spectrum of aspects of CF care and its treatment. As Queensland’s service for Dr Bell is the Principal adult cystic fibrosis care, The Investigator of the National Prince Charles Hospital is a
Pseudomonas Study, involving over 1,000 people with cystic fibrosis in 18 centres across Australia. This is currently funded by the NH&MRC. The study is investigating the clinical impact of “shared strains” of Pseudomonas. Dr David Reid has recently been recruited from the University of Tasmania and the Royal Hobart Hospital. He has an NH&MRC Practitioner Fellowship, and his research interests include how Pseudomonas grows in the lungs and how it forms “biofilms” (close communicating communities) and the role of iron on infection in CF. All members of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre team are involved in research projects.
Dr Scott Bell is Director of Thoracic Medicine and head of cystic fibrosis research at The Prince Charles Hospital.
Thoracic Medicine
Some recent examples of research are: Social Worker Anne Li’s work focusing on parents with cystic fibrosis and the decision-making process of having a family. Senior Nurse in the CF Program, Vanessa Moore, has been funded as a ‘New Researcher’ by the TPCH Foundation to study the impact of prolonged life expectancy in people with CF. Senior Dietitians, Angela Matson and Karen Herd, are leading studies in the management of CF-related diabetes and the changing face of nutrition in adults with CF. Other current projects include clinical trials examining the benefits of stretching for
adults with CF (Michelle Wood, Kathleen Hall, Robyn Cobb); the prevalence and impact of allergies in CF (Tracy Tse); the impact of intravenous fluid rehydration in the early management of respiratory exacerbations (Julie Bunting, Tracy McMahon); study of long term effects of bone disease in adults with CF (Anna Tai); and, the study of antibiotic resistance in Australians with CF (Daniel Smith). The Centre has an expanding Clinical Trials Unit which is allowing many adults with CF access to new and novel treatments, including novel preparations and antibiotics, airway clearance, drugs and bronchodilators, as well as drugs which impact on the CF gene itself , coordinated by Michelle Wood. The impact of research on the
16 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
care of CF can be exemplified by the Centre’s participation in the first randomised control trial of azithromycin in CF, published in the early 2000s. This early work has been confirmed by research groups in Europe, UK and the USA, and has had a major impact on the quality of life for people with CF internationally. Research initiatives which are clinically-focused impact in a positive way on the lives of patients with CF and reflect the focus of research activity in the Adult CF Centre at TPCH.
Dr James Douglas heads up the Sleep Disorders Centre at The Prince Charles Hospital. The team consists of 30 staff from scientific, nursing, medical and administrative disciplines. As one of the first sleep services in Queensland it has led the way in terms of clinical care, education and research in sleep science. It was the first public hospital based sleep service in Queensland to gain accreditation. The centre receives 1800 new referrals each year. Whilst the main disorder treated is obstructive sleep apnoea, the centre treats a range of other disorders including narcolepsy, restless legs
Thoracic Medicine
syndrome, insomnia, sleep walking, and sleep-related breathing disorders in patients with neuromuscular, airways or chest wall diseases. The centre performs over 1800 sleep investigations each year. While we all know we don’t function well without a good night’s sleep, the dangers of sleep disorders go further
occurs with devastating consequences including shortened lifespan and poor quality of life. Over its 30 years of service, the centre has provided major improvements in quality of life to thousands of patients with sleep disorders. As a result of successfully treating night time respiratory failure
The centre has been at the forefront of research into laboratory monitoring equipment, improving continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) devices and more recently looking at ways to enhance compliance with CPAP. A partnership between the Sleep Disorders Centre and
The first public hospital in Queensland to become an accredited sleep service. than not firing on all cylinders. Cardiovascular diseases, motor vehicle accidents, loss of productivity at work and mood disturbances have all been linked to sleep disorders. In some patients with neuromuscular disease, night time respiratory failure
with positive pressure devices there has been a marked improvement in the quality of life and survival of patients with neuromuscular disease. Patients with Duchenne & Becker’s muscular dystrophies are now living into their 20s and 30s – a rarity a decade ago.
cardiologists, rehabilitation specialists, cardiac surgeons, general physicians and neurologists at the hospital is currently investigating whether treating sleep apnoea reduces high-risk patients’ chances of having a stroke or heart attack. The Prince Charles Hospital is the
only centre in Queensland participating in this study – the Sleep Apnoea cardioVascular Endpoints (SAVE) study. The SAVE study involves 5,000 patients worldwide and assesses the use of CPAP in addition to standard medical care in these high-risk patients. Other current areas of research interest include studies into safe driving after night shifts, the effect of napping and rest breaks on driver fatigue, and creation of a web-based questionnaire that patients could use before seeing their sleep specialist. These research projects have only been possible with the close collaboration of researchers at Queensland University of Technology, University of Sunshine Queensland and University of Queensland.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 17
Cardiology
World-leading cardiac care and research WITH 35 CARDIOLOGISTS AND MANY MORE SPECIALIST NURSING AND SUPPORT STAFF, THE PRINCE CHARLES HOSPITAL IS RECOGNISED WORLDWIDE AS ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED CARDIAC AND TEACHING SERVICES. Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure affect almost one in five Queenslanders, approximately 770,000 people. Each year, 50,000 Australians die from cardiovascular diseases, accounting for around 35% of deaths. They are the biggest killers in the world.
The Prince Charles Hospital’s Cardiology Department and associated research programs are internationally renowned, with a history of leading breakthrough treatments such as new valve technology. Associate Professor Darren Walters, Director of Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterisation, aims to extend the department’s cardiac intervention program to become the leading centre in the Asia Pacific region for heart valves with the introduction of new types of valves. The expanded intervention program allows for treating people without open heart surgery. Dr Walters has been participating in an international trial of the CoreValve since 2008
18 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
Cardiology
and this year introduced the Edwards Sapien Valve and Melody Valve. All three are inserted through catheters, either through the groin or, in the case of the Sapien, through the chest wall if the blood supply to the legs is not strong.
The Melody Valve is an alternative for younger patients with Adult Congenital heart disease. It can correct regurgitation or narrowing of the pulmonary valve conduit. The additional benefit to patients is the drastically reduced recovery time. People
poor vascular supply. The hospital aims to be able to treat 20 patients a year with the CoreValve and 20 with the Edwards Sapien Valve. The valve program has been significantly enhanced with the opening of Australia’s
The valve program has been significantly enhanced with the opening of Australia’s first hybrid operating theatre. Both the CoreValve and Edwards Sapien are suited for older patients who have age related heart disease such as aortic stenosis. The patients benefiting from the trial have so far all been in their 70s and 80s.
can be up on their feet within hours instead of requiring months to fully recover. Dr Walters said while it’s a more invasive procedure he’s seen great outcomes for patients who’ve received the new valves and a life saving option for people who have
first hybrid operating theatre. The theatre is a combined catheter laboratory and operating suite, providing the facilities for open heart surgery should there be a complication with the catheter procedure. The room is fitted with sophisticated imaging equipment,
bringing radiographers into the theatre to work alongside cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists. The collaboration is pushing The Prince Charles Hospital even further ahead of the pack. Beyond the research focused around the valve program the department is involved in a number of investigator driven and industry sponsored clinical trials. The area covered includes trials into new drug based therapy for cardiovascular disease and innovative implantable devices to treat rhythm disorders, clot formation and close holes in the heart.
Dr Darren Walters, Director of Cardiology and Cardiac
Catheterisation, is a world-leading cardiac researcher. The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 19
Cardiology
Indigenous Cardiac Outreach Remote communities throughout Queensland are receiving highly specialised cardiac care. The Prince Charles Hospital’s Indigenous Cardiac Outreach Program delivers tertiary level cardiology services and education. Coordinated by Rohan Corpus, the program services 18 communities in the Central, Central Western and Lower Gulf regions of Queensland with more expected. Supported by the Cardiology Director of Nursing, David Tibby, the program focuses on building effective partnerships. Through engagement, education and support, Rohan Corpus and Samuel Ahmat travel to remote and regional communities with the Indigenous Cardiac Outreach Program.
20 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
the community’s capacity is enhanced to manage chronic disease in ways that are culturally, socially and geographically relevant. The project team consists of development practitioners, nursing and medical staff. The intermediate focus is to build individual capacity to enhance the community capital. The program receives funding from state and federal health bodies.
Cardiology
20 years of saving lives it is One of only four heart and lung transplant units in Australia. In April 2010, The Prince Charles Hospital reached 20 years of Queensland heart transplants. The Clinical Director of the Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Unit is Dr George Javorsky who credits the team approach of the medical, nursing, allied health, administrative and support staff with the success of the program. The unit is internationally recognised for its successful program. A unique aspect to the service is the lifelong care it provides to patients throughout Queensland, northern New
South Wales and the Northern Territory. Cardiologist Dr Andrew Galbraith was one of the unit’s original staff and 20 years later has been involved in the care of hundreds of heart failure patients and transplant recipients. The transplant unit has been an early adopter of new medications and devices which have helped many patients stay off the transplant list. The team is also involved in research into ventricular assistance devices including the development of the BiVACORŠ artificial heart. Last year, Keith Narramore received the 300th heart transplant after 20 years of excellent heart failure management. Dr George Javorsky, Clinical Director Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Unit which celebrates 20 years of transplants.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 21
Research Grants
Providing the tools for research Last year the Foundation refreshed our grants framework to better support researchers at The Prince Charles Hospital. In addition to the traditional Main Strategic Grants, we introduced grants for New Researchers (people starting their research careers) and Small and Large Research Equipment Grants (up to $5,000 and $50,000, respectively). Eleven New Researcher Grants were funded totalling $97,926 supporting the career development of nurses, doctors, scientists and researchers from Anaesthesia, Orthopaedics, Thoracic, Cardiology, Critical
Care, Nutrition & Dietetics, and Mental Health. We also provided more than $124,000 for ten Research Equipment Grants ranging from $29,005 to $2,135, which will help with research into sleep disorders, lung diseases, mental illness, nutrition and the development of the BiVACORŠ artificial heart. In addition, researchers applied for more than $3.6 Million through the Main Strategic Grants program. These applications are sent for external expert review before being evaluated by the Foundation Research Committee. The Main Strategic Grants will be awarded in September 2010.
PhD candidate Shaun Gregory received a New Researcher Grant and a Small Equipment Grant to support his work on the BiVACORŠ artificial heart. In background, engineer Nick Gaddum.
Large Equipment Large equipment grants are available for researchers who provide matched funding from other sources and which can be shared by research groups based at the hospital. Applicants can apply for $5,000 to $50,000.
Dr Stephanie Yerkovich Qld Centre for Pulmonary Transplantation & Vascular Disease A 730 litre IlShin ultra low temperature (-80C) upright freezer, $6,750.
Professor Malcolm West UQ Cardiovascular Research Unit (TPCH) Image Quant LAS 4000 digital imaging system, $25,721.
Professor Kwun Fong Thoracic Research Group Multifunctional Microplate Reader, $21,200.
Dr Daniel Timms Critical Care Research Group MPVS-Ultra Foundation system, $20,735.
Ms Elissa Robins Nutrition & Dietetics Quark RMR Indirect Calorimeter (Metabolic Cart), $29,005.
Research Grants
Small Equipment Small equipment grants are available for researchers who need equipment which costs up to $5,000.
Dr Daniel Chambers Qld Centre for Pulmonary Transplantation & Vascular Disease Nikon digital camera and stand-alone control unit, $5,000.
Dr Daniel Smith Sleep Disorders Unit 2 x ApneaLink devices and accessories, $2,135.
Ms Sandra Hyde Mental Health Unit Various equipment for ‘comfort zone’, $4,941.71.
Mr Nicholas Greatrex Critical Care Research Group Eddy current probes, $4,807.
Mr Shaun Gregory Critical Care Research Group ME20PXL Transonic tubing flow sensor, $3,910.
Research Grants
Fostering the next generation of researchers new researcher grants Dr Daniel Smith, Cystic Fibrosis and Research Fellow Genetic variation in the RAGE gene and chronic lung disease, $10,000. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have certain gene variations which contribute to the severity of the condition. Using patient samples from a previous study, the research will examine the particular gene variations identified as common to patients with COPD and to determine whether the specific variations contribute to the development of the disease, possibly paving the way for future treatments. Mental Health Social Worker Roslyn Kaiser received a New Researcher Grant for a study into why carers don’t access support services.
24 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
Dr Bajee Krishna Sriram, PhD candidate New diagnostic tools for malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, $9,586. Excessive fluid in the pleural cavity around the lungs (pleural effusions) may be a symptom of mesothelioma and lung cancer. Current tests to determine whether the effusion is caused by mesothelioma are only effective 30% of the time and require further examination of the patient. Using pleural fluid and blood samples from patients, researchers will test whether particular biomarkers can be used as a reliable tool to diagnose mesothelioma and lung cancers.
Research Grants
Mrs Maria Martins, Research scientist
occurrence of ventricular suckdown events, $9,700.
New tools for detecting treatment responsive markers in lung cancer patients, $9,675.
The research contributes to the development of the artificial heart as well as improving the effectiveness of current ventricular assistance devices by looking at the optimal mechanical characteristics of the cannulae which connect the devices to the patient’s heart.
Lung cancers are the biggest cancer killers world wide with non-small-cell lung cancers accounting for 80%. Unfortunately, lung cancer is often diagnosed after it is significantly progressed and subsequently long-term survival rates are low. This study looks at the value of developing a screening test for specific genetic mutations in non-small-cell lung cancers.
Mr Shaun Gregory, PhD candidate Optimisation of the VADpatient interface to improve rotary and pulsatile VAD efficiency and reduce the
Best Practice Nursing Grants The Foundation provides $50,000 a year to support Evidence Based Internal Mentorships which funds nursing research projects to improve patient outcomes. Nurses funded in 2009-2010 are:
Maureen Boyce Collaborative Care Planning in the Community Setting
Vivienne Newberry Does the compliance of staff wearing face masks within the operating room decrease the risk of surgical wound infections, the integrity of the sterile field or safety for personnel?
Marie Louise Martin For Heart Failure Clients living in the community, does home visiting by Community Nurses impact on their ability to self care and report their symptoms?
Elizabeth Fernandes
for temporary epicardial pacing wires?
Margaret Flynn Will nurse initiated insulin therapy lead to early stabilization of blood sugar levels in adult ICU patients, as compared with the present doctor prescribed sliding scale model?
John Bryant In cardiac patients who are administered contrast when undergoing diagnostic and/ or interventional procedures - what are the most effective, efficient and practical therapies to achieve the lowest incidences of contrast induced nephropathy?
What is the best research evidence in wound dressings
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 25
Nursing Research
new researcher grants Mr Christopher Rains, Clinical Nurse Evaluation of an exercise program to mobilise people 12 hours after they have been treated for a heart attack, $9,722.16 Heart disease is Australia’s biggest health problem, our number one killer and a significant cause of reduced quality of life. Standard procedure for people who have had a non-complicated heart attack is to begin mobilisation after 24 hours. However, while there is no evidence which suggests this is the minimum rest period, there is evidence to suggest that patients benefit
from physical movement in a variety of ways and prolonged bed rest can be detrimental. This pilot study will compare the progress of patients who are mobilised at 12 hours and patients who are mobilised at the standard 24 hours. If successful, a longer study will be developed to demonstrate that mobilisation after 12 hours assists patient recovery, and reduces hospital stays and time off work.
Ms Vanessa Moore, Clinical Nurse Consultant Losing a Parent: A new phenomenon for adults with cystic fibrosis, $8,930 Cystic fibrosis is an incurable and progressive disease, but treatment of the symptoms and related infections have increased life expectancy to
26 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
the late 30s. Parents of people with cystic fibrosis have had to live with the knowledge that they would likely outlive their children, however as treatment and life expectancy improve, adults with cystic fibrosis are now experiencing the death of their parents. People living with a chronic illness are more likely to experience anxiety and depression and the new phenomenon of surviving their parents increases this risk for people with cystic fibrosis. This study aims to develop an understanding of the effect of losing a parent on someone already coping with cystic fibrosis.
Ms Paula Quantrill, A/Clinical Nurse Consultant Review of appropriateness of patient-directed information in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, $9,964.78 Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a life -threatening degenerative disease with no known cure. The provision of accurate and timely information regarding diagnosis and treatment is important to assist patients in the self management of their illness. This project aims to gain an understanding of what information patients require when PAH is newly diagnosed, when the information should be given and in what format it should be provided.
Nursing Research
Kedron Wavell supporting nursing excellence BEST PRACTICE NURSING RESEARCH WILL RECEIVE A BOOST AFTER KEDRON WAVELL SERVICES CLUB COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING NURSING RESEARCH. Kedron Wavell Services Club committed $150,000 over three years through the newly established Kedron Wavell Services Club Patient Enrichment Fund on International Nurses’ Day 2010. The Fund will provide support for evidence-based nursing research projects across diverse disciplines and improved amenities for the families of patients in Palliative Care. Practical nursing research is critical to developing new ways
of patient care and nurses at The Prince Charles Hospital have conducted a range of studies which are already having significant impact and changing care for patients. Over the three years some of the support will be spent on
supported through the Fund with the provision of basic toiletries. Senior Vice President of Kedron Wavell Services Club, Jim Whalan, said the club was extremely pleased to take its 40-year relationship with The
“Nurses have a long tradition of helping soldiers. It’s time for the soldiers to help nurses.” new equipment for Palliative Care patients and their families, including replacing sofa beds and installing shade sails at the Palliative Care family overnight stay area. Patients admitted to hospital unexpectedly will also be
Prince Charles Hospital to a new level. “Nurses have a long tradition of helping soldiers,” Mr Whalan said. “Now it’s time for the soldiers – the Returned Services members who support the club – to help
nurses.” The agreement was co-signed by Debra Cutler, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, who also launched the TPCH Nursing Services Strategy which includes the core nursing values of caring, sharing, learning and leading. The strategy identifies the four pillars of highest quality patient care: clinical effectiveness, professional education and development, resource management, and professional collaboration, and patient and carer participation. International Nurses Day is celebrated on 12 May each year, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 27
Orthopaedics
Finding cures for aching joints Arthritis causes three million Australians to live in pain. Professor Ross Crawford is internationally renowned for his expertise in hip and knee replacements and his research into osteoarthritis, the most common form of the debilitating disease. Professor Crawford holds Australia’s first Chair in Orthopaedic Research, jointly supported by The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, the Australian Orthopaedic Association and Queensland University of Technology to further orthopaedic research in Queensland. As a prolific specialist joint replacement surgeon,
Professor Crawford has a passion for teaching surgical skills through the joint TPCH/ QUT Medical Engineering Research Facility (MERF) and has been instrumental in the establishment of QUT’s new body bequest program. Researchers at MERF are looking into new orthopaedic procedures, treatments for osteoarthritis and new materials for joint replacements and bone grafting. Laboratory space is also shared by nonorthopaedic research groups. Professor Crawford’s Foundation-supported research with Associate Professor Yin Xiao has shown that both cartilage and bone degradation occur together as the disease progresses and there has been some success in testing various methods of
Professor Ross Crawford, Chair in Orthopaedic Research and Director of the Medical Engineering Research Facility, is one of the most prolific knee andThe hip replacement surgeons in theFoundation Asia Pacific region. 28 Prince Charles Hospital 2010 Annual Report
slowing the degradation. Such a breakthrough has the potential to ease the suffering of the 1.4 Million Australians, including 700,000 Queenslanders, living with the daily pain of osteoarthritis.
New Researcher Grant Mrs Indira Prasadam, Research scientist An in vivo study of Extracellular Receptor Kinase 1/2 signalling pathway modulation as a treatment option of osteoarthritis, $10,000. This project will test whether inhibiting one of the body’s chains of chemical processes could halt or reverse the damage to the joints. If successful, this could lead to the development of treatments for osteoarthritis beyond pain management.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 29
Our Hospital
Joint approach to improved outcomes Australia’s first dedicated hip fracture unit was opened at The Prince Charles Hospital in April. This unit aims to achieve the best outcomes for patients with fractured neck of femur through an innovative shared care approach between geriatricians and orthopaedic surgeons as part of a multidisciplinary team. These patients are generally elderly and frail and benefit from this approach which addresses all aspects of their care right from the start. The unit provides a specialist service for the Metro North Health District, with hip fracture patients transferred
via ambulance directly to The Prince Charles Hospital from Royal Brisbane and Caboolture Hospitals. Dedicated theatre sessions ensure that patients have ready access to surgery lists. Delayed surgery increases the risks related to bed rest and poor nutrition, and under the new service, patients generally have their surgery within 24 hours, enabling them to recover quickly and be discharged. The unit has 24 beds and provides the full spectrum of care from admission, surgery, and through to discharge for the majority of patients. Patients are encouraged to mobilise on day one and their rehabilitation is helped by the ward design which has wider spaces allowing the use of bulky equipment and
Nurse Unit Manager Ruve Lindsay and patient Maree McLean who had surgery her fractured 30 Thefor Prince Charleship. Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
assistance with walking. The ward has a sit down dining room for patients which encourages mobility as part of the daily routine. The outcomes for patients on this ward are excellent with minimal delays to surgery and the majority of patients being able to return to their usual residence.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 31
Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine Services is a diverse program of acute and subacute services. The leadership team is Dr Elizabeth Whiting (Medical Director IMS), Dr Chris Davis (Medical Director Geriatric Medicine and Rehabilitation), Margaret CafĂŠ (Acting Nursing Director) and Mark Beilby (Business Manager), overseeing General Medicine, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Renal Medicine, Endocrinology, Neurology and Gastroenterology. Subacute care includes a range of services related to Geriatric Medicine and Rehabilitation. The patient journey through the hospital is a major focus for both the acute
and subacute services. An integrated approach promotes optimal care for patients, ensures access to acute services at the front door and minimises delays in receiving restorative care for those who require it. Interactive patient journey boards in the acute wards have promoted team communication to ensure good outcomes for patients. To continue this work IMS is taking a patient-centred approach in its strategic planning and is mapping eight patient journeys through the various services with a view to identifying areas where further improvement can occur. In the past year oncology services have transferred from the Thoracic Medicine program to Internal Medicine, reflecting the expanding spectrum of cancer patients treated at the hospital as the
Dr Elizabeth Whiting, Director of Internal Medicine and the General Medicine program, has introduced innovative services to improve patient careThe and Prince reduce length of hospital stays. 32 Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
general services have become established. The hospital also provides the hub for the bowel cancer screening program for the Metro North Health District. The acute services continue to explore hospital avoidance and hospital substitution models of care. The Early Assessment Medical Unit (EMU) is now well established and continues to achieve excellent outcomes for patient care and lengths of stay. The number of acute beds has expanded from 30 to 40 across Wards 1G and 1F to cope with the increasing admissions. Home Based Acute Care Services (HBACS) is well used and works collaboratively with the inpatient units. The Day Unit for Investigation and Therapy (DUIT) which commenced operation in 2009 gives the opportunity for all
services within the hospital to provide inpatient care on a day-only basis. Currently work is underway to facilitate rapid review in DUIT of patients who have presented to the Emergency Department needing a medical review but not necessarily requiring admission. There is also opportunity for GPs to refer directly to DUIT rather than to the Emergency Department.
Internal Medicine
The Geriatrics and Rehabilitation service is unique in Queensland and is composed of units covering Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM), Extended Care Services (ECU), Cognition Assessment & Management (CAM), and a Rehabilitation Unit, with an associated Rehabilitation Day Therapies Unit. These services offer a broad range of subacute care and contribute to both the Internal Medicine Services program and the wider hospital via innovative approaches to the care of the hospitalised older person. Rehabilitation outcomes rate very highly on national benchmarks, and the GEM Unit is a model other facilities are increasingly keen to introduce given the growing elderly population and
the burden of chronic disease. The management of the complex patient with dementia-related concerns and behaviours in the CAM Unit is seen as a key resource for the hospital and the wider district, and the provision of the Extended Care Unit service allows for improved patient flow and an opportunity to explore different discharge pathways for TPCH patients. The Geriatric Research Unit conducts varied research, with a primary focus on clinical trials of possible new treatments for dementia. The unit also collaborates with tertiary institutions on research studies, and is a highly respected research site in Australia for its work on dementia-related medication.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 33
The Foundation
Corporate partners The Foundation has been building and strengthening corporate relationships. Ensuring the Foundation is financially stable and sustainable is essential to continuing our work to find cures and save lives. We are forming strategic partnerships with businesses which see the long term value in supporting current medical research and fostering the development of future researchers. By signing muliple-year funding agreements, the Foundation is better able to commit to funding research projects which span more than 12 months.
In February we signed our first Memorandum of Understanding with Q Invest, Queensland’s public sector financial planner. The fiveyear agreement sees Q Invest providing $25,000 to support the development of the BiVACOR© artificial heart in addition to staff fundraising activities. Already staff have taken on a corporate health challenge to raise money and improve their own health, and a 50km kayak trip down the Brisbane river.
34 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
International construction company Baulderstone also came on board in June with an agreement to provide $50,000 a year for three years to support the development of the BiVACOR© artificial heart. Baulderstone staff will also fundraise through a corporate health challenge.
Kedron Wavell Services Club continued its long relationship with The Prince Charles Hospital, signing a three-year MOU to support nursing research and improve facilities for Palliative Care patients and visiting family members. The $50,000 a year contribution will make a significant impact on patient care and comfort.
The Foundation
Promoting lifesaving excellence The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation has refreshed its brand including a new logo and strap line to better reflect our current and future direction. The new logo retains the much-loved heart shape of the old logo, but with cleaner lines. The flowing blue ribbon heart is comprised of a bright welcoming cyan and the royal blue of our Patron, His Royal Highness Prince Charles, and also reflecting the ‘best in breed’ excellence of the hospital and researchers we support. As part of the logo, we’ve adopted a cleaner font to make it easier for people to read our name. Our new strap line is “Finding cures. Saving lives.” We feel this combines the excellent work carried out every day at The Prince Charles Hospital in saving lives as well as our own commitment to finding cures and saving lives by supporting world class medical research.
The Foundation ran its first major campaign from April to June 2010. Featuring the stories of four real people whose lives have been saved, the campaign theme was “I lived…”. Advertisements appeared online, on buses, at bus stops and on radio. We were very pleased to team up with Terry White Chemists Australia-wide. During May, Terry White Chemists displayed posters about The Foundation and the work we support, as well as a feature in their May catalogue. Our other valued partners for the campaign were 4BC and 4BH radio who also supported our first online auction, held in May. Thanks to the personal stories of Shelley Hoyland, Melinda Wrzesien, Nick De Marco and Lawrie Rodgers, our campaign was highly successful, against the odds of the global financial crisis. Read the feature stories online at www.findingcures.com.au
Melinda Wrzesien, Australia’s fourth triple organ (heart, lungs and liver) transplant recipient, was one of the faces of our “I lived...” campaign.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 35
Foundation Events
Paddy Woolcock Memorial One of Australia’s best known researchers, Clinical Professor Fiona Wood AM, was our special guest for the 2009 Paddy Woolcock Memorial Lecture. Dr Wood, known for developing the spray-on skin which helped victims of the Bali bombing, delivered the Lecture at a dinner of more than 200 people on 22 October.
Atmosphere Photography
Clinical Professor Fiona Wood AM delivered the 4th Paddy Woolcock Memorial Lecture.
36 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
Co-founder of Clinical Cell Culture which developed the spray-on skin technique, Dr Wood had the audience of medicos, researchers and the business community transfixed with the story of
how she discovered her love for science and unknowingly broke the unspoken rules of academia to pursue her passion for knowledge. Dr Wood is the Western Pacific representative for the International Society for Burn Injuries, a panellist on the New Inventors TV show and most trusted person in Australia, according to five consecutive annual Reader’s Digest polls. Driven to find answers to the question ‘why?’, Dr Wood has forged a dynamic career as a plastic surgeon and world leading researcher, challenging the beliefs of the science community and even using the progress of her first pregnancy to study the elastic properties of skin. The other star of the dinner was double lung transplant
Foundation Events
recipient Jessica Sheerman. Jess had the engrossed attention of the entire room as she told her story of not letting cystic fibrosis prevent her from living a full life and the torturous rapid progression of the illness in the lead up to her transplant. Earlier in the day, 15 research groups from The Prince Charles Hospital presented at the Paddy Woolcock Medical Research Forum. The presentations covered a range of disciplines including nursing research, equipment, social work, mental health, heart and lung transplant research, physiotherapy, and critical care. The Paddy Woolcock Memorial Lecture is held every two years in memory of Dr Paddy and Mrs Dorothy Woolcock, better known as
Judy. Paddy Woolcock was a thoracic physician who regularly visited colleagues at The Prince Charles Hospital. Over the years the couple had many connections with the hospital. Frequent travellers with no children, the couple were committed to medicine and on Mrs Woolcock’s passing in 2001 she established The Patrick and Dorothy Woolcock Medical Research Fund to support cardiothoracic research through The Prince Charles Hospital. The event started in 2003 and the guest speakers have been Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC, Professor Michael Good AO and Professor Ian Frazer. The 2009 event was sponsored by Westpac, Baulderstone, and Kedron Wavell Services Club.
The Foundation had a busy year for going out to the community. Our biggest logistical effort each year is managing the Nestle-Peters strawberry sundae stalls at the Ekka. Thank you to the more than 1500 volunteers who helped us over the 10 day event in August. We were supported by Greyhound Freight to tour our Ekka mascot, a 6-foot stuffed ice cream, from Cairns to Brisbane in time for the show. The annual golf day at Virginia Golf Club in November was organised with the invaluable help of Barry and Gail Gablonski. It was another perfect Queensland
day on the golf course. During Heart Week in May we partnered with businesses to provide healthy heart information. Cardiac nurses tested blood pressure and cholesterol for free and spoke to people about heart health. Also in May, we held our annual barefoot bowls day at Chermside Bowls Club, assisted by Russ Chorlton and the Brisbane Brass Band. For Men’s Health Week in June, we partnered with Herbert Geer to present Men’s Health and the Economy, a lunch event with keynote speakers The Honourable Wayne Swan MP and Mr Sharif Deen, our Ambassadors.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 37
Friends of the Foundation
Ambassadors and political friends
Atmosphere Photography
Clockwise from top left (l-r): Foundation Ambassadors Sharif Deen and The Hon Wayne Swan MP with Chairman John Hamilton. Councillor Norm Wyndham Murray Watt MP with Chairman John Hamilton and The Hon Stirling Hinchliffe MP. Lyn Walker with The Hon Paul Lucas MP and Rebecca Dixon.
38 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
The Honourable Wayne Swan MP, Federal Treasurer and Member for Lilley (the hospital’s federal electorate), and Mr Sharif Deen, personal trainer and finalist on The Biggest Loser 2009, signed on as the Foundation’s Ambassadors for Men’s Health and Healthy Lifestyles, respectively. Both men have faced significant personal health challenges and are committed to promoting good health and medical research. The Foundation reports to the Minister for Health through this annual report and we strive to support our partners in Queensland Health to promote clinical excellence and life saving research. We have been fortunate to maintain and strengthen our relationships with Deputy Premier and Health Minister The Hon Mr Paul Lucas MP,
Parliamentary Secretary for Healthy Living and Member for Everton Mr Murray Watt MP, and Minister for Infrastructure and Member for Stafford The Hon Mr Stirling Hinchliffe MP. We have also received support from our local McDowall Ward Councillor Norm Wyndham, a passionate heart health fundraiser.
Friends of the Foundation
Community and business partners We greatly appreciate the support of our friends in the community helping us find cures and save lives. Counsellor Norm Wyndham led a group of cyclists in the Cycle Queensland Darling Downs trip for eight days in September to raise money for The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation and the Heart Foundation. The group also demonstrated that having heart surgery doesn’t mean you have to stop living an active life. They raised $1,500 for The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation. John and Kath Moore raised more than $4,000 for the Foundation in the lead up to
the Melbourne Marathon on October 11. John’s father was a heart patient at The Prince Charles Hospital. Their team included three people running the full marathon and three running the half marathon. The lovely ladies at Fernwood Chermside had a marathon of their own when they rode stationary bikes for 12 hours in the Westfield shopping centre. The four Fernwood riders plus two staff from Gym Funky raised over $2,500 to support heart disease research. The staff at Wagamama Chermside have been donating their tips every Thursday (the restaurant’s busiest day of the week) to help support research and promote healthy eating. Brisbane’s tallest building, the Oaks Aurora, was thundering as 60 staff from 19 Goodlife
Health Clubs ran up 67 flights of stairs to raise awareness of World Heart Day in September. The fastest made it to the top in 10 minutes. The stragglers took just under 12 minutes! Goodlife Health Club also held auctions at their two open days, raising around $3,000 for the Foundation.
patrons to donate to the Foundation at their events throughout the year.
Myer Chermside staff again chose The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation as their store charity. Through staff raffles, morning teas and events, they raised $2670 during the year. There was even some friendly rivalry between Myer and Goodlife during Heart Week as they competed in a daily treadmill challenge, encouraging passersby to sponsor the runners and make donations, raising $2,000. Gilhooley’s Steakhouse has been regularly encouraging
We have been significantly aided by Perpetual Philanthropy to support research and organisational development.
Westpac staff continued to support the Foundation through their fundraising efforts. Westpac also partnered with the Foundation for our Paddy Woolcock research day.
Australian Pensioners and Superannuants League raised $2,000 through ‘cent auctions’. More than 60 local small businesses participated in our 50,000 Hearts appeal during May, helping raise over $5900.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 39
Friends of the Foundation
Donations and bequests The Foundation and Trust received $1,544,582 in donations during 2009-2010. Thank you to everyone who donated to help us find cures and save lives. These included: Up to $500: 4262 donations totalling $244,549 $501 to $1,000: 56 donations totalling $49,508 $1,001 to $5,000: 43 donations totalling $113,534 Over $5000: 31 donations totalling $1,136,991 $91,794 from our Christmas appeal $106,644 from our “I lived� appeal
Payroll donations
Bequests The Foundation received bequests and disbursements totalling $659,207.98 from the following Estates: Veronica Margaret Jordan Gladys Irene Plueckhahn James Jenkinson Thelma Whatley Patrick and Dorothy Woolcock Frederick George Kemp Mr Alfred Spencer Robjohns HC & SM Memorial Vilma Lucija Erdmanis Athol Hall Odling Robert Joseph Jones
Support research Donations can be made to The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation by: Visiting the online donation page at www.tpchfoundation.org.au Phoning (07) 3139 4636 Posting a cheque or money order to TPCH Foundation, 627 Rode Rd Chermside Qld 4032
Our payroll donor scheme allows staff of The Prince Charles Hospital to support the lifesaving research happening at their hospital.
Visiting our office at Level 1, Administration Building, The Prince Charles Hospital
We greatly appreciate the 283 staff who donated $30,412 through their fortnightly contributions.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Any staff or businesses interested in joining the payroll donor scheme are invited to contact the Foundation office.
40 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
Allied Health
new researcher grants Ms Sue Wong, clinical Dietitian An evaluation of the nutritional status of heart failure patients at The Prince Charles Hospital, $9,768. Understanding the nutritional status of heart failure patients and translating nutrition to appropriate food choices will guide health promotion strategies and create awareness of the role of nutrition in chronic disease treatment and prevention. Any benefit will ultimately result in improvement in the patients’ social wellbeing, demands on medical services and role in the workforce.
Life saving cardiac surgery is not without risk, such as stroke, transfusion reaction and neurological damage. During surgery, patients are connected to a cardiopulmonary bypass circuit, which may absorb the essential trace elements selenium, zinc and magnesium, necessary for fighting disease and promoting organ function.
needs. The research will guide further development of the Strengthening Families Program to ensure it meets the support needs of people caring for a family member with early psychosis.
The study will test blood before and after it is run through the cardiopulmonary bypass machine for trace elements to determine the extent to which these elements may be depleted during surgery, especially in patients with levels at the low end of normal prior to surgery.
Ms Roslyn Kaiser, Social Worker
Mr Charles McDonald, Senior Cardiac Perfusionist
Promoting recovery for early psychosis clients by effectively assisting and supporting caregivers in their roles, $590.
Changes in trace element levels as a result of absorption by the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)circuit, $9,990.
The Early Psychosis Unit will examine the reasons carers are not accessing current support programs and identify unmet
Clinical Dietitian Ms Sue Wong, and Senior Clinical Dietitian Ms Elissa Robins (background) received grants to improve the understanding of the unique nutritional needs of patients at The Prince Charles Hospital.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 41
Allied Health
Innovative research for good practice Barcodes are the newest tools for groundbreaking Allied Health research at The Prince Charles Hospital. Mark Butterworth is the Executive Director of Allied Health for Metro North. His area includes The Prince Charles Hospital, Redcliffe and Caboolture Hospitals, and community services in the district. There are around 1000 staff in the district. Using portable scanners, Health Practitioners are tracking real-time patient care to research the quality and impact of allied health treatments. With 12 main specialities and up to 30
Pharmacist Alison GrievesHospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 42 The Prince Charles
sub-specialities, the clinical information gathered from every patient interaction is providing a picture of exactly which interventions are provided, and how long and how often the patient is seen. The scanning project which started in January 2010 will allow examination of length of stay, length of treatment and cost for patient treatment. The information will be used to identify the most effective course of action for future patients, such as demonstrating whether patients who see social workers have shorter hospital stays and better outcomes than those who don’t see social workers. Allied Health has established four dedicated research positions, in collaboration with QUT, ACU and Griffith University.
Research Grants
Grants in payment the Foundation currently has $1,365,119 committed to research grants in payment. In addition to the new types of grants introduced this year, research projects supported include:
Dr Rayleen Bowman
Ms Jill Larsen
Ms Amanda Corley
Mechanisms of lung cancer development related to genetic predisposition; Asbestos-related lung cancer; Discovery of active new drugs in malignant mesothelioma.
What causes lung cancer in non-smokers?
How does the position of the patient and different airway suctioning techniques affect the breathing of patients who are receiving artificial ventilation?
Ms Santiyagu Savarimuthu
Dr Rachel Thomson
Immune response to bacteria in people with COPD; Emphysema severity genes.
Genes, infection and chronic lung disease.
Dr Kwun Fong
Dr Alison Mudge Does exercise improve outcomes in patients following hospital care for heart failure?
Dr Ming Wei Gene delivery for therapy and renal protection.
Regulation of lung cancer development; Viruses and lung cancer; Genes that cause lung cancer.
Dr Ian Yang Environmental stress in the lung; Helping high-risk smokers to give up smoking; Regulators of lung damage.
Dr John Fraser How cardiac surgery without pumps affects neutrophils; Towards a sheep model of transfusion reactions.
Dr Colleen Olive Towards reducing heart disease by peptide vaccines.
Dr Maria Nataatmadja Alteration of growth factors in stem cells and vascular cells associated with the development of aortic aneurysm.
Dr Mark Hansen Comparing CT scan with ultrasound in determining coronary artery blockages.
Dr Daniel Timms Design and evaluation of new cannulae for bi-ventricular assist devices.
Dr Scott Bell Haemochromatosis gene mutations modify disease severity in cystic fibrosis.
Ms Morgan Davidson Lung cancer microRNA molecules.
Ms Annette Dent The use of an electronic nose to detect chronic lung disease.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 43
Governance
John Hamilton
Dr Colin Brennan
Cheryl Burns
Christopher Mullins
LLB
MBBS (QLD), FRANZCP, MRC Psych (London), DPM (Melb), FRACMA, FAIM, FAFPHM (RACP), FRIPH
RN, Dip Bus, MRCNA
B. Bus
Jon Roberts
Bernard Curran CA
Karenlee Spillane
Toby Innes
B.Comm, ACA
Chair, The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation Finance Committee Chartered Accountant Partner, BDO (Qld) Chair, National Private & Entrepreneurial Client Services Division, BDO Australia
GDComm (F’raising), MAICD, MAIM, MFIA
B.ApSc Property Econ, Grad Cert App Finance & Investment
Foundation Chair, The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation Principal Partner McInnes Wilson Lawyers Director, St Leo’s College (within the University of Queensland) Director of the Queensland Education Leadership Institute Limited
Executive Director, The Prince Charles Hospital Secretary, The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation
Deputy Foundation Chair, The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation
44 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
President TPCH Foundation Trust A/Senior Director Clinical Education and Training for Queensland, Queensland Health ACHS Surveyor Member of Royal College of Nursing Australia
CEO, Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation Inaugural Telstra Foundation Community Leadership Program (Fundraising) QUT Board member, Queensland Children’s Medical Research Institute Board member, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School Foundation
Financial Planner – Mullins & Mullins Vice President TPCH Foundation Trust
Terminals Commercial Manager, Brisbane Airport Corporation Pty Ltd
Governance
Brad Edwards
Terry Sullivan
Raynuha Sinnathamby
Greg Meek
LLB
Acting Chairman, The Prince Charles Hospital Health Community Council Former State Member of Parliament (1991-2006)
BA LLB MBA
B.Comm, FCA, FAIM
Solicitor General Counsel -Bank of Queensland Limited
Deputy Managing Director, Springfield Land Corporation Director, Signature Brisbane Division Council Member, Property Council of Australia Chairperson of Residential Committee, Property Council of Australia
National Business Development Manager Herbert Geer,Lawyers Former Deputy CEO, Committee for Economic Development of Australia
Chris Sartori Dip. Club Mgt
Secretary Manager, Kedron-Wavell Services Club Member, Clubs Queensland Advisory Council Principal, KWSC Training
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 45
Governance
Standing board committees Finance Committee Purpose: oversight of financial governance, financial reporting, audit and risk. Members: B Curran (Chair), C Mullins, T Innes, C Sartori, J Roberts.
Research Committee Purpose: oversight of Grant Framework for applications and grants in payment. Members: K McNeil (Chair), S Bell, D Walters, M Ray, C Turner, F Kinnear, M West, J Paratz, P Bew, M Woodgate (staff).
Strategy Committee
Innes, K Spillane, C Atkinson (staff).
Purpose: development of strategic process and documents prior to Board review. Members: B Curran (Chair), B Edwards, G Meek.
The Board Chairman and the CEO are ex-officio members of each committee.
Additional Board Committees 20092010
Development Committee
Breeze Re-development Purpose: governance of Breeze kitchen re-development project. Members: C Sartori (Chair), Bernard Curran, J Roberts, R Dawson (staff).
Purpose: development of external relationships. Members: G Meek (Chair), T Innes, B Edwards, B Curran, N Gibson (staff).
Branding Purpose: oversight of Foundation branding project. Members: G Meek(Chair), T
46 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
Governance
Corporate governance The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation formally reports each year to the Queensland Minister for Health through the annual report and financial statements. The Foundation is a statutory body incorporated under the Hospitals Foundations Act 1982 by Order in Council dated 20 November 1986. The Foundation Auditors are Priestleys Chartered Accountants, L1 217 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba Qld 4102. The role of The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation Board
includes: providing strategic direction; ensuring fiscal accountability; undertaking fiduciary duties; monitoring & improving organisational performance; and ensuring compliance with statutory and governance responsibilities.
Strategic Direction During 2009-2010, the Board undertook robust strategic planning processes, sponsored by Perpetual Philanthropy. Outcomes included establishing the Board’s role in strategic planning; developing a Three Year Strategic Directions Document; identifying the primary strategic themes for the Foundation; and establishing a Strategy Committee.
Fiscal Accountability The Foundation retains high standards of internal financial monitoring and accountability. The Board and staff work together using relevant reporting and tools to ensure fiscal accountability. These include active use of an annual budget, re-forecasting, and monthly reporting to the Finance Committee with a financial pack provided to all Board members. The Foundation operates with 7.2 FTEs in the office function and 31 FTE equivalents in its café function. The organisation now has the following segments: PR and Communications, Income Generation, Research Grants, Breeze Café and TPCH Relations.
Fiduciary Duties The Board takes its responsibilities to direct the Foundation seriously. Strategic planning is supported by a minimum of two planning events per year. There are six Board meetings, held bi-monthly which are supported by a full pack of reports for Directors. A Director’s Handbook is circulated annually, including Conflicts of Interest guidance. Declaration of conflicts of interest is a standing item agenda on the Board agenda. Board members serve in an honorary capacity and therefore do not receive any remuneration for Board or committee work, or travel. Training and opportunity to participate in Board development is a standing offer. Board members are
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report 47
Governance
Corporate governance actively invited to participate in courses, especially those offered by AICD for Board members (paid by the Foundation). During 20092010, the Board implemented a new Grants Framework and in the course of reviewing internal processes, the Board looked at the Foundation’s approach to risk. An important outcome to this is the development of a Foundation Risk Framework for implementation in 2010-2011.
Monitoring & Improving Organisational Performance Communications: Significant effort has been made to increase communications to diverse audiences (community, donors, businesses, volunteers and the hospital). The
Branding Sub-committee managed the refreshment of the organisational logo, the development and inclusion of the strap line “Finding cures. Saving Lives”, and a first external campaign, “I lived”. A new campaign website, www.findingcures.com.au, has commenced feeding to the Foundation website www.tpchfoundation.org.au. A minimum of 2 ‘good news’ media stories appear each month showcasing the hospital and its researchers. Foundation staff have regular management meetings, an annual corporate plan, KPIs and regular performance reviews supported by documented HR files and written records.
48 The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation 2010 Annual Report
The New Grants Framework The new framework was introduced that included the introduction of research equipment grants and novice researcher grants. Of especial importance are new corporate relationships secured to fund research work in addition to the research grants distributed via the Foundation Grants Framework.
Re-development of Breeze Kitchen During 2009-2010, the redevelopment of the Breeze kitchen was planned, prepared and implemented. The new part of the kitchen will be fully operational early September 2010. The Board set up a sub-committee to oversee the processes,
reporting and due governance for this project. The introduction of a formal lease now sets out the arrangements between the hospital and the Foundation regarding the Breeze Cafe operations.
Our People
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation is the charity which supports research at The Prince Charles Hospital. We were established in 1986 under the Hospitals Foundations Act 1982. Our Patron is His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. The Foundation staff are: CEO Kate Ashton, Breeze Cafe Manager Ricardo Dawson, Accountant Katrina Beasley, Head Chef and Catering Coordinator Eric Bellchambers, Major Gifts and Partnerships Manager Nicole Gibson, PR and Communications Manager Christine Atkinson,
Foundation staff: (l-r) Katrina, Carol, Eric, Margaret, Christine, Maree, Damian, Nardi, Ricardo, Nicole and Rhod.
Catering Assistant Rhod Matthews, Cafe Assistant Manager Maree Ross, and Administration Officers Nardi Harper, Carol Nightingale (Events), Margaret Woodgate (Research) and Damian Lennox (Sales and Marketing). Our Cafe employs around 30 staff including supervisors, three qualified chefs as well as
part time and casual serving staff. In partnership with the hospital, the Foundation has renovated the cafe kitchen to provide a better service to our customers. The kitchen refit was necessary to cater for the increased numbers of staff, patients and visitors at the
hospital in recent years and will also allow us to expand our commercial catering business. The cafe offsets the Foundation’s administrative costs to ensure income received through donations and fundraising activities is committed to research.
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Saving lives
Queensland’s 200th lung transplant When 20-year old Rebecca Dixon moved from Auckland to Brisbane, she saw Australia as a stepping stone to an acting career in the United States. But soon after arriving, Bec had met Darren and her health had started deteriorating. While her parents wanted her to come home, Bec laid her cards – and her health – on the table for Darren and the couple decided that she would stay in Australia. “It’s been difficult with my being family in New Zealand, but Darren’s been the most supportive person ever. He’s fantastic,” she says. “He’s
supported me financially and mentally all the way. I couldn’t have done it without him.” Born with cystic fibrosis, the world’s most common life-threatening genetic condition, from the age of 12 Bec was having three-monthly ‘tune-ups’ in hospital, being treated with antibiotics. As a competitive cross-country skier, Rebecca was a member of the New Zealand national team. She was also the face of Cure Kids, travelling the country helping raise money for research into lifethreatening illnesses. “I was always really active, which I think helped my health in the long run,” she says. “I was just trying to keep up with everyone else.” When she moved to Australia, Bec was referred to The
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Prince Charles Hospital, Queensland’s specialist adult cystic fibrosis service. Within a few weeks her health was so bad there was talk she may need to be listed for transplant. “In New Zealand it’s a long process, transplants happen but they are rare,” she says. “My cousin had CF and he was on the list for two years. He died waiting for a transplant. Before I moved here I never even considered a transplant. I
She was developing allergic reactions to the antibiotic treatments. Earlier this year, Rebecca became Queensland’s 200th lung transplant recipient after being listed a few months earlier. “I’m grateful to have had the opportunity for a transplant. It’s the most remarkable experience,” she says. “I’m so thankful to my donor family and to the transplant and CF teams. They’ve made it so easy
“Before I moved here I never even considered a transplant. I didn’t want to die waiting.” didn’t want to die waiting.” By May 2009, Bec’s six-weekly hospital visits had increased to two weeks in, two weeks out and she had to quit her job.
for me.” Her mother Robyn came to help her through the transplant and recovery. Bec admits her parents were
Saving lives
nervous when their youngest of three girls migrated, but they knew there was no stopping her. One of her two older sisters moved back to Brisbane, having lived here a few years earlier. “My sisters don’t have CF, but they’ve had their own issues. They both had to get braces,” she jokes. Now feeling fantastic and with the first real chance to make plans, 24-year old Rebecca and Darren are negotiating whether to buy a boat before they get married and plan to buy a house this year. Bec’s looking forward to next year’s Transplant Games and would like to start doing triathlons and duathlons.
I had to keep looking behind for Mum!” she says. “Before the transplant I worked in hospitality. Acting requires you to commit to being available for a period of time and I couldn’t do that with my health. I couldn’t make plans. “Eventually I’d like to start an acting school for kids. For now it’ll be nice to kick back and live for a while.”
“I’m getting used to my new breathing. Last week Mum and I went for a power walk and
Transplant recipient Rebecca Dixon and Lung Transplant Coordinator Cherie Beck
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Saving lives. The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation Level 1, Administration Building, The Prince Charles Hospital, 627 Rode Rd Chermside 4032. www.tpchfoundation.org.au www.findingcures.com.au. Phone: (07) 3139 4636 Fax: (07) 3139 4002 tpch-foundation@health.qld.gov.au