Western Health

October is the month dedicated to raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest. ❤️⚠️

Did you know that every day, around 21 Victorians experience a cardiac arrest? 😱 Shockingly, only one in 10 survive. 😔

That's why it's crucial for everyone to be equipped with life-saving knowledge 🩺📚, as you never know when you may need to perform CPR or use a defibrillator 🚑⚡.

As we approach the end of the Shocktober initiative, let’s commit to spreading awareness 📣 and ensuring more people are prepared to act in an emergency! 🙌💪

For more information visit Ambulance Victoria website: https://bit.ly/3NcAxkQ

🌍🌍Sunshine Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has introduced reusable pads — known as blueys and pinkies — saving 1,500kg waste from landfill in one year alone. 🌍🌍

Traditionally used to absorb liquids, the disposable pads take more than 100 years to decompose.

Not only are the reusable pads free from plastic, but they also can be washed up to 200 times, lasting around two years.

💚It’s anticipated that as the pads are rolled out across the health service, the use of disposable products will continue to decline. 💚

Congratulations to SICU Equipment Nurse Kylie Feely, who led the trial, with support from her job share colleague Edward Quilas.💚🌱💚

Read more about this sustainability success story: https://bit.ly/4e1JzfD

⚠️⚠️ Residents of Melbourne's inner north and west are being urged to protect themselves from mosquito bites over the warmer months, as there are increasing cases of Buruli ulcer in the region. ⚠️⚠️

🦠🦟 Buruli ulcer is an infection of skin and soft tissue caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium ulcerans that develops following a bite from an infected mosquito. The toxins made by the bacteria destroy skin cells, small blood vessels and the fat under the skin, which causes the Buruli ulcer. 🦠🦟

🦠📈 So far in 2024 — as we head into the busiest period of the year for Buruli ulcer diagnoses — there have been 42 cases for the Merri-bek and Moonee Valley local government areas (LGA) combined. 📈📈

📍 The Western Public Health Unit has recently recorded cases in Brunswick West, Coburg, Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Pascoe Vale South and Strathmore. 📍

⚠️ If you live in these suburbs, see what you can do to prevent Buruli ulcer by visiting https://bit.ly/3Nrd2EN

What's life like for patients and families after a stay in intensive care?

Western Health Physiotherapy Research Lead Kimberley Haines – who is a leader of Australian and international research into ICU survivorship and a Senior Research Fellow and Clinical Associate Professor at the The University of Melbourne – helped answer this complex question on ABC Melbourne Conversation Hour today.

A/Prof Haines' extensive research, with Western Health and the The University of Melbourne, has found many ICU patients continue to suffer emotionally and physically after recovering from critical illness.

She joined Western Health's Critical Care Research Manager and ICU nurse Samantha Bates and patient advocate Belinda MacLeod-Smith, whose husband spent extended periods in ICU, in a fascinating discussion with hosts Richelle Hunt and Daniel Miles.

Listen to the program: https://ab.co/48bsgaN

Marking World Menopause Day today, Western Health gynaecologist Dr Aetka Neel spoke to the Star Weekly to dispel some of the many myths and misconceptions about menopause.

Time to talk about menopause | Brimbank & North West As World Menopause Day approaches on October 18, it’s crucial to shed light on the often-misunderstood transition that many women …

Thank you, Jacinta Allan and Victorian Department of Health.

Western Health’s nuclear medicine team is proud to be operating this new, Victorian-first scanner at Sunshine Hospital.

It means we can provide better – and more efficient – care for patients like Jean, who requires a whole-body scan about four times a year.

“It’s always a pleasure to be at Sunshine Hospital – the staff there are wonderfully kind, and I look forward to seeing them – but not having to spend so much time in the scanner is much more convenient,” says Jean, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer twice in 20 years.

“I’ve had one scan in the brand-new scanner so far, and I felt more comfortable. When I got off, I thought ‘gee, that was quick.”

We’re looking forward to seeing you at your next appointment, Jean.

🚴‍♀️🎉 Today is National Ride2Work Day! 🎉🚴‍♀️

👏 Ride2Work Day is Australia’s largest celebration of commuter cycling, encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle by promoting a simple change in your daily commute. 🚴‍♀️💪

✨Western Health supports this initiative through its "Bicycle Users Group" (BUG), which promotes the advantages of cycling. This group gives employees and volunteers a platform to share feedback, discuss ideas, and explore opportunities for improving cycling to work. ✨

🤧 Do you wheeze or sneeze during pollen season? 🤧

Grass pollen season is here, bringing an increase in asthma and hay fever. It also brings the chance of Thunderstorm asthma, which is asthma that is triggered by a particular type of thunderstorm when there are high amounts of grass pollen in the air (typically between October and the end of December).

⛈️ ⚡Thunderstorm asthma can result in people wheezing, feeling short of breath, and tight in the chest with coughing. It can be sudden, serious and even life threatening. 💨⛈️ ⚡

🤧 If you’ve ever had asthma or hay fever, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what you can do to protect yourself. 👩‍⚕️ 👨‍⚕️

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3BJDRSk

World Mental Health Day is recognised on October 10 each year with this year’s theme focusing on "Mental Health at Work".

Work can be good for our mental health, and therefore it is important to protect and promote our health at work and that includes the management of stress.

👉 Learn About Stress Management Techniques.
Stress affects everyone differently, so it’s important to find what works for you. Here are some tips:
✔️ Maintain a balanced diet
✔️ Stay connected with friends and family
✔️ Exercise regularly (walking, lifting weights, stretching)
✔️ Prioritize sleep and relaxation
For more guidance, check out the resource in other languages: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240003927

👉 Watch for Changes in Your Mental Health
If you notice changes like withdrawing from activities or increased sick leave, it may be a sign of rising stress. If these changes persist, consider seeking support.

👉 Reach Out for Help
If stress is impacting your daily life, talk to a colleague, friend, or health service. For workplace stress, consider discussing your concerns with your manager or accessing any employee assistance services available.

Community options can also include:
▪️ Head to Health: Mental health advice and guidance - 1800 595 212
▪️ Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Melton | Mind Australia https://www.mindaustralia.org.au/services/mental-health-and-wellbeing-local-melton - partnership with Mind Australia and Western Health

▪️ Make contact with your GP regarding options for added support.

🔬 Over the past 30 years we have conducted 375 clinical trials that have improved countless lives.

They have the potential to change the course of a patient’s disease trajectory and have contributed to breakthroughs of global significance. They also provide our patients with hope of a better future.

🙏 Thank you to our patients and staff for supporting clinical trials.

“Even after 30 years I’m blown away by our patients, who want to have the best treatment available, but also want to help others by taking part in medical research,” Oncology Research Study Coordinator Lisa Wilkinson said.

👨‍🌾 At Grant Lodge Residential Aged Care in Bacchus Marsh, every day is a new chance to connect, create and engage in meaningful lifestyle activities. 🧶

Favourites like bingo and knitting are always popular, while innovative tools like the magic table (Tovertafel) encourage social interaction and mental stimulation through interactive light projection.

Residents can also enjoy growing their own herbs and vegetables in our outdoor pods. We also offer an innovative nutrition program.

⭐ Recently our 30-bed unit that provides a wide variety of lifestyle enhancement programs seven days a week, 24-hour nursing care and a safe home-like environment, received a 5-star aged care rating.

We are proud of our staff who do a fantastic job caring for our residents!

Research Week 2024 kicked off today with a keynote address from Professor Bianca Brijnath from the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) on the importance of ethnic diversity in clinical trials.

Ethnic diversity in clinical trials helps, Professor Brijnath says, promote health equity and access to care and improves applicability to real-world populations.

Having consulted widely across Australia, she said that ethnically diverse communities want to be involved in medical research and understand the benefits for individuals as well as for society and humanity more broadly.

Professor Brijnath offered suggestions on recruitment, consent, data collection mechanisms and retention. She ended by saying that Australia is well placed to be at the cutting edge of medical research because of our population diversity.

Research Week runs from 7-11 October, showcasing excellence in research and innovation. Sessions throughout the week feature leading experts from a wide range of disciplines, delivering life-changing medical research with real-world benefits to patients.

Pictured (L/R): A/Prof Harin Karunajeewa, Director Clinical Research; Chief Medical Officer Abi Arul; Prof Bianca Brijnath; Western Health CEO Prof Russell Harrison; Board Director A/Prof Elizabeth Kennedy; Bill Karanatsios Research Program Director.

“This was my second time facing up to breast cancer, and you’d think it would be easier”.

That’s what Cecilia, 60, presumed when she received her second breast cancer diagnosis in May this year – nine years after the first.

“But it wasn’t, either mentally or physically. You can’t help having terrible thoughts in your head. No matter how positive you think you are, you are human, after all.”

Cecilia is one of about 160 new breast cancer patients receiving treatment at Western Health so far this year. She has undergone major surgery and is now working her way through her recovery.

The mum of two from St Albans says she is “very fortunate and grateful” for the care she’s received from the surgical and nursing teams, the breast care nursing team, and the Hospital in the Home (HITH) team. ❤️

And the support from Western Health has gone beyond clinical treatment.

Thanks to the Western Health Foundation and Breast West, in partnership with the EFM Health Club at Sunshine Hospital, Cecilia is taking part in a 12-week exercise program for breast cancer patients.

“I was always very active before, and I missed it,” Cecilia says. “So, I’m very happy to be doing this program – being active again and meeting other women in my situation.”

Cases of mpox are increasing in Victoria, including in Melbourne's central and west metro areas.

🦠 Mpox is a viral infection that spreads through close physical contact, including s*x.

Symptoms of mpox can include a rash, fever, chills, headache and muscle aches.

If you are at risk of being exposed to mpox, you should:

💉 Get vaccinated - the mpox vaccine provides protection against mpox and is available free-of-charge for specific priority groups in Victoria.

🧪 Test - if you notice symptoms of mpox, especially a rash, seek medical care and get tested at your GP or the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre.

🔽 Limit the number of s*xual partners - this can lower your risk of exposure to mpox.

For more information on mpox, visit https://bit.ly/4gKyRwG

No Victorian teams in the AFL grand final?

That’s no problem at Grant Lodge Residential Aged Care, where we’ve got football fans of all stripes!

Footy fever well and truly hit the Bacchus Marsh unit this week, and the countdown to the big Brisbane-Sydney clash tomorrow is now on.

Resident Barbara, pictured with husband Peter, will be among those barracking the hardest.

Born in South Melbourne 84 years ago, Barbara was one of seven children raised in her home-town red and white. Her support for the Swans didn’t waver when they moved to Sydney in the 1980s.

Western Health wishes Barbara and Peter – and all the Swans and Lions fans out there – good luck!

Western Health is celebrating five years since our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) opened at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s. 🎉 🥳

Since then, our incredible team has cared for 1128 precious patients.

They include three-week-old Leo, and his big sister, Trina, now two, pictured with their proud parents Jay and Dao Nguyen this week.

Both siblings were born almost three months early, requiring 24/7 care in the NICU.

Newborn Services Nurse Unit Manager Michelle Ryan sums up the spirit of this special unit – and families like the Nguyens – best: “In NICU we witness incredible stories of survival and resilience, reminding us of the strength of the human spirit.”

Could baby Blair, who was born at Joan Kirner Women's and Children's at Sunshine Hospital on July 12, have been Victoria's 7 millionth person? 💭

Whatever the answer, a big welcome to Blair – and to the thousands of babies born at Western Health every year.

We're so proud to support families across the West during this very special time in their lives. ❤️ 💕