Building for a brighter future - GHA Central

Review of Operations: Acute (Hospital) Services
with pleasing results. The results will
be used to develop an information
package and education program to
minimise waste, reduce costs and to
comply with Environment Protection
Authority standards. The Hand Hygiene
Project continues and will be a major
focus for next year.
Midwifery and Obstetrics
Stage III Redevelopment significantly
impacted on the Unit again this year.
The obstetrics unit was completed in
September and includes two birthing
suites, two labour delivery rooms and
an active birth room. Support rooms
include the nursery, pharmacy, breast
feeding room, equipment rooms and
staff education areas. Full services
were maintained throughout the
works. This year 699 babies were
born, including 12 sets of twins.
The busiest month was October
with the birth of 67 babies.
The Midwifery Student Program
is conducted in collaboration with
Monash University and is important
in the recruitment and retention of
Midwives for the service.
The dedicated Obstetricians and
Midwives are committed to ongoing
education and keep uptodate with
changing technology and trends in
maternity care.
We look forward to applying for and
achieving the Baby Friendly Hospital
Initiative status now that the building
redevelopment approaches completion.
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Number of Births 2002 - 2006
2006 699
2005 684
2004 656
2003 615
2002 559
The opening of the new Casey Hospital at
Berwick has not decreased the number of
patients choosing to have their baby at
WGH.
Operating Theatre
Our community continues to benefit
from the services of excellent visiting
specialist surgeons and anaesthetists.
This year 2943 operations were
performed across of range of
specialties. 2266 were elective surgery
cases and 677 emergency surgical
procedures.
A committee was established to
develop and introduce a plan for the
prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis
following surgery. We continue to
monitor and introduce strategies to
improve pain management, nausea
and low body temperature after
surgery.
Medical Ward
The Stroke project continues to
be active in education and the
development of assessment tools
and clinical pathways for patients
who have suffered a Stroke. A Stroke
Nurse is now undertaking home visits
to patients discharged from Hospital
after suffering a stroke.
Chronic conditions such as heart
failure and emphysemia represent
a large number of admissions to
the Medical Ward. There is a
growing trend to identify ways to
better manage chronic conditions
so patients can maintain optimum
health at home and require fewer
admissions to Hospital. The Heart
Failure Project commenced in
November and aims to assist
patients to manage their condition
after discharge from hospital. This
is achieved by providing the patient
with a health team review, education
and follow up support at home.
28
2000
1750
1500
1250
1000
750
500
250
0
Oncology Treatments 2002 - 2006
2006 1,808
2005 1,761
Baby Cameron Caddy
was the first baby born
in the redeveloped
birthing suites. He is
pictured with mum
Donna, dad Michael,
midwife Frances Jolly
and Clinical Nurse
Manager Caroline
Edwards.
The Medical Ward and the Palliative
Care team streamlined communication
with community based services to
ensure patients admitted for palliative
care receive the best possible service.
The Medical Ward participates in a
range of projects aimed at improving
outcomes for patients. These include
the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Project
(PUPPS), Falls Prevention Program
and the safe Administration of
Medications Project.
Oncology
A new streamlined patient booking
system introduced this year, resulted
in significant improvements for
patients accessing Oncology services.
The introduction of comprehensive
information packs for newly
diagnosed patients and carers,
the Look Good Feel Better Program
and the establishment of an infusion
2004 1,556
2003 1,302
Oncology treatments have increased
by 55% in the last five years.
2002 1,172