Year in Review 2021

OUR HOSPITALS WSLHD YEAR IN REVIEW 3

Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals

Blacktown Hospital expanded care for premature babies in Western Sydney As Western Sydney continues to grow, so has Blacktown Hospital’s Newborn Care Unit (NCU) – expanding its capacity to care for 18 premature, small, or sick babies and their families. The NCU consists of a dedicated team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals that nurtures small, growing babies and those with health problems requiring specialist care. Nurse Unit Manager Terry Freeman said additional cots will help meet the needs of the community and deliver high- home or other hospitals in NSW. The staff provide high quality specialised care in a safe, supportive environment. The NCU is equipped with humidicribs which are used to treat sick or small babies, to keep the babies warm, and allow the parents to always see them any time. The spacious rooms allow parents to recline next to the baby’s cot or humidicrib, and there is a mothers- only expressing room for privacy. Parent accommodation rooms help parents transition from hospital to home and the unit is also equipped with a parent’s retreat with a kitchen available for use at any time and a play area for siblings. quality clinical care for families. Babies that require extra care are admitted to the Newborn Care Unit from the Birthing and Maternity Units, from

The NCU works closely with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Westmead Hospital to treat babies from surrounding areas in Western Sydney. The expansion of the NCU was part of Stage 2 of the Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals (BMDH) Expansion Project to accommodate the growing population of Western Sydney. Blacktown Hospital’s Newborn Care Unit can be contacted on 02 9881 8000. The Melaleuca Unit is a specialised rehabilitation unit that helps mental health patients who have been treated for serious conditions transition back into the community. Staff specialist Dr Anoop Sankaranarayanan said people with serious mental illnesses are more likely to gain weight and develop complications such as type 2 diabetes. The Melaleuca Unit has transformed a space into a fit-for-purpose gym complete with a strength machine, CrossFit walking machine, punching bag, basketball ring and Bluetooth wireless headsets so patients can listen to music or podcasts while working out. The new equipment is part of a program that aims to provide holistic care to patients and promote recovery in a healthier way. The staff at the Melaleuca A new gym for the Melaleuca Unit

Unit hope the gym will motivate patients to change any unhealthy lifestyles. If you or anyone you know are experiencing mental health issues, please contact your GP. For mental health support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, please contact: Lifeline on 13 11 14 Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 The $700 million expansion of Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals is complete with the official opening of the multi-award-winning acute services building held in April. Health Minister Brad Hazzard was joined by local MPs Mark Taylor and Kevin Conolly for the plaque unveiling at Blacktown Hospital campus, to celebrate the completed works. The new emergency department was the result of years of careful planning and was co-designed with community members, staff, patients and carers. The nine-storey acute services building has set new benchmarks for clinical design and innovation. The new ED includes acute care, urgent care, short stay, bedside imaging, and has a dedicated section for mental health emergencies, while the new intensive care unit provides more spacious patient rooms and overnight BMDH expansion completed

Above, from left Member for Parramatta Mark Taylor, ICU NUM Paul Goudie, ICU Director Blacktown Hospital Associate Professor Graham Reece, WSLHD Director of Nursing and Midwifery Carol Farmer, Member for Riverstone Kevin Conolly, NSW Minister of Health Brad Hazzard, Blacktown Hospital General Manager Ned Katrib, WSLHD Board Chair Richard Alcock AO.

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