Year in Review 2021

OUR HOSPITALS

family rooms for relatives. There is also a drop-off area at the door and dedicated parking. The NSW Government has committed a further $10.7 billion on health infrastructure projects over the next four years, with two-thirds of those in rural and regional areas. Volunteers returned to work after a year’s absence due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Mount Druitt Hospital’s Kiosk and Gift Shop volunteers – just some of the 120 strong volunteer workforce – were back at the hospital in March, ready to serve and sustain the local community. Wayfinding, Pink Ladies, ward helpers, courtesy desk, therapy dogs, cardiology and intensive care volunteers arrived in scheduled intervals throughout March to ensure a COVID-19 Safe return to service. Twelve volunteers help run the hospital Kiosk and all proceeds made from sales are returned to the hospital to purchase medical equipment. Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals have volunteers who provide more than 15 programs to the wards and departments. All volunteers undertake a safety and wellbeing check, and COVID-19 safety plans are followed. If you are interested in volunteering at Blacktown or Mount Druitt Volunteers returned to service

“Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals have volunteers who provide more than 15 programs to the wards and departments.”

Sotrovimab was provisionally approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in August this year. NSW Health worked with the Commonwealth to access some supply of this ground-breaking drug for NSW patients. The STOPS Clinic offers Western Sydney a new way of treating COVID-19 for the most vulnerable in the community, which is vital for keeping at-risk COVID-19 patients off ventilators and out of our hospitals. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with COVID-19 aged 35 or older are also eligible. COVID-19 patients are triaged by nurses based on clinical need after their diagnosis.

hospitals, send an email to colin.dent@health.nsw.gov.au.

Ground breaking antibody treatment delivered at Mount Druitt Hospital A key international trial of a monoclonal antibody treatment has shown a reduction in hospitalisation in adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, who are at risk of developing severe COVID-19. Mount Druitt Hospital is one of the locations this year that started delivering the new treatment, Sotrovimab, for people with COVID-19, who are at the greatest risk of severe illness. The Sotrovimab Treatment in an Outpatient Setting (STOPS) clinic is for COVID-19 patients who have had a positive COVID-19 test within the last 5 days, are aged over 55, have one or more risk factors such as diabetes,

For a full list of services, visit www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/ Blacktown-Mount-Druitt-Hospital/ Our-Services

obesity, or moderate-to-severe asthma and are being managed in the community by WSLHD.

Above, from left Mount Druitt Supportive and Palliative Care Unit Garden Maintenance Group with Bunnings Minchinbury Activities Organiser Narelle Hunt and Palliative Care Nursing Unit Manager Trish Dalgleish in front. Mount Druitt Hospital Auxiliary Volunteers Treasurer Dulci Harrison, Secretary Janice Graham and President Jean Hitches.

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