ISSUE SIX : JUNE [ 2006 ]

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER

OF THE CHILDREN,

YOUTH AND WOMEN'S

HEALTH SERVICE

Family Home Visiting celebrates two years

As the first of our Family Home Visiting

clients complete the award winning

initiative, a timely celebration was held

to acknowledge those who have been

instrumental in making it happen.

More than 60 families across metropolitan

Adelaide have now graduated from Family

Home Visiting.

A key component of the State Government’s

Every Chance for Every Child initiative,

Family Home Visiting, aims to give all

children in the state the best possible

start in life so they can develop to the

their fullest potential.

More than 1300 families have accepted the

offer to enter the program where they will

receive regular visits over a two-year period.

Health Minister John Hill joined the

celebration and acknowledged that the

program has been an enormous success -

due largely to the fact that the child health

nurses who deliver the program are

extremely dedicated and have made it work.

“They have also been well supported by

social workers, psychologists and family

support workers and they have all received

comprehensive training to meet the specific

needs of families,” said Minister Hill.

“Parents develop skills based on the latest

knowledge about what children need in

order to make the most of their potential.”

Every family in South Australia with a

newborn baby is offered a Universal

Contact Visit by a community child health

nurse in the first few weeks of their baby’s

life. Those families who would benefit from

additional on-going support are then offered

the opportunity to take part in Family Home

Visiting.

Brooke Allan, a recent graduate of the

Family Home Visiting program, said Family

Home Visiting has provided her with a great

support network over the past two years.

“My home visiting nurse helped me with all

sorts of things from breastfeeding to any

parenting issues I had. Over the two years,

I developed a great rapport with my nurse.

It was wonderful having someone who could

help with any issue and who could connect

me to other services and people in my local

area,” she said.

Child health nurse Ali Smart said it’s

a great privilege to work as a family

home visiting nurse.

“It’s wonderful to be involved with families

for an extended period of time. I have

developed a strong relationship with clients

over the past two years and helped them

developed their own support networks,”

she said.

CYWHS CE Heather Gray said by working in

partnership with families, our nurses can

assist them to develop their own problem-

solving skills and strategies and enhance

self-esteem.

BROOKE ALLAN AND HER DAUGHTER TIAJUANA CELEBRATE THEIR GRADUATION WITH HOME VISITING NURSE ALI SMART.

2

Further to our front page story, I would

personally like to say thank you to all of the

staff who have been involved in the

successful rollout of Family Home Visiting.

I am extremely proud to be able to deliver

such a valuable program.

Family Home Visiting is recognised nationally

as being a gold standard program that has

the potential to make a difference to South

Australian families.

There has been an extraordinary amount of

work involved in the development of the

program, and I would particularly like to

thank staff for their passion and

commitment to making a difference in the

lives of our children.

I would also like to extend a very big thank

you to those involved in the day-to-day

delivery of the program. Our nurses have

been well supported by a multidisciplinary

team which includes social workers,

psychologists and an implementation team.

The program continues to expand and we

are starting to identify families that will

benefit from Family Home Visiting through

the Hospital’s antenatal service.

Our health service has a unique role in being

able to influence the health outcomes of

South Australians through early intervention.

When the Minister for Health, the Hon. John

Hill, visited our service late last month, we

were able to showcase how our early

intervention and acute services provide a

continuum of care for the children, young

people and women in our state.

The Minister’s visit started at a child health

clinic, where we deliver outpatient clinics for

Midwifery Group Practice, and concluded at

our youth division’s central site, where he

was provided with an overview of how Child

and Adolescent Mental Health Services

complement some of the youth division’s

programs.

The Hospital’s unique statewide acute

services, for both children and women, were

also showcased along with the work being

carried out by our researchers.

Heather Gray

Chief Executive

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ve Lack of sleep does more than make us tiredLatest research from the WCH has found

that children who have their tonsils and

adenoids removed, because of snoring and

apnoeas, sleep better, snore less and have

fewer behavioural problems. However, the

surgery doesn't cure all symptoms.

The Hospital's Sleep Disorders Unit and the

University of South Australia conducted a

three-year research study involving 50

children who underwent

adenotonsillectomies and who experienced

some type of sleep breathing disorder, and

50 children with no evidence of sleep

disorders.

The children, aged between three and 12

years old, underwent a series of tests before

and after surgery covering learning, memory,

attention and behaviour. Their night-time

sleeping patterns were also closely

monitored.

Study researcher Mark Kohler says the sleep

disorder, also known as sleep-disordered

breathing (SDB), results from partial or

complete airway obstruction. This causes

sleep interruption and/or disruption in

airflow. About 10 percent of parents report

that their children snore regularly.

“Research has shown that obstructive sleep

apnoea, in which the upper airway becomes

blocked repeatedly during sleep, can often

be effectively treated by adenotonsillectomy,

especially in terms of snoring and sleep

patterns,” Mark said.

“But we didn’t know whether previously

reported impairments in attention, memory,

and language skills, together with behaviour

changes such as increased hyperactivity,

were also reversed by this surgery.

“We were delighted to find that sleeping did

indeed improve and snoring decreased, with

parents reporting their children were less

grumpy in the mornings and easier to rouse.

In addition, children’s visual spatial

processing skills improved.

“However, the children still showed most

of the other deficiencies when re-tested

six months after surgery,” Mark said.

Some improvements may take longer to

manifest themselves and it is hoped

children involved in the trial will be

followed up again after four to five years

post surgery.

“We don’t know what the mechanisms

are for impairments in attention, memory

and behaviour associated with sleep

disorders,” Mark said.

“Our research is currently focusing on

the disruption to normal sleeping

patterns and reduction in oxygen

LINDA DEUTER WATCHES OVER HER SON CALEB. PHOTO COURTESY THE ADVERTISER.

Our organisation recently launched a new

health promotion package to help improve

the health and wellbeing of young South

Australians.

‘Health Promotion: better health, better

learning’ outlines how health services can

work with schools and preschools to improve

children and young people’s learning and

their health and wellbeing.

The new guidelines were developed in

response to requests from health workers for

information and tools to help them make

their health promotion work with schools

and preschools more effective.

The package includes a checklist of

questions for health workers and educators

to consider together when planning and

reviewing joint health promotion work.

“Using this checklist will encourage health

workers and educators to prioritise health

promotion work and consider how it can

improve the health and wellbeing of the

whole school community,” said Centre for

Health Promotion Project Officer Tracy

Buchanan.

The guidelines and checklist were developed

by the CYWHS Centre for Health Promotion,

in collaboration with the Department of

Health, and supported by a steering group

representing community health and education

sectors across the state. They include the

Department of Education and Children’s

Services, CYWHS Youth Services, Country

Health and SHine SA.

The package is now available online at

http://www.wch.sa.gov.au/chp.html.

For more information contact Tracy Buchanan

on 8161 7777.

Launch of new Health Promotion Package

(hypoxia) typically experienced by children

with SDB.

“If your child snores regularly and you

notice him or her gasping and having

pauses in breath during sleep, it may be

well worth seeing your local doctor to

query the presence of SDB, particularly

if disruptive or inattentive behaviour and

problems at school are also noted.”

3

All systems go for Emergency DepartmentAfter years of planning and construction,

our $9.2 million Emergency Department has

officially opened its doors to the public.

Premier Mike Rann opened the state-of-the-

art facility for our paediatric and obstetric

emergency patients.

“The new Emergency Department will

provide improved technology and facilities

that will enable more effective and timely

treatment. It has a more calming, private

atmosphere for women, children and their

families,” Premier Rann said.

Medical Unit Head of the Paediatric

Emergency Department Dr Jeremy Raftos

said there will be thousands of women and

children who are going to benefit each year

from this new multi-million dollar re-

development.

“A visit to the Emergency Department can be

stressful, especially when it is crowded and

busy. The redevelopment will reduce the

trauma and stress for children and their parents

coming through the unit,” said Dr Raftos.

Six year old Maggie Ward from Port Pirie

was the first patient to be treated in the

new emergency department. Parents Andrew

and Melissa said they brought Maggie into

Emergency after noticing she had a high

temperature and was covered in spots.

“We thought she may have had chickenpox

so we thought we better get her checked

out,” Andrew said.

“We were impressed with the high quality of

care Maggie received. She was seen by a

doctor straight away. The service and staff

were fantastic, it was a good experience all

round.

“We travel from Port Pirie to Adelaide every

second weekend so it’s comforting to know

that there’s a state-of-the-art facility where

we can take our children and know they will

be well looked after.”

The new facility, which co-locates the

Paediatric Emergency Department and the

Women’s Assessment Service, offers a first-

class resuscitation area, an acute area with

15 assessment rooms, a 12 bed short stay

ward, 10 women’s assessment rooms, new

triage areas, patient waiting rooms and staff

work areas.

The State Government has provided $4.5m

towards the total cost of the project. Savings

& Loans Credit Union has contributed $2.5

million through the Women’s and Children’s

Hospital Visa Card initiative, the WCH

Foundation has committed $1.3m and a

further $900,000 has been fundraised

through the community.

CYWHS CE Heather Gray said the

relationship between the Savings & Loans

Credit Union and the Women’s and

Children’s Hospital has meant the difference

between this redevelopment going ahead or

staying firmly on the drawing board.

“It’s a truly inspirational example of what

can be achieved when two organisations

work together to provide positive outcomes

for the community,” she said.

“A project of this magnitude takes a lot

of planning, consultation and co-operation.

I extend my personal thanks to all staff who

have contributed to our Emergency

Department re-development.”

A highly successful Research Open Day was

held recently at the WCH for senior high

school and university students considering a

career in medical research.

During the morning, 80 year 11 and 12

students from 10 invited schools, had the

opportunity to tour four WCH laboratories

and learn about exciting career paths in a

public teaching hospital.

Internationally recognised genetics

researcher Professor Grant Sutherland began

the morning workshop inspiring students to

get into a career in medical research.

“This Open Day was a great opportunity to

show students that hospitals aren’t only places

for treating sick people. There are good job

opportunities in research in hospitals for

people with backgrounds other than medicine

and nursing,” Prof Sutherland said.

A tour through Haematology gave students

a rare insight into stem-cell research and a

bone marrow transplantation laboratory.

Students also viewed the new tandem mass

spectrometer used to screen newborn blood

for genetic diseases. They were shown new

genetic technologies and how diagnostic

tests for various infectious and non-

infectious diseases are developed.

Winner of the 2005 Young Investigator

Award, Branka Grubor-Bauk, presented her

award-winning research into the herpes

simplex virus which causes cold sores.

During an afternoon workshop, about

80 university students from all three South

Australian universities, heard about the

many facets of medical research at a

graduate level and research opportunities

in genetic medicine, child health, cerebral

palsy and mental health. They also listened

to personal stories from current PhD

students as well as research presentations

from senior CYWHS research staff.

Research Open Day inspirestomorrow’s research leaders

COLIN STORY DEMONSTRATES BONE MARROW STORAGE DURING THE TRANSPLANTATION TOUR.

• Total cost of the redevelopment project

was $9.2m.

• The new facility co-locates the

Paediatric Emergency Department and

the Women’s Assessment Service.

• The Emergency Department treats and

cares for about 36,000 children each year.

• The Women’s Assessment Service treats

more than 13,500 women each year.

• The new facility offers a first-class

resuscitation area.

• The acute area has 15 assessment rooms.

• There is a 12 bed short stay ward

which accommodates up to eight

percent of all hospital admissions.

• The short stay ward has a 95 percent

discharge rate.

• There are 10 beds in Women’s

Assessment Service - six single

examination rooms and two double

share rooms.

• There are new triage areas, patient

waiting rooms and staff work areas.

Savings & Loans Credit Union Emergency Department facts

PREMIER MIKE RANN SHARES A SMILE WITH SEBASTIAN THOTTATHIL IN THE NEW SAVINGS &

LOANS EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

4

Kids ’n’ You opensin ElizabethKids ‘n’ You Family Services has officially opened its newly renovated centre and children’s

facilities at the Elizabeth Grove Primary School.

“The launch of co-located services at the Elizabeth Grove Primary School is an exciting

development for the children and families in the local community of Elizabeth and

Elizabeth Grove,” said Heather Gray, CYWHS CE.

“The move means that Kids ‘n’ You staff can now work collaboratively with school staff to

provide immunisation, training for peer supporters and support programs.

“The Elizabeth Grove campus is now in a position to offer a one-stop-shop of child care,

preschool, school, child health and family support services.”

Kids ’n’ You Family Services is an early intervention program that increases family and

community capacity to raise children in safe, supportive and nurturing environments. The

service is part of the Children and Families Integration Service provided by CYWHS.

The service provides centre-based programs for families and children aged up to five years

who have experienced the effects of domestic violence, mental health problems and

childhood abuse. Children attending the service are assessed and each child then

participates in a tailored program to enhance their development.

Kids ‘n’ You Family Services also includes intensive home visiting and group work for

families with children aged up to 18 years old, a Fatherhood Program and a DADS

support group.

Graduation news

Like mother, like daughterIt was a case of history repeating itself, when 24-year-old Nicole Hentsel recently gave

birth to daughter Hannah.

Hannah was born 26 weeks premature and weighed a tiny 540 grams. Twenty-four

years ago, Nicole was also born 26 weeks premature weighing only 800 grams.

Not only were mum and daughter both premature babies, but Cardiac Surgeon at the

WCH, Mr Ian Ross, performed the same operation on both girls. They needed surgical

closure of a small foetal blood vessel – called a duct – that lies just outside the heart,

and commonly stays open in premature babies causing persistent breathing difficulties.

Associate Professor Ross Haslam, Head of Neonatology at the WCH, said there are many

common problems that premature babies face.

“Immediately after birth, it’s important to establish and maintain the baby’s breathing

and blood pressure. Once this has been stabilised, the baby needs nutrition so he or she

can put on weight. I’m very confident about Hannah’s situation because her breathing is

exceptionally strong.

“The most important thing now is for Hannah to put on weight. She will need to

quadruple her birth weight before she can go home.”

At a time when life can be stressful and exhausting, Nicole has found enormous support

from the staff in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“The staff have helped a lot, they are just wonderful. It’s a lovely feeling being a mum.

Hannah is the first grandchild in my family and is doing remarkably well. We are hoping

to be able to take Hannah home on the 18th of June, that’s the date she was due.”

NICOLE HENTSEL AND DAUGHTER

HANNAH SHARE A SPECIAL BOND.

PHOTO COURTESY THE ADVERTISER.

New research trial

March saw a number of staff graduate from a

variety of nursing and midwifery programs

offered by the Centre for Continuing

Education.

These programs include the Graduate Nurse

and Midwife Programs, Paediatric Nursing

Studies and Paediatric Critical Care Nursing

Studies.

Susan Magarey was awarded the Midwifery

Education and Research Fund prize in

recognition of excellence in midwifery theory

and practice.

Midwifery refresher and re-entry programs are

now being offered as part of a joint initiative

between the CYWHS and Flinders Medical

Centre.

We are also working with the Royal Adelaide

Hospital to offer a Post-Enrolment Enrolled

Nurse Diploma.

In addition, twenty-six of our Health Support

Officers graduated from TAFE SA with a

certificate in Community Services and Health.

Willing participants are being sought to take

part in a new research trial to test the

effectiveness of antibiotics in the treatment

of acute bronchitis.

Participants must be over 18 years old and

have at least one of the following symptoms

with their cough - phlegm, breathlessness,

wheeze, chest pain or fever.

Project Officer Bronwen Paine says

participants cannot have a known respiratory

problem such as asthma, emphysema or

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“They will have a medical examination, a

blood test and an X-ray and will be asked to

complete a brief questionnaire with a GP.

They will be given either a six-day course of

antibiotics or dummy medication and will

need to record their symptoms over 14 days.

The treatment is free,” she said.

The trial is being conducted by the CYWHS,

in collaboration with the University of

Adelaide and the Central Northern

Adelaide Health Service.

Anyone interested in taking part in the trial

can contact Dr Jan Walker at the WCH

Immunisation Clinic General Practice on

8161 6206. For further information about

the study please phone 8303 6274.

5

The CYWHS hosted the second National

Parenting Conference - Parenting

Imperatives II at the Adelaide Convention

Centre at the end of May.

The Conference brought to Adelaide world

leaders with special parenting skills and

knowledge. The five key issues under the

spot light this year were fathering,

behaviour management, Indigenous health,

cross cultural health and the Incredible Years

programs.

Conference organiser and manager of the

CYWHS Centre for Parenting, Pam Linke said

the conference raised a wide range of

parenting issues and targeted people who

provide support and education to parents

and professionals who work with and care

for children.

Best selling author Professor James

Garbarino gave keynote presentations about

aggression and violence in children and how

a traumatic experience can affect

a child’s development. Prof Garbarino has

received many US national and international

awards for his work with children.

Tim Parquette, from Canada's National

Fathering Project, presented his extensive

work on a range of fatherhood projects. He

explored the imbalance between the role of

fathers and the expectations society has of

fathers and the positive contributions that

dads make to the lives of their children.

Director of the Mother-Baby Behaviour

Sleep Lab at the University of Notre Dame,

Professor James McKenna, gave a keynote

address entitled ‘Stone age infants in a

space age world’.

He spoke about how care for infants and

children has been subject to intense and

often uncompromising family and medically-

based opinions and value judgments

throughout our cultural history.

Dr Judy Hutchings, a Consultant Clinical

Psychologist with the North West Wales

National Health Service Trust, gave her

keynote presentation about the Incredible

Years. Dr Hutchings has worked with

disadvantaged children and their families for

30 years and has been using the Incredible

Years programs since 1998. Incredible Years

are effective research-based programs

designed to reduce children's aggression and

behaviour problems and increase social skills

at home and at school.

The conference also had a strong focus on

Indigenous health. Dr Gary Robinson, the

Co-Director of the School for Social and

Policy Research at Charles Darwin University,

spoke about ‘Let’s Start’, a targeted early

intervention program, for children aged

between three to six years old, and their

parents living in the Tiwi Islands and the

Darwin region.

The program was well received with

speakers attracting wide-spread media

interest.

Shaving for a cureIn May CYWHS staff, including CE Heather Gray, helped raise money for the Leukaemia

Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave event.

Some young WCH patients with leukaemia had a chance to even the score by shaving the heads

of three doctors - Dr David Caldicott, Dr Nan Vasilunas and Dr Michael Osborne.

Ms Gray helped the fundraising efforts by having her hair dyed pink. For a substantial donation

towards the Leukaemia Foundation, Dr Caldicott also parted ways with his trademark ‘mutton

chop’ sideburns.

“The event gives us an opportunity to raise money for a great cause,” said Dr Caldicott.

“The Shave puts smiles on the faces of some very young people who are undergoing what is

often a pretty unpleasant course of treatment.”

Many CYWHS nursing and allied health staff joined in the nation-wide fundraiser which offered

the option of hair colouring for those less inclined to lose it all.

Work colleagues wishing to avoid the shave paid for their ’immunity’ privilege to avoid the

enthusiastic shave team. DR MICHAEL OSBORNE LOSES HIS PRECIOUS LOCKS.

Stick Figure, a health/arts project based at

Women’s Health Statewide, was the star

attraction at part of the Fringe Parade and

the International Women's Day march.

In all, the young women gave five

performances during Adelaide’s Fringe Festival.

Stick Figure explored health issues related to

young women’s body image and was a

successful example of the health sector and

the arts sector working together to promote

positive health messages.

Participant Tess Goels said being involved

with Stick Figure was a great way to meet a

diverse group of people.

“It was so amazing being able to work with

the women involved as well as the music

and community artists who helped with the

project,” she said.

“Sometimes it can be hard to express

yourself so to be able to put a bit of yourself

into something like Stick Figure and for

people to say ‘that’s great’ is a good feeling.

Being involved with this project has helped

me realise that I can do things such as stilt

walking and it helps you discover that life

isn’t that hard.”

Laura Banisch from Women’s Health

Statewide said they have seen an increase in

the number of enquiries about disordered

eating and body image.

“These are important issues for all women,

particularly young women,” she said.

Stick Figure is part of ‘A Young Mermaid’s

Guide to Planet Earth’, a community cultural

development program that works in

partnership with young women to explore

social health issues connected to violence

and mental health.

“The Mermaids project involves working

with women and using their creativity and

experience to support and increase their

health and self-esteem. Projects like Stick

Figure also send a positive health message

to the community,” said Laura.

“The program uses peer education to

engage young people in creative projects

using various art forms.”

Mermaids is a collaborative project between

the CYWHS, the Central Northern Adelaide

Health Service and Vitalstatistix National

Women’s Theatre.

For more information about Mermaids

contact Laura Bahnisch on 8239 9600

(Monday to Wednesday) or

laura.bahnisch@health.sa.gov.au.

STICK FIGURE PERFORMERS CARLI LEWIS AND GABRIELLE HANSARD-MCWHIRR AT THE 2006

FRINGE FESTIVAL OPENING PARADE. PHOTO COURTESY DEBRA STACY.

National Parenting Conference attractsworld experts to Adelaide

Young women breakbody image mould

6

The Second Story Youth Health Services

(TSS) Open Day in March has been declared

a huge success.

It was a great opportunity to showcase the

organisation’s wide range of youth services

and kick off its 21st birthday celebrations.

TSS Central Manager Kim Holmes said it was

a great way for young people to see the

broad range of services The Second Story

provides in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

“Young people from schools and university

had the chance to find out about the youth

services we offer,” she said.

More than 300 people enjoyed the activities,

tours and information sessions throughout

the day.

Cooking demonstrations, live band

performances, head massages and an

op-shop added to the occasion and Fresh

FM were on-site broadcasting live.

Artist Emma Crafter spent the day painting a

mural representing the 21 years of youth

health services in South Australia.

Ms Crafter said her passion as an artist is to

revolutionise the way that people

understand mental illness and other social

issues through her painting.

“My aim in my work at The Second Story

was to enlighten the viewer and to de-

stigmatise these issues,”Ms Crafter.

The birthday celebrations continued at TSS

North with an Open Day held during Youth

Week at the beginning of April.

“This was the fifth annual Open Day at TSS

Elizabeth. It’s a great way for young people

to get involved in their local community,”

said Community Health Worker Carla Baldry.

The day included a range of fun activities,

games and entertainment including a live

band, graffiti artist demonstration, free

sausage sizzle, stalls and giveaways.

The WCH Clown Doctors recently celebrated

their fifth birthday in style.

Dr Blot, Dr Teapot, Dr Whoops, Dr Phil Betta,

Dr Heebie Jeebie, Dr Tronic and Dr Yum Yum

handed out prescriptions for fun at a party

with some young patients, their families,

staff and supporters.

Games, fun and laughter were the orders for

the day, which included activities and give-a-

ways for the children and of course, a

birthday cake.

“Clown Doctors use doses of humour to

treat our young patients, and they have

become a very welcome fixture throughout

the Hospital over the past five years,“ said

WCH Play Coordinator Marisa Salvati.

“They are highly skilled professional

performers who help lighten the serious side

of hospital, relieve fear and stress and help

recovery.”

The Clown Doctors have regular rounds that

are conducted through all wards, intensive

care, emergency, outpatients and

physiotherapy. They help create a positive

environment and distract children from their

illness, treatments and immediate

surroundings.

Clown Doctors is the core project of The

Humour Foundation, a charity dedicated to

promoting the health benefits of humour. All

children’s hospitals throughout Australia host

the Clown Doctor program.

In February, the CYWHS joined forces with the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, to

continue the provision of the South Australian Dental Service After Hours Emergency Line.

Eighty-six percent of all school age children are enrolled by the South Australian Dental Service

(SADS) and rely on the After Hours Line in emergencies.

The collaboration between SADS and the CYWHS Contact Centre Services will provide an

efficient and customer-focussed emergency dental line.

The After Hours Emergency Line is available from 4.30pm to 9pm on weeknights and 9am to

9pm on weekends and public holidays.

After HoursEmergency Dental

Line launch

TSS Open Days

Clown Doctors celebrate five years ofspreading contagious laughter at the WCH

MELANIE BECK SHARES A GIGGLE WITH DR BLOT, DR YUM YUM AND DR HEEBIE JEEBIE.

PHOTO COURTESY THE ADVERTISER.

EMMA CRAFTER PUTS THE FINISHING

TOUCHES ON HER MURAL.

7

On 4 April Rita Wilson, our Indigenous Cultural Consultant based at the Woodville child health

clinic, was honoured with an event named after her ‘Rita's Big Day Out,’ an Indigenous health

day in the western suburbs.

The day provided an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous families to come together

with Elders from the local Indigenous community and service providers in the western suburbs

to celebrate their collaborative work promoting healthier lifestyle outcomes.

Patient First is an initiative which brings

together a number of projects aimed at

improving the safety and quality of care

for our clients and patients as well as

staff satisfaction.

The Patient First initiative has initially

focused on improving four priority streams

of activity: Paediatric Emergency Services,

Vaginal births, After hours hospital care and

Paediatric surgery.

Last edition, we reported on the success of

the Paediatric Emergency Services ‘See and

Treat’ project, which has resulted in a

significant reduction in waiting times.

We are also now starting to see positive

results in the Vaginal Births project with the

trial of two new ‘systems’ of care.

The conversion of a patient lounge into a

discharge lounge has resulted in more timely

access to postnatal beds for women in the

delivery suite. Feedback from patients about

the discharge lounge has been favourable,

and as a result of the success of the trial, the

postnatal discharge lounge is now fully

operational.

A new system for ordering discharge

medications for post natal women has also

been trialled with pharmacists and medical

officers collaborating to ensure medications

are available early on day of discharge.

PROFESSOR JUSTIN BEILBY

Prior to his current role as Executive Dean

of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the

University of Adelaide, Professor Justin

Beilby was Head of the Department of

General Practice from 2002-05. He has

been involved in research and evaluation

with workforce planning, primary care

financing, chronic illness and the Quality

Use of Medicines for over 15 years, in both

urban and rural settings. Prof Beilby

is a member of the Strategic Research

Initiatives Working Group of the National

Health and Medical Research Council,

and was the former Chair of the National

Evaluation Committee of the National

Prescribing Service. Prof Beilby currently

chairs the National Asthma Council

guidelines development committee.

He is a member of the Department of

Health Clinical Senate and is still in active

general practice. Prof Beilby’s interest in

the CYWHS is through the region’s

enormous potential to make a difference

to the health of children, young people and

women across the State. He is particularly

excited about our Indigenous health and

home visiting initiatives.

DR NICOLA SPURRIER

Dr Nicola Spurrier is a Consultant

Paediatrician, Public Health Physician and

Senior Lecturer at Flinders University and

Flinders Medical Centre. Her research

interests focus on children, families and

parenting and have included studies of

asthma and childhood obesity. Dr Spurrier

has previously served on the Board of

CanDo4Kids -Townsend House, a not-for-

profit organisation providing services to

children with hearing and vision

impairments. She has had a long-standing

interest in the CYWHS having trained as

a paediatrician at the WCH and more

recently serving on the WCH Research

Grants Committee. She is committed to

improving the health and wellbeing of

children in South Australia particularly

through population health approaches.

ALICE McCLEARY

A professional company director, Alice

McCleary, has a background in corporate

taxation and accounting. She currently holds

positions on the Boards of Great Southern

Plantations Limited, Adelaide Community

Healthcare Alliance, and the Takeovers

Panel. Ms McCleary is also Deputy

Chancellor at the University of South

Australia. Before being appointed to the

CYWHS Board, Ms McCleary was a member

of the Southern Adelaide Health Service

Board. She brings with her financial and

business skills that will help our Health

Service to keep women’s and children’s

health issues at the forefront of the health

debate. Ms McCleary has a strong interest in

ensuring that mothers, their babies and all

children in South Australia continue to

receive world-standard health care.

PROFESSOR DOROTHY SCOTT

Professor Dorothy Scott is the Foundation

Chair and Director of the Australian Centre

for Child Protection at the University of

South Australia. Previously, Prof Scott was

the Head of the School of Social Work at

the University of Melbourne and Executive

Director of The Ian Potter Foundation,

Australia’s largest philanthropic trust. She

has a practice background in the areas of

foster care and adoption, sexual assault,

maternal mental health and child welfare.

She has developed innovative programs in

these fields. Prof Scott’s research looks at

both the prevention and response to child

abuse. As an advisor to State and

Commonwealth Governments, Prof Scott

has conducted several high level inquiries

in the field of child protection, and is

recognised for her leadership in cross-

sectoral child protection policy and practice.

Prof Scott says it is exciting to be on the

Board of a service that deals with a wide

range of health issues from acute care to

population health. She has a particular

interest in the work being done for child

protection and the Family Home Visiting

program.

PatientFirst

Rita’s Big Day Out

Board Profiles

MORRIS NICHOLSON, RITA WILSON AND KAREN FROMENE AT RITA’S BIG DAY OUT.

EDITORIAL TEAM

Sarah Miteff (Editor), Jani Baker

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

Dr Edna Bates, Anna Day

EDITORIAL STATEMENT

Healthy Focus is the official newsletter of the Children, Youth and Women's Health Service

(CYWHS). It highlights the goal of the CYWHS, to promote, maintain and restore the health

of children, youth and women.

To contribute to Healthy Focus, email anna.day@cyh.sa.gov.au

1 MARCH

Attended Open Day

at The Second Story Central

2 MARCH

Board Executive meeting

6 MARCH

Attended meeting with Board Chairs

7 MARCH

Attended International

Women’s Day lunch

8 MARCH

Attended International

Women’s Day breakfast

14 MARCH

Board of Directors meeting

30 MARCH

Board Executive meeting

11 APRIL

Board Directors meeting

27 APRIL

Board Executive meeting

Ch

air’s

Dia

ry

28 APRIL

Hosted Family Home

Visiting celebration

9 MAY

Attended South Australian Dental

Service Emergency After Hours

Dental Line celebration

11 MAY

Attended Health Promotion

Package launch

16-17 MAY

Hosted Health Minister’s visit

25 MAY

Participated at the official opening of

the National Parenting Conference

31 MAY

Attended Emergency Department

official opening

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Sucrose is proving to be a popular method

of pain relief during minor procedures for

premature or sick babies at the WCH.

After the successful introduction of sucrose

for pain management in the Neonatal

Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the procedure is

now being used for babies in Rose Ward

and Emergency.

Clinical Nurse Alana Francis was involved in

the introduction of sucrose for pain

management in Rose Ward.

She says sucrose is an immediate distraction

for babies because of its strong taste.

“After the success of using sucrose in NICU,

we were keen to use it to help the babies

being treated in Rose Ward, and its use has

continued to be very successful.”

When Adelaide mother Bec Pontifex’s four

month old son, Henry, was admitted to Rose

Ward with a serious urinary tract infection,

he was given sucrose before a blood test to

relieve the pain.

“It worked a treat. Henry opened his eyes

as he was given the sucrose and then went

back to sleep as the blood test was taken,”

said Bec.

CYWHS Pain Management Nurse Gill Bricher

stresses that the use of sucrose is effective

for pain management but must only be used

in a clinical setting for premature or sick

babies who do not have teeth.

“When a baby tastes the sucrose, it releases

endogenous opioids that last around five

minutes,” said Gill Bricher.

“Pain management is a priority for our

Hospital and we are always looking at

ways to reduce pain for children.”

Sucrose – the sweetalternative for pain relief

ALL SMILES: BEC PONITIFEX WITH HER SON HENRY. PHOTO COURTESY THE ADVERTISER.

The WCH Shops Auxiliary is on track to give

a record donation of $360,000 to the

Hospital at the end of the 2005/2006

financial year.

Vic’s Coffee Shop in the Queen Victoria

Building foyer, and Rainbows Kiosk in the

Kermode Street entrance of the WCH,

provide an essential service to patients,

families and staff. Their work also benefits

the hospital by raising funds to purchase

medical equipment and for capital works

such as the redevelopment of the Paediatric

Intensive Care Unit.

The volunteers of the WCH Shops Auxiliary

have supported the Hospital for more than

40 years, and over the past 10 years alone,

the Shops have donated $3 million to the

WCH.

Vic’s and Rainbows are managed and staffed

entirely by volunteers. Shops Auxiliary

President Bev Graham said that

approximately 200 volunteers give their time

to help the Shops which are open from

7.00am until 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

“Volunteers prepare food and serve

customers who are looking for a quick meal,

a cool drink or a cup of coffee.

VOLUNTEERS JILL MORRISON AND GILLI

EMERALD IN VIC’S COFFEE SHOP.

Support the shopsthat support you

“Volunteers also give their time on the

weekend to staff the shops,” said Mrs

Graham.

Both Rainbows and Vic’s carry a range of

gifts, from something to cheer up a child in

hospital to a present for a new mum and her

baby. Volunteers are happy to take orders

over the phone on 8161 6114.