Year-in-Review-2021-22 - Flipbook - Page 76
Mental Health
The Mental Health Service manages all public
mental health facilities within Sydney Local Health
District. In addition to the provision of general
mental health services across the age range, there
are specialist services for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people, eating disorders, youth with
emerging mental illness, adults with intellectual
disability and mental health disorders and
multicultural services. The service has partnerships
with organisations that care for consumers and their
families and carers, leisure programs and vocational
and educational support. The Mental Health Service
continues to support and strengthen the relationship
with a number of educational institutions to create a
future mental health workforce and invests in mental
health research to foster evidence-based practice
within the Stream and across the District.
Neurosciences, Bone
and Joint, Plastics
and Trauma Surgery
This Stream encompasses a range of services
including chronic pain, rheumatology, trauma, all
orthopaedic services, ophthalmology, neurosurgery,
ear nose and throat surgery, clinical immunology,
infectious diseases, HIV medicine, allergy services,
plastic and reconstructive surgery and the entire
range of neurology and associated neuroscience
services. These services are provided at District,
tertiary and quaternary levels both to patients living
within Sydney Local Health District and across NSW,
with a strong and innovative research and education
component. They are provided within the District and
selected outreach services were delivered in rural
and regional areas.
This year RPA became the first site in Australia
to achieve Diamond (the highest) status from the
World Stroke Organisation; world-first model of
care of patients following clot retrieval in the acute
stroke unit instead of ICU, maintaining a 24x7 clot
retrieval service with our partners (radiology and
ICU, anaesthetics) during the COVID-19 pandemic;
technological innovations for delivering neurological
services during COVID – virtual ward rounds, ED
COW and rapid transition to telehealth services
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during the COVID-19 pandemic; Establishment of
Neurology phone consultation service for Aboriginal
Medical Service GPs; continuing infusion services
for patients with MS during COVID restrictions; over
100 peer-reviewed publications by the department
in 12 months; new ENT Clinic commenced at
RPA to address needs for Cochlear Implants in
Indigenous population; development of a coveted
educational program for Neurology trainees in
an environment that threatened usual activities
through remote teaching, consultant lead program
on-site and management of roster to facilitate safe
working hours, maximising learning and practical
opportunities in these roles, making RPA a highly
sought-after training site in NSW; the Golden Hip
Award was given to the Concord Orthopaedic Team
– becoming one of the top 10 hospitals in Australia
recognised for the care provided to patients
presenting with hip fractures; the Infectious Disease
departments at our facilities played a leading role in
the District’s pandemic response.
Oral Health
Sydney Dental Hospital (SDH) provides level six oral
health services, which support eligible residents
of NSW for their tertiary and quaternary oral
health needs. There are currently 160 public dental
chairs at SDH and Community Oral Health Clinics
in the District. The Oral Health Clinical Stream
recognises that the demand for oral health services
will continue to grow, in response to population
growth. The Stream strives for the eligible patients
to maintain good oral health and to have access to
current and advanced treatment procedures and
techniques. The service aims to continue to protect,
promote, maintain and improve the oral health of the
community, while improving access to oral health
care and has implemented programs for vulnerable
and marginalised communities experiencing the
poorest oral health. Oral Health also continues
to support and strengthen the relationship with a
number of educational institutions to create a future
dental workforce and invests in oral health research
to foster evidence-based practice in the Stream.
Sydney Local Health District
