Concord Cancer Centre Builds on Tradition

Concord Connection SPRING 2012 The official newsletter of Concord Hospital www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/concord/ Concord Cancer Centre builds on tradition Vietnam Veterans’ Concord Shuttle service Day support grows returns Matthew Swanborough Executive Message General Manager Vietnam Veterans’ Day Welcome to the spring edition of Concord Connection. commented on the high standard of our laboratories Generations old and young assembled in the Hospital “It is important to keep the legacy alive in future The Hospital has continued to be busy as we move out of across the campus. chapel to commemorate Vietnam Veterans’ Day and generations,” he said. winter and into spring, with high numbers of admissions As part of the continual focus on quality improvement, recognise the sacrifices of the 60,000 Australians who Mr Mitchell spoke of the Office’s efforts to provide into the Hospital and large numbers of attendances the Hospital submitted 11 quality projects for the Sydney served their country. within the Emergency Department. I’d like to thank staff’s history students with opportunities to experience Local Health District Quality Awards. Four of these Students from Trinity Grammar School Preparatory first-hand the theatres of war, including Long Tan in efforts over this period, it is greatly appreciated. projects have also been selected for the NSW Ministry School Strathfield and St Patrick’s College joined Vietnam. In September, the Hospital underwent a Periodic Review of Health Quality Awards, being held in October. This veterans, servicemen and women, the RSL and the as part of the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards demonstrates the Hospital’s strong commitment to “We find the tours increase the students’ empathy for EQuIP accreditation cycle. This four day survey focused innovation and the drive of staff to make improvements Vietnam Veterans’ Association in prayer and hymns. war veterans and help them identify the qualities that on the Hospital’s achievements against the fifteen in the delivery of services across the campus. St Patrick’s College history student, Jack Kearney, make up the ANZAC spirit,” he said. EQuIP mandatory criteria as well as completion of In early September, the Hospital also launched the provided his perspective on the war. His speech was followed by the lighting of candles in recommendations from the previous survey in 2010. Concord Cancer Centre bringing together Cancer “Visiting the Australian War Memorial opened my eyes remembrance of the 521 Australians who lost their The Hospital performed extremely well, achieving five Departments under a patient centred model-of-care to combat conditions,” he said. lives in the conflict. ratings of Extensive Achievement and ten ratings of framework. The launch included the presentation of the Marked Achievement against the 15 criteria. In the Concord Cancer Centre logo and website, introduction “The Memorial’s multi-media simulation of a helicopter The Vietnam War lasted from 1962 – 75 and Australia’s summation, the EQuIP surveyors also praised Concord of the Sydney Survivorship Centre concept and unveiling landing really brought to life the conditions that soldiers military involvement until 1973 was the longest in Hospital’s culture of improvement and collaboration of fundraising target for the Cancer Centre. The Hospital endured and increased my empathy for them.” duration of any war in Australia’s history. between Departments as well as highlighting the good was fortunate to have Mr John Sidoti MP, Member for His impressions were welcomed by Darren Mitchell, work in Medical Records, Pharmacy and for clinical Drummoyne officially launch the Centre, along with Mr Director, Office for Veterans’ Affairs, Department handover. Jade Porter, a recent Hospital patient. of Education and Communities who provided the Also in September, the Hospital underwent National As we move towards the summer break and Christmas Commemorative Address. Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation downtime, I encourage staff to take leave. I also for its laboratory areas, including blood collection and encourage staff and the local community to attend the specimen reception, haematology, flow cytometry and Hospital’s annual Opera Night, which is being held at endocrinology. This three day review examined the Rivendell on Saturday 10 November 2012. This is our Hospital’s achievement against the NATA ISO standards, primary fundraising event of the year and always a good with the Hospital meeting the conditions and standards night to listen to opera by the river. and being granted continuing accreditation. NATA also Concord Repatriation General Hospital Calendar of Events 2012 DATE EVENT VENUE CONTACT CONCORD CONNECTION 3 November Kokoda Day Kokoda Track Alice Kang 9767 8488 9 November Remembrance Day 113th AGH Memorial Chapel Alice Kang 9767 8488 10 November Opera Night at Rivendell Thomas Walker Estate Alice Kang 9767 8488 5 December Christmas Lights On the Green Alice Kang 9767 8488 spring 2012 7 December Volunteers Appreciation Lunch Conference Rooms Melissa Puglisi 9767 6038 12 December Staff Xmas BBQ On the Green Melissa Puglisi 9767 6038 ECTION We want to Front Cover Picture spring 2012 hear from you! Front Cover Picture: From left to right: former patient Jade Porter, his wife Rebecca Szuba, daughter Lily and Sydney Local Health District Director of Cancer Services, Associate Does your ward or department have a news Professor Philip Beale at the launch of the Concord Cancer Centre. story, event or staff achievement that you would like to share with the Hospital? CONCORD CONN Produced by: Marketing & Fundraising Department Concord Repatriation General Hospital Please contact Heather Attenbrow in 2 Design & Print by: Horizon Media Ph: +61 2 8908-9300 3 Marketing today on 9767 6919. Printed on FSC certified paper with ISO 14001 EMS accreditation. Internationally awarded researcher Concord Cancer Centre launched leads new survivorship centre Years of innovative research lie at the heart of Concord In the future the Centre will offer access to allied health Cancer Centre’s survivorship centre. specialists, education and resources, with a focus on The new Sydney Survivorship Centre at Concord is meeting the ongoing health needs of patients, their based on medical oncologist, Associate Professor families and carers. Janette Vardy’s research into the effects of cancer Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) Director of Cancer treatments on patients, which is enhanced by her Services, Associate Professor Philip Beale, said the recent grant looking at the side effects of chemotherapy concept of survivorship is the way forward for cancer on breast cancer survivors. treatment. Already onsite is a dedicated gym and numerous “It is about looking at the total lifestyle needs and programs investigating various health concerns of concerns of a cancer patient, and not just their cancer survivors, such as memory loss, fatigue and diagnosis and treatment,” he said. sleep patterns. First Australian to win US grant The website provides patients with health and service information, while an online directory of specialists for GP referral will be available soon. Concord Repatriation General Hospital is building on its tradition of excellence in cancer care with the launch of the Concord Cancer Centre on 3 September. Local members John Sidoti MP and Charles Casuscelli, staff from across the District and former patients watched with interest as the Centre logo was unveiled and a DVD revealed the vision for the Centre. CONCORD CONNECTION Committed to excellence in cancer care and research, Associate Professor Janette Vardy (left) with a patient. the aim of the Centre is to inform the community and Well known writer and radio presenter Angela Catterns interviews other health professionals of the services available former patient Jade Porter Medical oncologist, Associate Professor Janette this impacts significantly on their quality of life and onsite. Vardy, has received one of the world’s most ability to function. prestigious awards in cancer research at this year’s Dr Vardy said the cause of these side effects is Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) Director of Cancer relationships with the ANZAC Research Institute and spring 2012 esteemed American Society for Clinical Oncology unknown and there is no proven treatment. Services, Associate Professor Philip Beale, said the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI), meeting. Concord Cancer Centre will evolve from the Hospital’s which are both on campus at Concord. This year “For some the cognitive impairment is subtle. They It was the first time the Advanced Clinical Research existing cancer services and continue to work closely these Institutes shared $7 million in grants for cancer just don’t feel as clear headed as they once did. Award in Breast Cancer had been granted to a with all areas of the hospital. research. But for others it is significant and makes their return recipient outside the United States and includes a to work difficult,” Dr Vardy said. spring 2012 “It offers comprehensive and cutting-edge patient- “The strong research culture and existing clinical three-year grant to research cognitive impairment in centred care, where individuals and their families are trial units at Concord will ensure patients have timely breast cancer survivors, a field which has attracted The study, which will also be conducted by Dr empowered to make informed choices about the best access to the very latest in treatment advances,” Dr little funding to

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