INNOVATION, leadership and excellence in the delivery of healthcare programs and services was celebrated at the Mid North Coast Local Health District’s annual Excellence Awards held in Coffs Harbour last week.
Chief Executive Jill Wong congratulated the award recipients and said the event was an opportunity to recognise the exceptional achievements of the individuals, teams and volunteers from all sites and services who work together to improve health outcomes for the community.
“It was wonderful to witness the incredible dedication, innovation and compassion shown by our teams and individuals – they really are the heartbeat of healthcare excellence,” Ms Wong said.
“My warmest congratulations to all the nominees, finalists and recipients of this year’s awards.
“Their extraordinary accomplishments, resilience and contributions in caring for our community are nothing short of inspiring.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the amazing talent we have on the Mid North Coast.”
The annual Excellence Awards recognise staff who demonstrate outstanding commitment to safety, innovation, sustainability, workplace culture and patient experience.
Two Registered Nurses were also recognised at the awards presentation for an incredible 60 years’ service each – Fay James who works in Patient Transport at Kempsey District Hospital and Valda Cooper from the Intensive Care Unit at Coffs Harbour Health Campus.
Several award recipients from the District will now be nominated for the NSW Health Awards to be held later in the year.
Award recipients in each category are:
Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare: Hastings Aboriginal Diabetes Education Service
Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services: Hearing Voices Recovery Support Group
Health Innovation: Nurse-led PICC Insertion – Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Health Research: PSMA-PET guided radiotherapy for prostate cancer – Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Keeping People Healthy: Emerging youth vaping risks taskforce response
Patient Safety First: Friday Flex – Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory, Port Macquarie Base Hospital
People and Culture: Cartoon Nurses – Paediatric Unit, Port Macquarie Base Hospital
Transforming the Patient Experience: Paediatric Complex Care Coordination Service
Agency for Clinical Innovation: Mid North Coast Rapid Recovery Joint Program
Employee of the Year in a Corporate/Administrative Role: Warren Krantzcke – IT Support Officer, Hastings Macleay Clinical Network
Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Julie Claridge – Clinical Nurse Educator, Coffs Harbour Health Campus
Allied Health Professional of the Year: Heidi Lavis – Occupational Therapist, Port Macquarie Base Hospital
Volunteer/Consumer Representative of the Year: Denise McNeill – General Volunteers, Coffs Harbour Health Campus
Collaborative Leader of the Year: Anna Pascoe – Acting Executive Officer and DON, Macksville District Hospital
Staff Member of the Year: Shane Holten – Aboriginal Health Worker, Mid North Coast Local Health District Drug and Alcohol Service
Governing Board Chair’s Award: Mid North Coast Rapid Recovery Joint Program
Highly Commended Initiatives
Excellence in Sustainability: Grow and Play:Outdoor garden playground; Rational Investigations Program
Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare: Emergency Life Support international; Refugee Transition to General Practice.
