ABOVE: Helping to raise money for charity was the icing on the cake for Tyler Byrom, 4 & Strathfield Private Breast Care nurse Rachel Martin; while the Girl Guides also lent a helping hand by making bags for breast cancer patients who need to leave hospital with drains (bottom). Wear a beanie to work Hunter Cancer Centre and Lake Macquarie Private Hospital staff have once again dug deep and supported a great cause, the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) and the ‘Wear a Beanie to Work’ day to support the Brain Cancer Research at the HMRI. Mark Hughes is a much loved former Newcastle Knights and NSW Rugby League player. He played in both of the Knights premiership winning teams in 1997 and 2001. In July 2013 after suffering intense headaches and blurred vision he was diagnosed with Grade 3 high grade Oligoastrocytoma brain cancer. His diagnosis and treatment inspired Mark and his wife to launch the MHF and raise much needed funds for more research into brain cancer. On Thursday 31st July, a collection box was carried around the hospital by none other than Mark Hughes and MHF Ambassador (and great friend of LMPH) Danny Buderus. They gladly had photos taken with staff and mingled with patients and visitors. Staff donations along with a donation from the hospital amounted to over $1500 being raised. Mark and Danny were most grateful of the effort and kind donations made by staff. The Beanies looked fabulous, even on the hottest winter day this season! The Ramsay Way - 2014 | 03 15 Strathfield nurses making a sweet difference EVERY DAY 350 AUSTRALIANS RECEIVE THE LIFE-SHATTERING DIAGNOSIS THEY HAVE CANCER. The good news is that survival rates for many common cancers have increased 30 per cent in the past two decades; and Australia is now at the top of the international league table next to North America and Japan when it comes to long term survival. “Breast cancer five-year survival in Australia is now 89 per cent and testicular cancer more than 95 per cent,” says Professor Ian Olver, CEO of Cancer Council Australia. “Prostate cancer today is more like a chronic disease and many more people live with prostate cancer than die from it.” Professor Olver said community donations were vital in contributing to research and care of cancer patients, and he congratulated the Strathfield Private Hospital nursing team for their contributions to Daffodil Day last month – with the nurses’ big-hearted baking efforts raising more than $600. “Big organisations like Ramsay can do big things because it means a whole lot of little donations get added together to help us meaningfully change the lives of Australians with cancer,” says Professor Olver. For breast cancer nurse Rachel Martin, it’s just a way to give back. “The Cancer Council gives vital ongoing support for our patients – from providing patient information packs in hospital; to wig and breast prostheses services; through to a telephone service that connects cancer patients to someone who has had a similar cancer journey.” OURCOMMUNITY City2Surf Over 300 Ramsay Health Care staff and their families participated in the 2014 Sun Herald City2Surf in Sydney in August and enjoyed the after function held at the Bondi Surf Club. Ramsay also hosted 40 staff from nib at the function. Hillcrest nurses are changing lives THREE HILLCREST ROCKHAMPTON PRIVATE NURSES RECENTLY JOINED A TEAM OF EIGHT AUSTRALIAN HEALTH WORKERS IN A BRIDGING HEALTH PROGRAM IN TANNA, A REMOTE ISLAND OF VANUATU. This community has inadequate resources and health care facilities to enable successful wound healing. The inaugural trip saw the Australian group travel to the town of Lenakel on Tanna and work with local and Canadian doctors and nurses at the very basic local hospital. The group provided a free wound clinic at the hospital, working out of the doctor’s office, and admitting patients to the ward for further treatment. Supplies, much of which was supplied by Hillcrest Private, were carted with the group in their own luggage from Australia, which enabled much needed health care to be offered. “Working in every part of the hospital alongside local staff, really helped us to establish credibility and trust, as well as to learn important cultural and resource barriers that needed to be overcome. It also helped us to learn about the local standards of care which were very different to what we experience in Australian hospitals”, said Ms Lee. James of Hillcrest Private Hospital joined the group for the life-changing trip and said, “This was the trip of a lifetime”. “I learned that health care comes in many forms and standards, and this trip had me questioning what can I do to help this person with the very limited resources I have at my disposal,” said Hillcrest nurse Trudy. “It was an excellent opportunity to work with more experienced nurses and learn how to practice a high standard of health care without all the modern technology and medical advances we are so used to in Australia”. For more information see www.bridginghealth.org Frances Perry nurses raise funds for ovarian cancer Nurses from Frances Perry’s surgical unit have raised over $8000 for the Women’s Cancer Foundation Legs for Eggs Walk in 2014. A trivia night fundraiser in July contributed $2000 to the total and Joh Pertzel, who vowed to cut off her hair at the trivia night if she raised $5000, raised $6000. This year, more than 1400 women in Australia alone will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Over 900 of these same women will die from the disease. The Women’s Cancer Foundation is raising money for research into ovarian cancer to improve women’s health and quality of life. For more information or visit: www.womenscancerfoundation.org.au
The Ramsay Way - Spring 2014
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