The Ramsay Way - 2014 | 03 7 Demand for the Masada Mother and Baby Unit residential program has increased significantly over the last six months, resulting in the current wait time stretching to 8 weeks. Hospital CEO Lisa Carter said the increasing demand led to the development of a weekend program which consists of two consecutive weekend stays. “This allows mothers who have previously been unable to attend the Monday to Friday stay due to work and family commitments to access the program,” Lisa said. Masada MBU commenced the weekend program in July 2014 with great success and now plans for it to be an ongoing service. The participants achieved an excellent outcome after the program as evidenced by a very high customer satisfaction ratings being fed back to the hospital. “The feedback about the program and the capability of the staff has been excellent. This is wonderful recognition for the MBU team who demonstrate an outstanding ability and commitment to delivering the best perinatal care for women, babies and their families.” THE FIRST BIRTH HAS BEEN RECORDED IN THE NEW MILDURA BASE HOSPITAL BIRTHING SUITES. Lola Mary Droffelaar arrived at 10.22 am on Tuesday – only hours after the new suites were officially opened at seven o’clock that morning. Lola was the fourth child for proud parents Lauren and Andrew, and a younger sister for India, Finn and Willow. The new birthing suites are a key element of the seven million dollar Mildura Base Hospital redevelopment. The work expands by one the number of birthing suites at the Maternity Unit, meaning there will be four birthing suites available. The opening of two of the new suites marks the completion of the first stage of the Maternity Unit redevelopment. The third new birthing suite will open soon, and the refurbishment of one of the original birthing suites will then get underway. “Last year we had 874 births at the Hospital – it’s a very busy place some days,” said MBH Maternity Nurse Unit Manager Rachel McDowall. “It’s been a relatively quiet week this week, but a fourth birthing suite will mean we can manage demand much more comfortably,” she said. The hospital redevelopment project is also continuing elsewhere in the hospital. The first stage of the Mental Health Department is already in use, with the expansion of the Emergency Department now nearing completion. All work on all three redevelopment stages will be finished by December. A separate project, the new $9 million accommodation complex for students and clinicians in Thirteenth Street, has commenced. It will be finished by the end of February next year. Fighting the ‘devil’s dust’ at Strathfield New Birthing Suite welcomes first arrival Masada launches weekend Mother Baby Program FOR SERAFINA SALUCCI IT IS AN IRREVOCABLE CHILDHOOD MEMORY - PLAYING “CUBBYHOUSES” IN THE GARDEN, WITH THE LEFTOVER ASBESTOS CEMENT SHEETS HER FATHER HAD CUT FOR A HOME GARAGE. While her brothers remain unscathed from their exposure to the “devil’s dust”, it was Serafina who was given the devastating diagnosis of mesothelioma three decades later. For the past six years, this inspiring mum of four has been held tightly under the wing of her medical crew, which includes Strathfield Private Hospital staff, Strathfield Private Cardiothoracic Surgeon Professor Brian McCaughan and mesothelioma support coordinator at the Asbestos Disease Research Institute Jocelyn McLean. “In decades past, mesothelioma patients were not always promptly referred to mesothelioma specialists because doctors held the belief, (and many still do) that the condition is untreatable; or that “radical surgery” like pleuropneumonectomy would provide only a few months of borrowed time,” says McLean. However she says that for patients diagnosed in early stages of the disease, timely treatment, using the tri-modal approach of chemotherapy, pleuropneumonectomy and radiotherapy has improved outcomes significantly. “Serafina received this protocol and continues to be an inspiration to all of us. She really took on the mantle of staying fit and active even when you have lung disease. Two years ago she walked solo in the City to Surf and only a few weeks ago walked the Bay Run.” Although Serafina has recently had a second recurrence and is currently undergoing radiotherapy, her team ensures that hope continues to shine its beacon. “We now have 30 survivors (since 2004) including an 80-year-old man who was diagnosed at 70 and still has no evidence of disease,” says McLean. BELOW: Jocelyn McLean, Professor Brian McCaughan & Strathfield Private Hospital patient Serafina Salucci
The Ramsay Way - Spring 2014
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