St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting Australian women (and it sometimes affects men, too). Thankfully, most types of breast cancer can usually be defeated — especially with early detection.  St Vincent’s Melbourne is home to the largest BreastScreen Victoria service in the state. The service’s co-location means that many women who come through the St Vincent’s Assessment Service can choose to have any follow-up treatment through the St Vincent’s Melbourne Cancer Centre. “I’m passionate about breast imaging – I feel like I’m giving back. Working with women as a woman, and caring for eligible people in the trans and gender diverse community, is very empowering,” says Shiroma Ackah, Radiographer. “In a world where women can often get the short end of the stick, it’s so fulfilling to see women supporting each other during what can be a very vulnerable experience.”  St Vincent’s has made strides and many breakthroughs nationally in the treatment, research, surgery and prevention of breast cancer – but it’s here, at the first step of breast cancer treatment and prevention, that the emphasis is on creating a safe, caring space for women.  “We get how scary it is to walk into these clinics, to take that first step or to come in for your follow-up appointments,” says Monique Warrillow, St Vincent’s BreastScreen Deputy Chief Radiographer. “We pride ourselves on offering a welcoming and inclusive service. Through each point of this journey – arriving, putting on a warm gown for your X-ray, checking that the patient is comfortable with the care, asking the right questions – these are all central to the compassionate and informed care that we provide women.” #stvincents #betterandfairercare #always #breastcancer #BCAM 

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Professor Gabrielle Casper, our outstanding Gynaecologist at Mater Hospital, North Sydney. Professor Casper has been honoured by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) for her remarkable work in combating gender-based violence and advancing healthcare equity and accessibility. Her unwavering commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change and conflict on women’s health has improved lives not just in Australia, but around the globe. #stvincents #betterandfairercare #always

Every day, front-line clinicians at St Vincent’s face the challenging task of making complex decisions that are deeply intertwined with questions of ethics. While some situations may have clear answers, others don’t – and our people have told us they benefit from support when these come up. Every decision we make for patients in our care embeds our ethical commitments, which is why our organisation includes Dr Dan Fleming, St Vincent’s National Director of Ethics & Formation. Dan has been working closely with our Melbourne ICU specialists, supporting them to achieve their desired outcomes for patients amidst the ethical complexity they face each day and reducing the risk of fatigue, burnout and moral distress that clinicians experience. “The decisions that our doctors make every day are hard ones. What do they do when treatment no longer has a benefit, but a patient wants to pursue it? When medical teams disagree on the best course of action? When patients can’t voice their wishes?” says Dan. “These questions are part of our daily reality.” For Doctors Tim Haydon and Sam Orton, building ethics competence into the ICU has helped them build their team’s confidence in decision-making, enhancing both patient and staff experiences. “We’re committed to fostering collaboration and understanding across our health system,” says Dr Tim Haydon, Director of ICU at St Vincent's Melbourne. “Through this initiative, we’re tapping into St Vincent’s history of innovation and compassionate care to develop a unique program for case-based ethics education in the ICU, which is being replicated in other contexts across our organisation.” This work is another example of St Vincent’s commitment to better and fairer care, always. #stvincents #betterandfairercare #always #PastoralCareWeek undefined

Meet Stephanie Vu, a Senior Prosthetist at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, who exemplifies innovation and compassion in healthcare. Stephanie, who leads a team of prosthetists, helps amputees regain their lives and independence. “I ended up in prosthetics because I was interested in working in healthcare and helping people, but I also have a very creative side,” Stephanie explained. “Working in prosthetists allows me to do both – I can help people and, at the same time, use my hands and my creativity in the workshop.” Many amputees require life-long care, says Stephanie. “Our relationships are very important, and it’s extremely rewarding to help people live their lives to the fullest.” #stvincents #betterandfairercare #always

Allied Health makes up our third largest workforce here at St Vincent’s. From ICU to community-based services, allied health professionals have an important role to play in the physical and mental recovery of patients right across our network. This year's theme for Allied Health Professional’s Day - ‘Stronger together’ - highlights the benefits of multidisciplinary team-based, collaborative care. Thomas Slezak, Physiotherapist at St Vincent’s Sydney, sees the impact of this every day through his work. “Working at St Vincent’s, I get to care for patients alongside some of the most competent professionals in the country,” Thomas says. “In my role, I work closely with doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and pharmacists daily. I love that we can treat our patients through a truly holistic, multi-disciplinary approach.” From our physiotherapists, dieticians and clinical psychologists and counsellors to our speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and medical radiation practitioners - thank you for your hard work and dedication in caring for people of all ages. #stvincents #betterandfairercare #always #AHPsDay2024

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, our team hosted a morning of art, music, food and conversation. We were privileged to hear from people with lived experience of mental ill health - including a special exhibition by local artist Matt Wolfenden who generously shared his recovery story with us. #worldmentalhealthday

World Homeless Day is recognised internationally as a day to advocate for people experiencing homelessness. As healthcare providers, we know that people experiencing homelessness often find navigating health systems difficult, leading to higher rates of chronic disease, poorer health outcomes and a shorter life expectancy. Our Homeless Health Service has long provided healthcare to people experiencing homelessness where they are at, and on their own terms. From short-stay residential care, mobile outreach clinics, to facilitating housing support, our multidisciplinary homeless teams deliver care in a way that offers dignity and respect, where people have agency in their own health. Click the link to find out more about our homeless services, and how you can help. https://brnw.ch/21wNCga #worldhomelessday

These are just some of the lovely faces you'll see on any given day, or night, in our Emergency Department. With over 50,000 emergency presentations every year, our Emergency nurses are always here, and always ready to serve our community members whenever they need immediate care. We really couldn't be any prouder of them. Thank you to all of our Emergency nurses, and happy Emergency Nurses Day! 🙌

Today on Emergency Nurses Day, we recognise the commitment and compassion that our emergency nurses bring every single day across our hospitals. Day and night, all year round, our emergency nurses provide crucial care to those who need it most. Olivia Bollington, Emergency Nurse at St Vincent’s Melbourne, has worked at our Emergency Department for 20 years. She is now the coordinator of the Melbourne ED’s Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Hub. “We have a strong mission to provide equitable care, that seeps into everything we do,” says Olivia. “We see people from all walks of life, and we make sure that they are all treated with the same level of respect. Every person gets the opportunity to speak to a nurse, a doctor, a mental health specialists or allied health professional. We listen to the patients and involve them in their care.” A huge thank you to our incredible Emergency Nurses! #stvincents #betterandfairercare #always #emergencynursesday

The reach of St Vincent’s specialised care has never been limited to just our hospitals. From the Murrimbidgee to the Far North of Australia, our teams are ever expanding into the areas that need our care most. Alice Springs recently became the nation’s hub for gastroenterology and liver education - led by Professor Benedict Devereaux of St Vincent’s Northside in Brisbane, with Professor Alex Thompson of St Vincent’s Melbourne - for the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) Regional, Remote and Indigenous Network. “The program came about because of the challenges that our colleagues have in regional and remote centers to interact and engage with colleagues. If we can contribute in a collaborative sense to education programs that are relevant to regional centers, that will improve quality of care,” Professor Devereaux says. This initiative is part of a five-year partnership with NT Health, aiming to optimise gastrointestinal and liver health across the Northern Territory. Professor Devereaux envisions expanding this model to benefit more regional, remote and Indigenous populations throughout Australia. #stvincents #betterandfairercare #always