December 2016 Surgery Newsletter

In this edition

  1. Message from the Executive Director, System Purchasing Branch
  2. Was elective surgery performed on time?
  3. How many patients were on the waiting list for elective surgery?
  4. Congratulations James Brinton - Improving service levels in Hospitals!
  5. Perioperative Toolkit
  6. More information
  7. Surgery Access Line Christmas availability
  8. Christmas recipe
  9. Frequently asked question
  10. Tell us what you think

Executive Director, System Purchasing Branch Message from the Executive Director, System Purchasing Branch

Hello everyone

Welcome to the December 2016 edition of Surgery News.It was very pleasing to note that in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report regarding Elective Surgery Waiting Times released earlier this month, NSW achieved the following outstanding results for Elective Surgery:

  • Of the 711,854 elective surgery admissions across Australia in 2015-2016, the largest volume was undertaken in NSW, with 217,817 admissions from the elective surgery waiting list, or over 30 percent of the total national volume.
  • Despite having the largest volume, 97.1% of patients in NSW were admitted for surgery within clinically appropriate time frames, this was the highest result achieved across Australia.
  • The number of overdue elective surgery patients was 177 at the end of June 2016. This is the best results since 2011, and against 217,817 admissions is absolutely phenomenal.  
These outstanding results would not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of all those working in the Local Health Districts and Specialty Health Networks. As such, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your ongoing efforts. I wish you all a safe and happy festive season and look forward to another successful year in 2017.
 
Kind regards
Elizabeth Wood 
 

Was elective surgery performed on time?

Compared with the same quarter last year:

The percentage of elective surgical procedures performed within recommended timeframes was 97.9% (up 1.0 percentage point). This included:

  • 99.8% of urgent surgery (up 0.1 percentage points)
  • 98.0% of semi-urgent surgery (up 0.9 percentage points)
  • 96.9% of non-urgent surgery (up 1.8 percentage points)

How many patients were on the waiting list for elective surgery?

Compared with the same quarter last year:

187 more people were ready for surgery and on the elective surgery waiting list at the end of the quarter (73,430 in total; up 0.3%). Of these:

  • 1,657 people (2.3%) were waiting for urgent surger
  • 11,910 (16.2%) were waiting for semi-urgent surgery
  • 59,863 (81.5%) were waiting for non-urgent surgery

Congratulations James Brinton - Improving service levels in Hospitals!

J BrintonJames Brinton recieved the Premier's Award for Individual Excellence and Achievement and the individual award for Improving Service Levels in Hospitals.
James has been nursing for more than 20 years and has been working at Wollongong Hospital for 16 years. Since transitioning to the role of Clinical Nurse Consultant – Surgery Division 12 months ago, James has explored and pioneered ways of delivering surgery service across the district, so that the experience is improved for patients.
 
''These awards represent the hard work and dedication of all of the fantastic teams I have had the privilege of working with for the last 20 years. I have been lucky enough to work with some really innovative and driven groups.
 
Projects have included the Fasting Clock- a simple initiative that has reduced the fasting times of pre-operative patients from days; down to hours. This coalface solution continues to make a difference to the frail and venerable in our hospitals.
The Fasting Clock works as a cue for bedside carers to remind them that it is safe for patients to have a light meal 6 hours before surgery, and drink clear drinks up to 2 hours before surgery.
 
This is a radical change from the ‘old days’ of fasting for more than 18 hours. Now our patients are well hydrated and happier. This simple approach to redesign of health was adopted by Shoalhaven Hospital for their surgical patients. We continue to roll this out, and hope that one day- no one in our hospital will unnecessarily starve before surgery.
 
We are soon launching a first: the “My Surgery Journey” information magazine and the “My Surgery Journey” smartphone app. Both will endeavour to deliver our patients and their families with much needed information in the days and weeks before their surgery. Ideas like this help reduce anxiety and improve patient care. The goal of both is to reduce patient-related day-of-surgery cancellations. Look out for both launching this Summer!!
 
Almost 2 years ago we revolutionised the way emergency and trauma surgery is booked. We moved away from a complex and unsafe paper process, to a time-saving electronic booking process. It was so successful at Wollongong Hospital, that it was successfully adopted by Shoalhaven Hospital.
 
We have coupled this with a soon to be released Surgery Safety, Efficiency & Productivity Data Dashboard. The Dashboard will display live patient-focused data wrapped around Theatre KPI’s:- Did we meet Start-On-Time today? How many patients had surgery cancelled? What’s the turnaround time for each Theatre today? How are we performing compared to last week, last month and last year? The Dashboard will also include a patient story- linking data to real people.
 
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District is a member of The Health Roundtable data analysis organisation, which allows us to benchmark our performance against international hospitals. I am proud that our local hospitals are some of the best performing. We deliver NSW-best service for eye surgery and neurosurgery, and significant improvements are being demonstrated in the delivery of life saving surgery.
 
This is so important to me, because my local hospital is where my family goes. In business they often ask “would you recommend this company to a friend?” but I’m proud to recommend my hospital to my friends and family. We provide safe, quality care to the right people at the right time.
 
In my role as Clinical Nurse Consultant for Surgery, I get to meet some really amazing people. I would like to pay thanks to the dedicated teams of nurses, doctors, allied health, clerical, non-clinical and all others who strive each day to deliver the best for our patients. In particular I would like to pay mention to Kate Fish, Nursing Co-director for the Division of Surgery, who has been such an inspirational mentor. Kate, and all of the people I work with have a single focus: our patients..."
 
For more information please contact:
James Brinton via email at James.Brinton@health.nsw.gov.au

Perioperative Toolkit Perioperative toolkit cover

In 2007, the Surgical Services Taskforce (SST) commissioned a Working Group to develop the Pre Procedure Preparation Toolkit (GL2007_018).   In 2015-2016, the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) Anaesthesia Perioperative Care (APC) Network in collaboration with the SST and the Ministry of Health developed the Perioperative Toolkit, which was finalised in late November 2016.

The Toolkit was prepared by frontline clinicians and staff experienced in perioperative care, including anaesthetists, surgeons, nurses, allied health, consumers, managers and primary care. The Toolkit has taken into account best practice guidelines described in Australian and international literature.
 
The patient’s surgical/procedural journey begins with the patient at home and ends when the patient is safely returned to their place of residence. The perioperative process is a framework of systems, tools and multidisciplinary teams and the main function of a Perioperative Service is to ensure that the patient is optimally prepared for their complete surgical/procedural journey and that this occurs in a safe, efficient and patient-centred manner.
 
The nine elements of perioperative care described in the Perioperative Toolkit build upon the five in its predecessor – the Pre Procedure Preparation Toolkit.  The Toolkit is designed to aid in further developing perioperative structures, processes and outcomes for patients having a surgery/procedure and anaesthesia.  The four new elements are directed towards measuring outcomes for quality improvement, pre operative prehabilitation and strengthening intra- and post-operative care for the high-risk complex patient with chronic multisystem disease having moderate to major surgery.
 
A range of tools, including the Appendices including in the Toolkit and a self assessment tool, are available in the ACI’s Perioperative Toolkit.
 

More information

Ellen Rawstron
Manager, Anaesthesia Perioperative Care Network
02 9464 4641
Ellen.rawstron@health.nsw.gov.au

Surgery Access Line Christmas availability

Surgery Access Line - 1800 053 456The Surgery Access Line (SAL) will be unattended from 23 December 2016 until Monday 9 January 2017. During this period patients will be directed to contact their local hospitals for information and advice. Services will resume on Monday 9 January 2017.he Surgery Access Line (SAL) will be unattended from 23 December 2016 until Monday 9 January 2017. During this period patients will be directed to contact their local hospitals for information and advice. Services will resume on Monday 9 January 2017.
 

Christmas recipe

Chocolate and cherry trifle

Get started early on your Christmas baking & sweets with this divine dessert at taste.com.au
 
Chocolate and cherry trifle 

Ingredients

  • 540g pkt White Wings rich chocolate cake
  • 2 Coles Brand Australian Free Range Eggs
  • 60g butter, softened
  • 500g thick vanilla custard
  • 680g jar sour pitted cherries
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) kirsch (optional)
  • 300ml thickened cream
  • 1 tablespoon icing sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 50g dark chocolate, grated

Method 

Step 1
Prepare the cake mix with the eggs, butter and 175ml water following packet directions. Turn onto a wire rack to cool. Cut the cake horizontally into 3 even layers.
 
Step 2
Whisk the custard and chocolate frosting mix from the packet in a bowl until well combined.
 
Step 3
Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup (125ml) juice. Combine reserved cherry juice and kirsch in a jug. Use an electric mixer to whisk cream, icing sugar and vanilla in a bowl until soft peaks form.
 
Step 4
Place 1 cake layer in the base of a deep, straight-sided 20cm trifle bowl. Drizzle with 1/4 cup (60ml) of kirsch mixture. Top with one-third of the custard mixture, one-third of the cherries, one-third of the grated chocolate and one-third of the cream mixture. Repeat layering, finishing with cherries, cream mixture and grated chocolate. Cover and place in the fridge overnight to develop the flavours.

Frequently asked question

A patient needs a clinical review prior to being allocated a date for their surgery, do I make the patient Not Ready for Care whilst undergoing the clinical review?

No, the patient must remain in their current Clinical Priority Category and not be place in Not Ready for Care (NRFC). A Clinical Review is defined as a review of a patient on the waiting list to ensure that their waiting time remains appropriate for their clinical condition.

Tell us what you think

What did you think of this edition of the Surgery Newsletter?

Do you have some feedback on one of our stories, or do you have a story idea? We would love to hear from you.

Email the editors at:

Ms Melinda Pascoe
Phone: (02) 9391 9557
mpasc@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
 
Ms Chrissie Crawford
Phone: (02) 9391 9394
ccraw@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
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Current as at: Friday 30 June 2017
Contact page owner: System Purchasing