Words from Russell – Victorian Public Healthcare Award finalists

This week, two teams from Western Health have been announced as finalists in the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards. This is an outstanding achievement and we extend our congratulations to:

• Finalist Excellence in Values-Based Healthcare – Perioperative and Critical Care Division
• Finalist  Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing – The Babaneek Booboop Program.

In 2022, our Perioperative and Critical Care Division established the same-day discharge initiative for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and hernia repair surgery. The new approach was inspired by success in other countries and was designed to alleviate the strain on hospital beds following the COVID pandemic. The project has already improved patient access to surgery, reduced length of stay and enhanced patient satisfaction. In one year, more than 300 patients who would have stayed overnight instead left on the same day as their surgery. The initiative showcased the benefits of timely and efficient surgical care while optimising resources and improving patient outcomes.

The Babaneek Booboop Program promotes the health and developmental outcomes of First Nations children in Melbourne’s western suburbs (the City of Melton and Moorabool Shire). Establishing and building on strong networks, the program has supported more than 350 children and their families in their engagement with child health and promoted cultural safety in health. It’s seen more than 97 per cent of participants complete maternal and child health key ages and stages assessments. It’s also led to significant uptake of oral health, audiology, optometry and NDIS referrals. The program is currently funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing through Korin Korin Balit-Djak funding, and is led and managed by Western Health.

Well done to the following program leads and key contributors of these respective programs.

The West Metro Health Service Partnership, of which Western Health is a key partner, was announced as a finalist for the Health Service Partnership of the Year. Since its establishment two years ago, the partnership has built strong connections with more than 280 stakeholders and delivered significant impact through 13 collaborative projects.

I’d also like to acknowledge other teams across Western Health that dedicated time to putting together applications for the awards. It’s a rigorous process and although the projects weren’t shortlisted as finalists, they remain excellent examples of the exceptional care and culture of innovation so evident at Western Health. In order to share all of these schemes with you we are looking at ways to celebrate the projects with you over the coming weeks.