NSW Transition Newsletter May 2009
Clinical Advisory Committee
The inaugural meeting of the NSW Clinical Advisory Committee (CAC) was held on the 28th April 2009 at NSW Health, North Sydney.
The Chair of the CAC is Dr Greg Stewart and membership is as follows:
- Ms Pamela Clarke (Cord Blood Bank),
- Prof Bernadette Tobin (Director Plunkett Centre for Ethics)
- Dr Liz Fugaccia (Chair State Liaison Committee)
- Dr Deborah Verran (Chair Transplant Advisory Committee)
- Dr Jeremy Chapman (Tissue Typing and Histocompatability representative)
- Dr Pauline Rumma (NSW Tissue Banks)
- Dr Imogen Mitchell (ACT Medical Director – Organ and Tissue)
- Dr Andy Stearman (Emergency Medicine representative)
- Ms Malynda Flarey (NSW Health)
- Dr Deepak Bhonagiri (NSW A/State Medical Director—Organ and Tissue)
- Ms Jane Treloggen (Nurse Manager NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service).
The Committee is in the process of seeking a health consumer representative and will invite person with expertise to attend as required.
Mr Terry Clout (SESIAHS CE) and Dr Kerry Chant (NSW Chief Health Officer) attended the inaugural meeting to welcome the committee members and explain the structure and role of the committee to advise at a policy level on clinical functions of the Service.
The CAC will meet bi-monthly and minutes from the meetings will be posted on the Service’s website.
Agency accommodation
Office space for the staff of the new NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Agency has been secured in Belgrave Street, Kogarah just along the Street from St George Hospital.
The customised furniture and IT fit out will begin soon to the top floor location of the building. The office contact details will be circulated as soon as they are finalised and LifeGift nsw/act have a comprehensive plan to inform donor families and allstakeholders of the new details. Of note, there will be no change to the pager numbers for reaching the State Donor NurseConsultants, the State Coordinator of Bereavement Services or o the individual staff mobile phone numbers.
Appointment of Medical and Nursing positions for the Service Progress continues with the creation of the new Medical and Nursing positions. The Project Team are in the process of confirming the sites for the new positions. The position descriptions for the medical positions are complete and the nursing position descriptions will be reviewed by the NSW Nurses Association and graded by an extra-ordinary grading committee hosted by SESIAHS.
Once the sites are confirmed and the position descriptions are endorsed, the State Medical Director, Hospital Medical Directors, Nurse Manager and Clinical Nurse Specialist positions will be advertised externally.
Transition website
Pages have been added to the NSW Health website to cover the transition of the NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service and Agency. The link to the site is: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/otds/index.asp.
A standalone website for the Service will created after the 1st July 2009. Thanks to Kerry McKay for assistance with this process and content for the site.
Annual service of remembrance and reflection
On behalf of LifeGift nsw/act, a reminder that the Annual Service of remembrance and reflection for all those touched by organ and tissue donation and transplantation will be held on the 30th May 2009 at 2pm in the Wesley Centre, 220 Pitt Street Sydney. As with past years, the service promises to be an excellent opportunity to pause and acknowledge the generosity of the donors and their families.
National authority update: contact and communication
The National Authority has a new home and contact details. The street address is Ernst & Young House, Level 5, 51 Allara Street, Canberra ACT, 2600 and new telephone number is (02) 6198 9800, fax number is (02) 6198 9801.
All email addresses are to be changed too. The address string will be This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Emails sentto @health.gov.au addresses will be forwarded but only for a limited time.
The Authority is inviting representatives from the state-based agencies and health departments to a workshop in Canberra on the 20 May 2009 to discuss national communication and branding issues.
NSW will be represented by Ms Malynda Flarey, Ms Trish Wills and Ms Kerry McKay.
It will be known after this time if NSW is able to create its own branding or name like ‘Life Link’ and ‘LifeGift nsw/act’ have been used in the past for the NSW state –based agency.
Education plans for new Medical and Nursing Positions
Planning is well underway to create an extensive, formal competency based education package and program for the new nursing positions within the Service.
Designed to complement induction education that will be directed by the Authority, the nursing education program has been based on the successful program created by Ms Nicole Coleman (Area Donor Coordinator for HNEAHS).
Nicole is chairing a working party that includes:
- Ms Carrie Alvaro (LifeGift nsw/act)
- Ms Jennifer Gillott (ADAPT)
- Ms Myra Sgorbini (SSWAHS)
- Ms Jeanette Lacey (HNEAHS)
- Ms Roberta Brown (NSCCAHS)
- Ms Kerry Munsie (SESIAHS)
- Ms Marnie Berriman (SESIAHS & ADAPT)
- Ms Miriam Nonu (SESIAHS)
- Ms Monica Walker (SWAHS)
- Ms Jane Treloggen (Nurse Manager NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service).
Many thanks to all involved.
Dr Deepak Bhonagiri (NSW State Medical Director—Organ and Tissue) is consulting with Medical ADAPT to develop aneducation program for the medical staff.
Strategic Planning for Service
Work is progressing to develop a 5 year Strategic Plan for the Service. A workshop was held on the 7th April 2009, with some key stakeholders to develop the draft Strategic Goals. The draft plan will be distributed for comment soon.
Last but by no means least...
Many thanks to all for your continued support and patience with this complicated change process. Do not hesitate to contact the transition project team if you have any questions or concerns.
Project Manager: Kevin Forward 9391 9624 , Nurse Manager: Jane Treloggen 9391 9585
