2024 SMHS Excellence Awards winners
Excellence in clinical careMimidi Park restrictive practice reduction – Rockingham Peel Group
As part of its commitment to providing person-centred care to vulnerable consumers, Mimidi Park mental health inpatient unit introduced National Mental Health Commission recommended strategies to minimise these practices. A culture of learning in least restrictive practice was nurtured, with senior clinical staff reviewing all seclusion incidents and relaying learnings to staff. Aggression prevention training was provided for all staff as was continuous education through the Safe Wards approach. Reduction tools implemented included continued investment in sensory modulation and therapeutic and diversional activities. A peer coordinator role was also created to bring a consumer perspective to practice. Reductions achieved in inpatient seclusion and restraint – 84 per cent and 61 per cent respectively – were both well below Western Australian averages.
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Excellence in improving the patient experienceSip to send – Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group
This extensive project educated staff that patients could sip water or clear fluids until being sent to theatre for surgery without increased aspiration risks. Prolonged fluid fasting can be unpleasant, cause dehydration and increase perioperative risk, particularly for vulnerable patients. An audit revealed average fluid fasting times of 9.5 hours across many surgical specialties, and up to 24 hours for emergency surgery. A coalition of nurses, anaesthetists and allied health staff delivered extensive activities, including educational roadshows for anaesthetists and nursing staff, amended fasting policies, and socialising changes to staff with support from junior doctors and nurse unit managers. An audit monitoring anaesthesia-related aspirations before and after the project launched also improved staff confidence in its safety. As a result, average fasting times were reduced to under 2 hours, with strong validation from patient feedback, with their stories used to further educate and motivate staff.
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Excellence in developing and engaging our staff and teams
Midwifery team – Rockingham Peel GroupIn response to poor culture outcomes in previous Your Voice in Health survey results, the Rockingham General Hospital (RGH) midwifery team prioritised transforming their team workplace culture. Adopting a multi-faceted approach saw the team implement professional, personal and team initiatives. They engaged in culture workshops to develop signature values derived from the SMHS values and firmly embedded them. Open communication, learning-focused discussions, and clear goals were prioritised. The team arranged education and training initiatives for all levels through multi-disciplinary team clinical simulations, supported junior colleagues via graduate and mentor programs, and embedded a team ethos of “knowing each other”. Celebrating achievements, participating in social activities, and promoting inclusivity further strengthened their positive culture, as evidenced by their improved retention levels, sought after graduate programs, and a 28 per cent reduction in sick leave. Subsequent survey results showed a substantial increase in staff satisfaction with 89 per cent of staff reporting their role enabled them to make good use of their skills/ abilities and 83 per cent reporting manager support with their goals – an improvement of 33 per cent since the 2021 survey.
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Excellence in strengthening partnershipsIntegrated cancer services – Rockingham Peel Group
For a local population with the highest cancer rates in WA for certain cancers, these changes are lifesaving. The development of the service has included integrating external providers, establishing specific allied health clinics, developing a unique multidisciplinary team approach with a dedicated online platform to assist in the management of complex patients. This approach has led to safer and more timely access to services for local patients, leading to an increase in activity and a reduction in wait times. Data comparisons show increases of 16 per cent in outpatient oncology and haematology activity and 22 per cent for oncology referrals. A 54 per cent increase in haematology referrals and 13 per cent reduction in over boundary outpatients were also recorded. Patients are cared for in an individualised and holistic manner, considering lifestyle and stress factors in addition to their diagnosis, with partner organisations proactively involved in providing seamless cancer services.
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Excellence in innovationConscious sedation in endoscopy – Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group
This innovative change to the endoscopy patient sedation model enabled the redirection of anaesthesia staff to additional theatre sessions, reducing over-boundary cases from 1,500 to 300 without compromising patient safety. Previously, Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group anaesthetists provided sedation and basic airway management at each endoscopy case, with their availability impacting elective surgery activity. Through the new model, sedation was delivered under the direction of the gastroenterologist or surgeon, with endoscopy nurses upskilled in patient monitoring, basic airway management and intravenous cannula insertion. The multidisciplinary team embraced online collaboration to streamline process discussions and approvals. Momentum for change was established through a series of staff presentations, and education sessions for pre-assessment nurses and information sheets helped manage patient expectations. Introducing this less resource intensive sedation model demonstrates that deeply embedded cultural practices can be changed to achieve more efficient use of workforce resources and timely patient care.
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Excellence in sustainabilitySustainability supply tracker – Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group
Involving extensive collaboration between the Green Theatres Group, sustainability leads and the Fiona Stanley Hospital Performance Improvement Program team, the project monitored changes in the clinical use and habits of 35 items through a comprehensive dashboard dedicated to tracking environmental and cost impacts. Through a process to effectively capture and analyse various data points, the team worked to create meaningful reports digestible for all parties. The hospital’s monitoring dashboard estimated a cumulative $863,000 saving from these initiatives, with an 80 per cent, 45 per cent and 57 per cent reduction in the equivalent CO2 emissions with anaesthetic gases, oxygen saturation sensors, and blood pressure cuffs, respectively. Collaboration with the Department of Health to scale the monitoring dashboard throughout WA Health shows its potential for sustainable and scalable impacts for the future.
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Volunteer of the YearMarie Paterson – Rockingham Peel Group
Through decades of coordinated fundraising efforts, Marie secured much-needed equipment to enhance the experience of countless patients and families. Her holistic approach to volunteering also recognised kind words and a listening ear as equally valuable across the patient journey. As the hospital’s focus moved to inpatient geriatric medicine and restorative care, Marie’s lived experience shone through her commitment to providing companionship and reassurance for patients with cognitive impairment. At what can be a disorienting and confusing time for these patients, Marie reminisced with them about their work, family and life experiences. Marie's dedication and service to her local hospital extends beyond longevity – it reflects a genuine and lifelong legacy of compassion and its profound impact on the local community.
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Researcher of the YearAssociate Professor Laurens Manning, Consultant Physician Infectious Diseases – Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group
Through his roles as an infectious disease physician and clinical researcher at Fiona Stanley Hospital, University of Western Australia and Honorary Fellow at Telethon Kids Institute, Associate Professor Laurens Manning’s diverse research portfolio continually improves outcomes for patients both locally and globally. His work includes design and implementation of clinical trials and studies into diabetic foot infections, large scale observational studies and trials of peri-prosthetic joint infections, observational and pharmacological studies in children with malaria, and severe infections for older patients. A generous and engaging collaborator, Associate Professor Manning’s leadership of national and international collaborative research and outstanding publication output has helped push SMHS to the forefront of Australian infectious diseases research. With over 150 published papers and 2,500 plus citations, his research has directly translated into improvements in clinical practice, changes to guideline recommendations and advances in safety, efficiency and quality of care.
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Southern Star AwardMimidi Park restrictive practice reduction – Rockingham Peel Group
As part of its commitment to providing person-centred care to vulnerable consumers, Mimidi Park mental health inpatient unit introduced National Mental Health Commission recommended strategies to minimise these practices. A culture of learning in least restrictive practice was nurtured, with senior clinical staff reviewing all seclusion incidents and relaying learnings to staff. Aggression prevention training was provided for all staff as was continuous education through the Safe Wards approach. Reduction tools implemented included continued investment in sensory modulation and therapeutic and diversional activities. A peer coordinator role was also created to bring a consumer perspective to practice. Reductions achieved in inpatient seclusion and restraint – 84 per cent and 61 per cent respectively – were both well below Western Australian averages.
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Moorditj Dookoorniny AwardMirko Hessel, Clinical Nurse Coordinator Radiation Oncology – Rockingham Peel Group
Mirko Hessel has single-handedly worked with local radiology clinics on a public/private partnership so that cancer patients in the Rockingham/Peel catchment area can receive care closer to home. He has developed clinical pathways, built relationships with varying providers and clinicians to promote seamless referral pathways, supported and advocated strongly for the patient cohort and commenced multi-disciplinary team meetings with a host of specialities. He has also become an excellent clinical resource for staff within Rockingham General Hospital Mirko has an incredible work ethic and persistence to get the job done and, above all, shows great compassion when caring for patients and their families. |
Managing challenging behaviours in acute mental health consumers can be traumatic for both patients and staff, especially seclusion and restraint practices. Studies show that poor staff interactions, a lack of activities, compulsory medication and poor environment contribute to high rates of these practices.
A multidisciplinary quality improvement project across Fiona Stanley and Fremantle hospitals is keeping patients awaiting surgery comfortable and hydrated without compromising safety.
The newly established Rockingham General Hospital Integrated Cancer Service has intentionally and systematically built collaborative partnerships with the private sector, healthcare and government partners, non-government organisations and the local community to significantly improve care for cancer patients closer to home. 
An initiative out of Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group is helping to monitor and quantify the impacts of environmental sustainability initiatives implemented by clinicians to reduce wastefulness and promote low carbon healthcare.
Marie has been an almost constant presence at Murray District Hospital since it opened in 1952, transitioning from a respected nurse and midwife to a cherished volunteer of 50 years.
Return to the SMHS Excellence Awards page.