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Nominations for the ‘peoples’ choice’ award at this year’s NSW Health Excellence in Nursing & Midwifery Awards have officially opened. The annual awards ceremony was put on hold due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The awards are a highlight of our calendar, but this year instead of a live event held in Sydney, we will be broadcasting the show to the nurses and midwives wherever they are in NSW with a virtual format in November,” NSW Chief Nurse and Midwife Officer, Jacqui Cross said. “The virtual show will be entertaining and meaningful,” Jacqui said.

For the Healing Heart Award, patients, families, and carers are invited to nominate a nurse or midwife who made their healthcare experience special by visiting the NSW Health website at health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/enma. Nominations close on 27 July.

The awards carry special significance in 2020, being the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. We recognise and celebrate nurses and midwives for the skill, leadership, and compassionate care they contribute to people and the broader health system every day. The Awards will be shown on 26 November.

There are many things that Australians over 60 would like to see return to “normal” post-COVID, but according to new research undertaken by the Global Centre for Modern Ageing (GCMA), telehealth is something many are keen to keep.

Whether accessed by phone or online, telehealth has worked well for older Australians, with more than 60 per cent of people aged over 60 surveyed nationally saying they were willing to use telehealth in the future.

“Older Australians like telehealth for its convenience, reduced travel and ability to be conducted at home,” said GCMA chief executive Julianne Parkinson.

Over two in three people who used telehealth during the pandemic said they would feel confident using telehealth in the future and 49% said they were likely to use telehealth after the pandemic.

“The experience of those who took part in digital consultations was positive,” said Julianne.

While many had a largely positive experience, some had difficulties using telehealth. Challenges included a less personal experience, less perceived warmth and less perceived care, difficulties for people with hearing impairment, tech glitches and a lack of tech confidence.

Clinical nurse and child and family health consultant, Anne Roth and Meagan Evans, clinical nurse specialist for child and family health WNSWLHD.

Keeping new parents connected during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) Child and Family Health Nurses developing a new way of working.

The WNSWLHD is now offering first time parent’s access to a Virtual New Parent Group.

WNSWLHD, Consultant Child and Family Health Clinical Nurse, Anne Roth said, “New Parents Groups are normally provided face to face in centres across the WNSWLHD and we’ve had a great response to the first group, with 52 first time parents registering since it started on 22 April.”

COVID-19 has meant that these face to face groups can no longer operate as normal but the need to stay connected is more important than ever.

“This is particularly important for new parents who can feel vulnerable at this time. It may be hard right now for them to know how to balance the joy and excitement of having a new baby with the fear caused by this unprecedented global pandemic,” Anne said.

The Group is led by Meagan Evans a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Child and Family Health and is held weekly over four weeks with each session running for 90 minutes.

There has been a 42% increase in demand for services at CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes (CCWF) since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how quickly our team adapted to make sure support and services were still being delivered at a time when our many communities needed us most,” CCWF CEO, Anne-Marie Mioche said.

“Our team responded quickly and pro-actively and implemented really engaging new ways of supporting our clients through phone support, web-based interactions, video conferencing, social media, online help, in home resource packs and more,” Anne-Marie said.

“Our organisation was started in a time of  serious drought, to address stress and depression in what is considered the poorest diocese in Australia. We continue to meet these needs by providing a range of parenting and family services, playgroups, housing, domestic and family violence, financial counselling, and mental health support from 14 offices and outreach centres covering 52% of NSW.

The innovation and genuine positive problem solving is an absolute credit to the hard working and resilient team members at CCWF who are out facing some community’s largest and most challenging issues.

Kristen Smith was awarded Western NSW Local Health District Midwife of the Year.

Health services around NSW are coming together to honour the work of our nurses and midwives.

With International Day of the Midwife on 5 May and International Nurses Day on 12 May, this is the perfect time to celebrate.

The Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) Midwife of the Year was awarded to Kristine Smith from Lachlan Health Service on Tuesday, 5 May for her hard work and dedication over 43 years of service.

WNSWLHD Executive Director of Quality, Clinical Safety and Nursing, Associate Professor Adrian Fahy, said: “We should be incredibly proud of our nurses and midwives across Western New South Wales Local Health District who have proven their tenacity and resilience especially through this COVID-19 pandemic.”

“This week we should celebrate them and personally thank them for the contribution that they make across the many settings in our rural environment.”

Nurses are the ‘Healing Hearts’ of the NSW Health service.

Blue and purple hearts will pop up in Western NSW Hospitals in the form of stickers, posters and postcards this month. The Healing Heart postcards provide a way to recognise and thank nurses and midwives for their unique contribution.