South Metropolitan Health Service

Patients with uncommon and rare cancers may be able to join a new clinical trial at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH). The MoST-TAP trial will offer eligible patients two immunotherapy drugs that may increase chances of survival. “We have seen similar drugs improve survival in many rare cancer patients, and we hope to see patients with these cancers living longer with access to these drugs,” says Dr Wei-Sen Lam, Head of Service at FSH Medical Oncology. Enrolment is underway and recruitment should close mid-2026. For more info 👉 https://lnkd.in/gBN95QXi

‘Turtles in the Water with Stars’ will welcome patients into Fiona Stanley Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) thanks to WA Noongar artist, Linda Lee Loo. Linda and other local Aboriginal artists have donated their artworks to to help us create a welcoming and culturally safe environment for Aboriginal patients in the ED. Thank you to all the artists for contributing their incredible artwork and culture, helping to make our hospital a safe space for everyone. Read more about this story on our website 👉https://lnkd.in/gjYQxqrZ

Congratulations to the Emergency Department (ED) team at Rockingham General Hospital on winning the Al Spilman Award for Cultural Safety Initiatives in an ED. Led by the ED Cultural Safety Working Group, the team has implemented a comprehensive feedback process that has helped in reducing the did not wait (DNW) and discharge against medical advice (DAMA) incidents for Aboriginal patients. The feedback process has been appreciated by Aboriginal patients, saying it makes them feel validated and heard.

ONE WEEK TO GO! Get your FREE tickets to the next Fiona Wood Public Lecture on fatty liver disease. Dr Koya Ayonrinde will be chatting all things fatty liver including how to prevent and reverse it to live a long and healthy life. https://lnkd.in/gNAfb7cQ https://lnkd.in/gWFSYBxk

Carter’s life took a positive turn when he was referred to the Cockburn Aboriginal Ear Health Program. Presenting with hearing loss due to ear fluid that affected his speech development, Carter underwent a successful grommet surgery at Rockingham General Hospital. Adapting to new sounds after years of limited hearing, the moment three-year-old Carter heard his mum speaking was deeply emotional. "It was such an emotional moment when he could hear me better; I honestly just cried,” recalls Yolandi, Carter’s mum. Read more on how Cockburn Aboriginal Ear Health Program is helping children like Carter along with Telethon Kids Institute, Cockburn Integrated Health, Telethon Speech & Hearing Ltd, Moorditj Koort Aboriginal Corporation, Hearing Australia, St John of God Health Care & Child and Adolescent Health Service 👉 https://lnkd.in/gNQjFCjz

The transition for Peel Health Campus to the South Metropolitan Health Service is well underway and on track for 13 August. Ensuring patients continue to receive high-quality care with minimal disruption during this transition is our priority, so last week we hosted a staff Welcome Week - a one-stop shop for onboarding Peel Health Campus staff to SMHS.   This was an exciting milestone event where staff received their welcome bags, corporate induction handbooks, new uniforms, and staff identification badges, organise their computer provisioning and set up for day one, as well as having the opportunity to ask questions and attend guest speaker events.     Supporting staff in this way ahead of the transition in August means staff are ready and equipped to focus on what they do best, providing excellent care to our patients.

Gracie’s world was turned upside down when she fell from a three-storey balcony after a night out with friends. She suffered multiple injuries including broken bones, a fractured skull and even had a stroke. Thanks to the support of the staff at Fiona Stanley Hospital State Rehabilitation Service, she is getting stronger every day and learning to walk, talk, eat, run, read and write. Gracie is now able to share her story to other young people and will soon be volunteering at Fiona Stanley Hospital. Well done, Gracie!

After being diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obstructive sleep apnoea and diaphragm palsy in January, Andrew Rowling was left unable to walk to his letterbox. His shortness of breath was so severe he was forced to step down from his role as a Security Officer and take up a desk-based position. But in February, Andrew was referred to the South Metro Health Service (SMHS) Community Physiotherapy Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in Jolimont. With the support of senior physio Nikki Strahan, Andrew underwent eight weeks of progressive walking, arm and leg strengthening and education. In his final walking assessment Andrew doubled his distance, walking 600 meters in six minutes compared to 300 meters at the beginning of the program. Now, Andrew has returned to work as a Security Officer and can walk up to an hour per day. He says the rehabilitation program turned his life around. Congratulations Andrew on this remarkable achievement, and thank you Nikki and team for your excellent work 💜👏

One in three Australians, including some children, has fatty liver disease and may not even know it. Join us as leading liver specialist Dr Koya Ayonrinde discusses what fatty liver is, how anyone can be susceptible to it, regardless of lifestyle, and how it is a major risk factor for heart disease, diabetes and liver cirrhosis. From drinking alcohol to doing liver cleanses, Koya will debunk all the common myths associated with fatty liver disease and let you know how to effectively prevent or reverse it to live a long and healthy life. Encourage your patients and clients to attend and bring along your friend family and colleagues too. Secure your FREE tickets and get more information: https://lnkd.in/gD6uhhPc

We were honoured to have the Minister for Health Amber-Jade Sanderson visit Fiona Stanley Hospital today for the launch of the Doctor Support Unit (DSU) across the South Metro Health Service. Clinical services, medical education and the medical workforce have combined forces to provide our junior doctors with a single, seamless and responsive point of contact for wellbeing support and management of rostering, overtime and leave. We have more than 1500 incredible junior doctors across our workforce, and we know supporting their overall wellbeing is crucial in empowering them to forge excellent, rewarding careers 👩⚕️🧑⚕️ Area Director Clinical Services Dr Mark Monaghan and Resident Medical Officer Olivia Tan spoke at the launch and said realistic rostering and leave optimisation are among the supports that will help prevent burnout in junior doctors. Minister Sanderson said it’s important to keep moving away from the attitude that fatigue and poor work-life balance are inherent aspects of a medical career, and continuing to listen to what junior doctors need is key in supporting them to deliver the highest quality patient care 💜