Royal North Shore Hospital

21/12/2025

🎄 STAY SAFE THIS FESTIVE SEASON 🎄

As we head into the holidays, the Royal North Shore Hospital team wishes you a warm and joyful Christmas and a bright start to the New Year.

We thank all staff for your hard work and dedication throughout the year, and encourage everyone to look after themselves and one another during this period.

If you require urgent medical care, our Emergency Department remains open and ready to support you around the clock.

Let us stay safe, take care of each other and enjoy the season in good health and good spirits.

20/12/2025

🎄🌭 RNSH FESTIVE BBQ FUN 🌭🎄

The Royal North Shore Hospital team came together to celebrate the festive season with a fun all-staff barbecue! It was a great chance for staff to relax, connect, and enjoy some delicious food after a busy year.

A huge thank you to everyone for your hard work and dedication throughout 2025. We hope you enjoy a happy, healthy, and safe festive season.

20/12/2025

🎄🏆 TINSEL TROPHY 2025 🏆🎄

Royal North Shore Hospital wards got into the festive spirit for the annual Tinsel Trophy competition, decking out their areas with creativity and cheer! Thank you to our key sponsors, InfraShore and Ventia, for supporting the event.

✨ Winners:
🥇 First Prize: Birth Unit – Birth Unit Christmas Cinema
🥈 Second Prize: Severe Burns Injury Unit – Santa’s Secret Bakery – The Master Bakers Unit
🥉 Third Prize: Liver Clinic – Pink Overload
🏅 Susan Henderson Memorial Award: InPatient Pharmacy – Scripts/Medications

Congratulations to all teams for spreading festive cheer across the hospital!

19/12/2025

Today at Royal North Shore Hospital, we came together to light the menorah, marking the triumph of light over darkness.

We were joined by rabbis, hospital staff, and a patient recently discharged following the Bondi attack. Candles were lit in solidarity, reflection and hope, acknowledging loss while affirming life, healing and unity.

Rabbi Shapiro spoke of the meaning behind the menorah.

“It is the flicker of hope. We take the light and the positive. Each night the light grows. We must keep bringing light.”

He reflected on the Jewish tradition of responding to darkness with action, kindness and connection.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder. We bring inspiration, joy and good deeds. We remember those lost, pray for healing, and choose kindness over hate.”

Lighting the menorah at RNSH was a moment to pause, to stand together, and to affirm our shared values. Our thoughts remain with those impacted, and with the patients in our care.

19/12/2025

NSLHD News 🙌

The latest edition of our district newsletter is out now! Read all about:

• Northern Beaches Hospital milestone reached
• Festive celebrations throughout the district
• NSLHD named winner of International Award
• Health Minister visits new RNSH Compass Clinic

Click the link here to view:

NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD Main story Short blurb Festive celebrations throughout the district NSLHD’s festive celebrations in full swing

17/12/2025

TOMORROW’S MEDICINE TODAY – BEFORE THE HEART ATTACK

The weeks after a heart attack are one of the most vulnerable times for patients.

In this episode of Tomorrow’s Medicine Today, Professor Geoffrey Tofler is joined by James Elliott and Matthew Doane to unpack why triggers such as stress, sleep disruption and timing can increase the risk of another cardiac event, and what can be done to reduce that risk.

The episode also highlights the Triggered Acute Risk Prevention (TARP) study, led by Royal North Shore Hospital, which is recruiting participants. If you’ve had a heart attack and want to contribute to research that could improve recovery and prevention, you can learn more and sign up for the TARP study.

Listen now and find out how to get involved via the NSLHD website: https://bit.ly/4qcdpV6 or on Spotify: https://bit.ly/44uLCqF

12/12/2025

Royal North Shore Festival of Music – today!

Join us in the foyer to enjoy today’s line up! Don’t miss out!

Yesterday saw David Chan, a medical oncologist at Royal North Shore Hospital perform twice at the festival. He grew up playing the piano before discovering the pipe organ in high school. His spectacular performance drew a fantastic crowd from the oncology team as well as our visitors. Here is a glimpse of his delightful performance.

11/12/2025

🎶 Royal North Shore Festival of Music – today!

Join us in the foyer from 10–1:30 pm to enjoy today’s line up! Don’t miss out!

Yesterday saw Horn Ensemble take the stage. Sarah Hobson, Tina Brian, Elana Traurig and Julia Zetter delivered a captivating performance. Not only are they talented musicians with the Kur-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra, but they are also NSLHD employees who bring their passion for music into our community.

10/12/2025

Do you know someone studying, or interested in studying nursing or midwifery?

Are they eligible for the 2026 NSW Aboriginal Nursing and Midwifery Cadetship and Scholarship program?

Share this with them and encourage them to register their interest. Applications open 15 December 2025: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/aboriginal-strategy/Pages/scholarships.aspx

09/12/2025

🎶 Royal North Shore Festival of Music – today!

Join us in the foyer from 10–1:30 pm to enjoy today’s line up, line-up: With Pyrmont Sings, David Chan playing piano, a Welsh Choir, Harrison Smith & Jess Chapman, a Horn Ensemble, HealthShare Harmonies and D’ukes all playing! Don’t miss out!

Pictured: One of yesterday’s highlights from the Festival of Music – Annette Edwards performing live in the RNSH foyer.

09/12/2025

The Royal North Shore Festival of Music is in full swing!

From 8–12 December, join us in the RNSH foyer between 10 and 1:30 pm to enjoy an exciting line-up of talented musicians. Yesterday featured The New Normal, a versatile quartet including two neuropsychologists, a developmental psychologist, and a linguist, whose dynamic performance filled the foyer with jazz and festive cheer. Don’t miss the upcoming acts!

03/12/2025

TOMORROW’S MEDICINE TODAY - THE TRUTH ABOUT CONCUSSIONS

You might have had a concussion and never even realised it.

In conversation with Professor James Elliott and Matthew Doane, neurologist Dr Miriam Priglinger-Coorey explains why the signs are often hidden, how symptoms get overlooked, and what new science is telling us about protecting the brain after injury.

She shares real insights from Royal North Shore Hospital’s concussion clinic that could change how you think about brain health.

Listen now on the NSLHD website: https://bit.ly/3XQ4Kfb or on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4p8R2Qk

Kolling Institute Northern Sydney Local Health District

01/12/2025

A new study by RNSH's emergency department has found horse riding carries a significant risk of injury compared with many other physical activities.

As the first comprehensive analysis of major horse-riding trauma in NSW, the study fills an important gap in global research. International data shows the risk of hospitalisation from horse riding exceeds American football, motorcycle riding, motor racing and skiing.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4owBbtD

01/12/2025

🌍 Royal North Shore Hospital commemorates World AIDS Day – 1 December 2025 🌍

This year’s theme is “No One Left Behind”.

Clinic 16 hosted information stalls in the RNSH foyer to raise awareness, provide support, and promote understanding about HIV. World AIDS Day is a time to reflect, remember, and recommit to ending stigma while ensuring everyone has access to care.

For more info, contact Clinic 16: (02) 9462 9500 and visit: https://www.worldaidsday.org.au/

01/12/2025

🌿 RNSH PHYSIOTHERAPY SPINAL PAIN TRIAGE TEAM RECOGNISED FOR IMPROVING HEALTHCARE EQUITY🌿

RNSH spinal pain triage physiotherapists Trish Schlotfeldt and Larissa Castle have been recognised at the Central Coast Local Health District’s Caring for the Coast Awards.

They won the Excellence in Improving Equity in Healthcare Award for their work with the Gosford Hospital physiotherapy team.

The Gosford Spinal Pathway Satellite Clinic has allowed patients with back and neck pain to access a specialist physiotherapist triage assessment clinic locally, rather than travelling to Royal North Shore Hospital.

Reducing unnecessary patient travel supports NSLHD’s target of achieving net zero emissions by 2035, with this program resulting in a 61 per cent reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions and saving patients 5 hours and 15 minutes per visit on average.

“We’re honoured to receive this recognition,” Trish said, who initiated the project as part of the NSLHD Net Zero Lead program in collaboration with CCLHD.

“Our goal has always been to make specialist care accessible to patients close to home, and this award reflects the hard work of our entire team in improving outcomes and equity for the community”.

Read more: https://www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/News/Pages/RNSH-physiotherapy-spinal-pain-triage-team-recognised-for-improving-healthcare-equity.aspx

28/11/2025

💻 SINGLE DIGITAL PATIENT RECORD (SDPR)

The SDPR is NSW Health’s state-wide unified electronic medical record, patient administration system, and laboratory information management system. It brings multiple systems together into one full view of a patient’s health journey, ensuring care teams have the right information wherever people receive treatment in NSW.

With the SDPR:

- Patients won’t need to repeat their health history
- Clinicians have real-time access to imaging, pathology, medications, and assessment history
- Administration across hospitals is streamlined

This major transformation is represented in the artwork ‘Healing Connections – From All Walks, One Path.’ by Wodi Wodi, Worimi and Yuin Nation artist Lee Anthony Hampton. Dr Teresa Anderson AM calls it “a visual embodiment of change,” reflecting resilience, equity, and the shared progress of all NSW communities.

Find out more here: https://bit.ly/4p0slp9

NSW Health

28/11/2025

NSLHD News 🙌

In the newest edition of NSLHD News:

• Three outstanding additions to the NSLHD Honour Roll
• Hornsby midwife recognised with the 2025 Michelle Beets Award
• Youth Symposium elevating young voices across NSLHD
• Staff from NSLHD and CCLHD take part in landmark SDPR training

Plus even more district highlights.

Click here to read the latest edition of NSLHD News:

NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT Main story Short blurb Three remarkable People added to NSLHD’s Honour Roll PAGE 3 Rea

27/11/2025

🧪 TOMORROW’S MEDICINE TODAY: CHRISTOPHER LITTLE 🎙️

In this episode, Professor Christopher Little explores the future of joint disease treatment and treatment— from regenerative medicine to personalised care. He shares why patient voices must shape research and how new therapies are closer than we think. 🎧 Listen now: https://bit.ly/nslhd-tmt or on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3GspyEd

25/11/2025

Royal North Shore Hospital emergency physician and trauma consultant Dr Brian Burns has sounded the alarm over the growing health crisis caused by va**ng among young Australians. Read more: https://bit.ly/48eb6cL

**ngawareness

25/11/2025

NSLHD EMPLOYEE RECOGNISED AS SDPR AWARDS FINALIST

👏 Congratulations to NSLHD’s Bronwyn Nolan, recognised as a finalist in the 2025 SDPR Leadership Team Award.

Bronwyn, our Director Operations and Co-Chair of the SDPR Outpatient Working Group, has been instrumental in shaping the workflows that will support the rollout of the Single Digital Patient Record across NSW Health. This work will improve access to clinical information, reduce delays and support more connected, patient centred care.

Bronwyn said the collaboration across teams and services has been the highlight, noting that getting referral, billing and service event reporting right is essential for staff and patients.

NSLHD is on track to be the second district in NSW to go live with SDPR in late 2026.

Read more on SDPR here: https://bit.ly/NSWSDPR

24/11/2025

📊 🌍 New report identifies key health challenges🫀 🧠

Heart disease remains the world’s biggest killer, according to the latest Global Burden of Disease study. The research analysed health challenges across more than three decades, from 1990 to 2023, and confirmed the condition is still the leading cause of death in Australia and worldwide.

Kolling Institute researcher and Royal North Shore Hospital senior scientist Dr Anastasia Mihailidou said the findings were a wake‑up call. “While we are living longer, the leading cause of death in Australia and globally remains heart disease,” she said.

The study also found Alzheimer’s disease is the second leading cause of death in Australia, followed by lung cancer. Other major health impacts identified include air pollution, heat, anxiety and depression.

Read more: https://bit.ly/49BSJB2

24/11/2025

From 1 December 2025, Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) will only be accepting electronic referrals (eReferrals) from General Practitioners (GPs) through the HealthLink platform.
Outpatient Services in NSLHD will reject paper/fax/emailed referrals from GPs and request the referral is resubmitted by the GP through HealthLink.

The implementation of eReferrals is part of NSW Health’s broader digital eHealth strategy (https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/priorities/documents/ehealth-strategy.pdf) and offers several key benefits:

- A secure and reliable platform that reduces the risk of lost or delayed referrals
- Improved completeness and accuracy of clinical information, with the ability to add information directly from a patient’s clinical records
- Real-time status updates and tracking of referral progress
- Secure and timely communication between referring practitioners and hospital services

For any further questions, please visit our website: https://bit.ly/4ii7Hyb or email NSLHD-eReferral@health.nsw.gov.au

21/11/2025

❤️🩺 CELEBRATING OUR PERIOPERATIVE NURSES 🩺❤️

Royal North Shore Hospital recently celebrated Perioperative Nurses Week, an annual November event that shines a light on the incredible role perioperative nurses play throughout every stage of surgical care.

The team enjoyed a range of activities including guessing competitions, trivia and team-building sessions that brought plenty of energy to the operating theatres.

The week served as a reminder of the skill, compassion and calm support perioperative nurses provide from admission right through to discharge.

More than 1,500 patients pass through our theatres each month, and every one of them relies on the dedication of our perioperative nursing teams.

Their teamwork and commitment ensure patients receive safe, high-quality care every day. Thank you to our perioperative nurses for all you do!