The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) has been recognised for its outstanding achievement in providing healthcare to children in Victoria and Australia.
Last night (6/10/10) at the 2010 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards, the RCH was a finalist in five awards, and won three, including both of the Premier’s Excellence Awards.
RCH Chief Executive, Christine Kilpatrick, said the awards acknowledge the remarkable and innovative work by the RCH.
“We are proud all our finalists and winners. Current and future patients at the RCH will continue to benefit from their hard work, ingenuity, dedication and, in Alex Auldist’s case, his legacy. We were very fortunate to have had Mr Auldist with us for 45 years and congratulate him on an award well deserved,” she said.
Minister’s Award – Outstanding achievement by an individual:
Mr Auldist was a clinician, surgeon, researcher, educator, and an enthusiastic mentor for hundreds of young doctors from Australia and overseas.
He was responsible for introducing fundamental changes to the Victorian public healthcare system, bringing minimally invasive surgery to Australia, was the first to use laparoscopic surgery at the RCH, and was involved in health and training projects in the Pacific and China.
He has been associated with the RCH since 1965 and retired in June this year, leaving a huge legion of loyal friends and fans.
Premier’s Excellence Award – Tackling chronic disease and improving public health:
The RCH Chronic Illness Peer Support Program (ChIPS) is at the forefront of chronic disease management for adolescents aged 12-19, and has been successful in helping hundreds of young people who “feel different”, socially isolated or miss out on various school and social activities because of their chronic illness.
More than 400 adolescents have taken part in ChIPS through annual camps and leadership training, social activities and peer support groups.
Premier’s Excellence Award – Improving cancer care in Victoria:
The Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service at the RCH and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre were recognised for their world first method of producing custom-made stabilisation masks to secure children having radiation therapy to the head and neck.
The new method uses quick 3D photography to take a 360degree image of a child’s head, replacing a cumbersome and uncomfortable procedure that took days and relied on multiple doses of anaesthesia to produce a plaster cast.
Finalists:
The RCH’s two other finalists included the team that worked on one of the most extraordinary medical cases in history – the separation of the conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna (‘Outstanding achievement by a team); and the RCH and Murdoch Childrens Research Institute for their development and implementation of a paediatric sedation education and credentialing program (‘Improving quality performance award’).