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EMERGENCY

In an emergency, always call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Ambulances are the safest way to be assessed, treated and transported to the right hospital for the care you need.

Triple zero (000) is a free call from any phone, mobile or phone box.

For less severe but still urgent situations, go to an Emergency Department.

There are 12 public hospital Emergency Departments in Northern NSW Local Health District and they are all available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Emergency departments are located at:

Nurse Sarah Hendrikse was the joint Healing Heart Award winner in 2025
Published: 22 Apr 2026

Nominations have opened to the public to recognise an outstanding nurse or midwife as part of the 2026 Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.

The Healing Heart Consumer Award gives the community a chance to nominate a nurse or midwife who has provided extraordinary, safe, quality and compassionate care.

NNSWLHD Director of Nursing and Midwifery Katharine Duffy said the Healing Heart Award gives members of the public an opportunity to recognise a nurse or midwife who helped them or a loved one to feel safe, supported and truly cared for.

“Our nurses and midwives do an incredible job of looking after those in our communities who are most vulnerable and in need of care and support,” Ms Duffy said.

“The Healing Heart award is an opportunity to thank them for their dedication and hard work and for contributing to the life of our community in such a meaningful way.

“I encourage anyone who has had a great experience with a nurse or midwife, anywhere across our region, to help us celebrate this by nominating them for the Healing Heart Award.”

The Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards are held annually to acknowledge the contribution and commitment of the nurses and midwives who work in our hospitals and health services across the District.

2025 Healing Heart Award joint winner Sarah Hendrikse from BreastScreen NSW’s Tweed Heads clinic, who shared the award with Lismore Base Hospital Intensive Care Unit nurse Nigel Watts, said she had been honoured to receive the award last year.

“It means a great deal to me that the care my colleagues and I put into looking after people does make a difference in the moment, they may be feeling most vulnerable and afraid,” Sarah said.

Sarah, who has worked across a range of specialties since qualifying as a Registered Nurse in 1994 and later becoming a Midwife, now splits her time between BreastScreen at Tweed Heads and the day surgery unit at Murwillumbah District Hospital.

As a young teenager, she was inspired to begin a career in nursing after watching her mother being lovingly cared for by others before passing away from cancer.

“I love working with a team of people who are kind and caring and extend that kindness and compassion to our clients,” Sarah said.

“People who attend the BreastScreen service are often anxious and nervous, and I enjoy helping to make an unpleasant experience as good as it can be.”

Nominations are now open, and close at 5pm on Friday 15 May 2026. 

The Healing Heart Award will be announced at the NNSWLHD Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards in Ballina on 4 June 2026.

To nominate a nurse or midwife, fill out the form at Healing Heart Consumer Recognition Award or scan the QR code below:

Photo caption: Sarah Hendrikse, joint winner of the 2025 NNSWLHD Healing Heart Award, at the BreastScreen NSW clinic in Tweed Heads where she was nominated for her outstanding care. Sarah shared the award with Lismore Base Hospital ICU nurse Nigel Watts.