Public hospitals across Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) continue to improve emergency department performance, despite record attendances and more complex admissions to emergency departments.

The latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Healthcare Quarterly report (October – December 2022) shows there was a record 56,393 attendances to NNSWLHD EDs, including 6,617 by patients with an imminently life-threatening condition (triage category 2) – also the highest number of patients in this category since BHI began reporting.

Northern NSW Local Health District has announced the appointment of Peter Carter as Chair, joining several new members on the District Board.

Mr Carter joined the Board in 2019 and served as Deputy Board Chair from 2021.

Health facilities in Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) at Lismore, Grafton and Maclean are reopening their doors to volunteers, offering a variety of new roles that support health staff and improve the experience of patients and visitors.

NNSWLHD Chief Executive, Wayne Jones said 12 months of planning had gone into considering how the health service could maximise volunteering across the District.

North Coast Population and Public Health is encouraging the community to stay on alert and get tested, with a sharp rise in syphilis cases reported across the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions.

Syphilis remains a significant issue across the NSW North Coast, which is currently experiencing an increase in cases far higher than the five-year average.

After 23 years working for NSW Health in the Northern Rivers, eight of them as Chief Executive for the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD), Wayne Jones has announced he is leaving the role in late February.

“I have made the very difficult decision to step down as the Chief Executive of the District, making way for new leadership and allowing me to focus my time and energy on another critical role within the NSW Health system,” Mr Jones said.

Patients, carers and staff at Murwillumbah District Hospital are set to benefit from a suite of improvements to hospital facilities as part of an almost $2 million renovation.

Construction work will commence 28 January 2023 to upgrade the emergency department triage area and reception, medical imaging reception, palliative care room and fire safety measures throughout the site.