Illawarra nurse wins Premier's Award for excellence

The clinical nurse consultant for the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District was recently awarded the 2016 NSW Premier’s Award for Individual Excellence and Achievement.

Mr Brinton worked in Wollongong Hospital’s emergency department for 13 years prior to taking on a new role which helps patients prepare for emergency surgery.

Many of his projects – including the fasting clock – have not only proven beneficial at Wollongong but have been adopted at other hospitals in the district.

‘’The fasting clock works as a cue for bedside carers to remind them that it is safe for patients to have a light meal six hours before surgery, and drink clear liquids up to two hours before surgery,’’ he said.

‘’This is a radical change from the old days of fasting for more than 18 hours. Now our patients are well hydrated and happier.

‘’This simple approach to redesign of health was adopted by Shoalhaven Hospital for their surgical patients.

‘’We continue to roll this out and hope that one day no-one in our hospital will unnecessarily starve before surgery.’’

Mr Brinton said in his role he had also helped ‘revolutionise’ the way emergency trauma and trauma surgery was booked, by moving from a paper to an electronic booking process.

Another innovative project soon to be launched is the My Surgery Journey information magazine and smart phone app which will give patients and their loved ones information and advice prior to surgery.

Mr Brinton won his category of Improving Service Levels in Hospitals, as well as the major Premier’s Award, and he gave credit to the ‘’fantastic teams’’ he worked alongside.

‘’Surgery takes place 24,000 times a year across the Illawarra Shoalhaven, and 12,500 times at Wollongong alone,’’ Mr Brinton said.

‘’I’m interested in innovating and improving patients’ journeys and making systems safer and more efficient.

‘’It’s important to me professionally and personally – these are the hospitals that I have to bring my family to.’’