Special ceremony for Manning Hospital staff

105 Manning Hospital employees will be recognised for their service and dedication to the health of local people at a special ceremony to be held tomorrow, 5 June at 1pm.

The staff will be acknowledged for reaching 20 years or greater of service at the hospital. Together, they represent an accumulated work history of over 2688 years.

Manning Hospital General Manager, Tim Mooney said the ceremony acknowledged people’s commitment to the health of people in the Lower Mid North Coast area.

“It takes something special to be one of our longest serving staff and we’re taking this opportunity to say thank you,” Mr Mooney said.

“Experience is something you can’t teach and something that we really value at Manning Hospital.

“These people represent some of our most experienced staff and as such help set the foundation for our services.

“Staff at Manning Hospital are committed and hard working, but to be dedicated for 20 years or more requires a unique quality.

“Thanks to the generous support of Coastline Credit Union, we are able to recognise these staff with a very special ceremony and afternoon tea to follow.”

Each staff member will be congratulated by Hunter New England Health Chief Executive Terry Clout and will be presented with a special certificate and badge.

The staff members come from a wide variety of positions and include doctors, wards people, nurses, cleaners, administration staff, allied health and catering staff.

Twenty years marks a period of significant progress in health care including:

·         Women usually spent between seven and 10 days in hospital following the birth of a child; today they can go home after 24 hours, if they choose to, with the support of visiting midwifery services.

·         Modern chemotherapy for childhood leukaemia cures over 80 per cent of children compared to only one third of cases 20 years ago.

·         Polio was still a problem 20 years ago; but it is now declared eradicated from the western pacific region.

·         People who had heart attacks often died; now the use of clot busting drugs and bypass surgery has greatly reduced cardiac death rates.

Photo opportunity: The presentation ceremony and morning tea will be held from 1pm on Tuesday 5 June at Manning Hospital staff centre. Media are welcome to attend. Please let Nerida Walker know if you will be attending.

Contact: Nerida Walker

Phone: 49214477