Ceremony to mark the transfer of Hawkesbury District Health Service to St John of God Health Care
4 Dec 2015
4 December 2015
In a symbolic ceremony presided over by the Delegate of the Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Parramatta, Fr Christopher de Souza, the proud heritage of the health service and the important place it holds in the community will be celebrated.
Trustees and Board members of SJGHC and CHL will join members of the HDHS Community Board of Advice, volunteers and staff as well as more than 100 invited guests to mark the occasion.
SJGHC Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Michael Stanford, CHL Executive Director Mr David Maher and Chief Executive Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD), Mrs Kay Hyman, will speak about the transfer and the future of hospital and health service delivery to the region.
SJGHC Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford said it was a credit to the staff, doctors and volunteers of HDHS that the health service had continued to run, uninterrupted, since SJGHC took over operations on November 4, 2015.
"We have been overwhelmed by the sense of pride within the walls of this health care facility, pride in the health service being delivered and in the community they serve. Credit must go to CHL for creating a greatly loved, community asset," Dr Stanford said.
"One of our strategic priorities at SJGHC is deeper partnering with government. We intend to be an active partner with the NBMLHD and NSW Health in delivering our service agreement at HDHS."
"SJGHC has been operating hospitals for more than 120 years and today has 23 health care facilities across Australia and New Zealand, including 10 hospitals with a similar service profile to HDHS.
We also have local experience at our St John of God Richmond Hospital and through our social outreach services in Sydney.
"Our experience and our scale will bring benefits to the caregivers of HDHS, to the doctors and ultimately to the community which we serve.
"We will be respectful of the history of HDHS and the organisations that have come before us and we will continue the journey by providing a supportive and welcoming environment for the provision of excellence in care."