Clinical Operations

A PROFILE OF THE WESTERN CLUSTER

Contact Information
Cluster Director, Clinical Operations - Western Cluster:	Ms Cathie Whitehurst
Telephone:	02 4734 1588
Facsimile:	02 4734 3238
Location:	Sydney West Area Health Service Western Cluster Executive, Nepean Hospital Campus, Summerset Street Entrance, Kingswood , N.S.W., 2749
Postal address:	Sydney West Area Health Service Western Cluster Executive, PO Box 63 , Penrith, N.S.W., 2751

The Western Cluster encompasses the Penrith, Blue Mountains and Lithgow LGA’s, a geographic area of about 5,353sq kms. A population of 274,790 resides within the boundaries of Penrith (177,410), Blue Mountains (77,050) and Lithgow (20,320) LGA.

In relation to the burden of disease, in the Western Cluster the level of Diabetes, Asthma, AMI, Injury, Cerebrovascular Disease (stroke), Ischaemic Heart Disease and Cancer is higher than the state average.

The Western Cluster comprises of seven hospital facilities, Nepean , Governor Phillip Nursing Home, Tresillian, Springwood, Blue Mountains District Anzac Memorial, Lithgow and Portland , with a combined bed base of 878; and three Clinical Networks, Surgical and Anaesthetic, Women and Children’s Network and Cancer Care. A summary of services that make up each Network is provided below.

In 2004/05 there were a total of 2508.12FTE staff, employed to work in the Western Cluster.

The Western Cluster have identified four priorities / goals for 2004/05, these are:

Improving the flow of patients through the health system
Improve the quality and safety of health care provided
Improve efficiency and resource management
Improve Workforce development, retention and recruitment

Distribution of beds are as follows: Nepean = 542, Governor Phillip Nursing Home = 80, Tresillian = 38, Springwood = 32, Blue Mountains District Anzac Memorial = 112, Lithgow = 62 and Portland = 22 residents, 4 subacute care beds

Table 2: Cluster / Clinical Network / Clinical Departments

Western Cluster
Clinical Network	Clinical Department
Cancer Network	Haematology
	Medical Oncology
	Palliative Care Services
	Radiation Oncology
	Translational Oncology
	Psycho-Oncology
	Familial Cancer
Surgery & Anaesthetic Network	General Surgery
	Endoscopy
	Orthopaedic
	Neurosurgery
	Vascular
	Breast & Endocrine
	ENT
	Thoracic
	Colorectal
	Opthalmology
	Plastic & Reconstructive
	Trauma
	Anaesthetics
	Pain Management
Women's and Children's Network	Maternity Services
	Perinatal Ultrasound
	Gynaecology
	Gynaecology Oncology
	Neonatal
	Paediatrics

Table 3: Facilities Managed by Western Cluster

Facility
Nepean
Blue Mountains
Springwood
Lithgow
Portland
Governor Phillip Nursing Home
Tresillian Wentworth Family Care Centre