Royal North Shore Hospital’s concussion clinic was a joint winner in the ‘Patient Safety First Award’ in the 2023 NSW Health Awards.
The clinic is Australia’s first multidisciplinary concussion service and has played a vital role in helping patients across the district.
Concussion Clinic Nurse Consultant Vicki Evans (Roach) AM was excited by the win.
“We were humbled and honoured just to have been nominated. But to win the category - that was even more amazing considering we’ve only been open 18 months,” she said.
The service began by producing an educational video, which is now used by the NSW Education Department and New Zealand schools.
Vicki said the clinic has had good links with local schools.
“It was really evident that education around concussion was needed for schools and mums and dads,” she said.
“While the media concentrated on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the other end of the spectrum, we wanted to get involved at a grassroots level and do something for the community.”
A weekly clinic was later opened treating adults and children. In its first year, it treated 51 patients, attracting positive feedback and improving health outcomes.
They have also launched a new telephone service to provide concussion advice to people across Australia.
Vicki said it was good to be making a difference with greater awareness about concussion.
