Sydney Health Partners Grows with the Addition of Nepean Blue Mountains

NBMLHD serves more than 380,000 people living in the Penrith, Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Lithgow local government areas. Nepean Hospital is currently undergoing a two-stage, $1 billion redevelopment to meet the growing healthcare needs of the District, the population of which is projected to reach 530,000 by 2036.

Sydney Health Partners Executive Director, Professor Don Nutbeam, welcomed Nepean Blue Mountains LHD as a great fit for the Partnership.

“Critical mass is an important contributor to the success of partnerships like ours, and there is a natural fit with Nepean Blue Mountains LHD,” Professor Nutbeam said.
“The LHD already has relationships with several of our founding partners - including a University of Sydney clinical school and links in research and service delivery with our other health partners.”

“And with its mix of urban, rural and peri-rural areas, Nepean Blue Mountains will bring to SHP the opportunity to extend the benefits of our support for research translation.”

Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Chief Executive, Kay Hyman said the District’s strong engagement with research partners will lead to better health outcomes for its patients.
“Joining Sydney Health Partners will help us translate research into real world health care solutions,” said Mrs Hyman. “Our health district prides itself on evidence-based care. This new collaboration will connect our researchers with leading health science and medical research organisations, accelerating innovation and bringing real benefits to our patients faster.”

NBMLHD has a considerable commitment to research and knowledge sharing.

There are over 500 clinician researchers employed by the District, with more than 450 active research projects underway.

Cardiology, Intensive Care and Oncology are among the many disciplines in which the District excels.

For example, one potentially life-saving study underway by Nepean Hospital’s Cardiology research team has seen globally renowned researcher and Cardiologist, Professor Kazuaki Negishi trial a novel technique called sonothrombolysis which may help salvage heart muscle in patients experiencing a heart attack.

The Nepean Blue Mountains LHD alliance with Sydney Health Partners is another step to ensuring game changing research such as this has the potential to improve the overall health outcomes of communities across Australia.