From protecting people in a global pandemic to conquering a needle phobia. A unique insight into what it's really like to lead a health service during the COVID-19 crisis. Western Health Chief Executive Russell Harrison reflects on the biggest challenge of his career and the most humbling experience of his life.

Additional information:

  *    Interview excerpt is a Western Health senior critical care nurse manager Kylie Fisher speaking at a Victorian Government media conference in Melbourne.

  *   Russell refers to an EAP program - this is an Employee Assistance Program, which provides care and support to employees.

For more information please visit http://www.theunifyingcall.wh.org.au

True Western - Different Kinds of Mysteries, is a new podcast from Western Health where we share stories about solving patient mysteries, how undetected illnesses impact lives, and treating patients caught up in crimes. Coming soon! Subscribe to True Western wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit www.truewesternpodcast.com for episode notes and acknowledgements.

Don’t Forget the Bubbles is an international coalition of clinicians who are playing a global role in making sense of COVID-19’s impact on children - including the rare inflammatory syndrome that has been diagnosed in a number of children. The WHO; the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health UK; and the prestigious journal Paediatric Research (from Nature) are now citing their work as one of a number of valuable sources. A recent Don’t Forget the Bubbles evidence summary of COVID-19 paediatric literature was picked up by the media in the US, UK and Australia and the information was accessed more than 90,000 times in one month. 

Western Health emergency physician Dr Andy Tagg has a special interest in paediatrics and is a co-founder of the ‘bubbles’ group. In a previous life Andy was a medical officer on cruise ships for more than four years.

Please share this episode with 5 colleagues, so these stories can reach and inspire more people.For more information, visit theunifyingcall.wh.org.au