Serving our community

05 April 2024

Linda Campbell, Midwifery Unit Manager of Lyell McEwin Hospital’s Birth Centre and Jeff Briggs, Heart Failure Nurse Practitioner have a combined 96 years' experience supporting community’s health and wellbeing. Both share a passion for working with and supporting community; from being a part of a woman’s pregnancy and labour, to helping patients avoid being readmitted to hospital and lead a better quality of life.

Linda - birthing our community.

In 1967 Linda commenced training as a Registered Nurse at Lyell McEwin Hospital, just a month before her seventeenth birthday, before becoming a Registered Midwife in 1972. She has experienced vast changes to the profession of midwifery, such as the introduction of ultrasounds, epidurals and anaesthetics, and caesarean births becoming a safer and more common practice. She has also witnessed and been part of the evolution of Lyell McEwin Hospital from a small country style hospital to a large metropolitan hospital.

“In 1992 I opened the Birth Unit at Lyell McEwin Hospital, thanks to a $50,000 Federal Government grant,” said Linda. “We built two birthing suites with the grant, and in 2003 Lyell McEwin Hospital underwent a redevelopment which saw our Birthing Unit expand further.”

As a local community member and having worked at Lyell McEwin Hospital for 57 years it’s no surprise that a “quick” trip to the shops often leads to Linda reuniting with families she supported the birth of their grandchild, child and potentially themselves.

“Having now birthed three generations of families, it’s a great privilege to reunite with families years later, seeing babies grow up into teenagers, parents, or even grandparents themselves,” said Linda.

For Linda working as a midwife is extremely fulfilling. “Supporting women through the process of pregnancy and labour is the greatest thing. “It doesn't matter how many births you have been at they are all exceptional and different, getting to greet a new baby is a wonderful experience.” 

With 57 years supporting women in the process of pregnancy and birth, Linda retires in March. When asked what she will miss the most, her response is everything.

“I will miss the people - the women I support to birth and certainly my colleagues,” said Linda. “I will also miss Lyell McEwin Hospital as it's a very special place.”

While she might not have any grand plans for her retirement, Linda's 11-year-old grandson does.

“Nan, I know you don’t really want to leave, and you’ll miss it cos you enjoy going to work,” said Linda’s grandson. “But I am glad you are retiring because now you will be able to pick me up from school and I won’t have to go to out of school hours care. 

On top of grandparent duties, Linda also plans to spend time with her younger sister who have all retired and become a palliative care volunteer.

With retirement looming, Linda has many highlights and memorable moments to look back on,  including the birth of unexpected twins.

For Linda working as a midwife is extremely fulfilling. “Supporting women through the process of pregnancy and labour is the greatest thing. “It doesn't matter how many births you have been at they are all exceptional and different, getting to greet a new baby is a wonderful experience.” 

“Seeing a family being made is an extremely rewarding part of being a midwife, we get to watch a couple transition into a family, it’s a wonderful thing to see.” 

Jeff – at the heart of our community.

With 39 years' experience working as a nurse, Jeff is passionate about providing holistic care to his patients with the goal to improve their health and outcomes, hopefully leading to a better quality of life.  

In 2007 Jeff worked alongside Associate Professor Margaret Arstall, Director of Cardiology and former Nursing Director Lesley Attrill to launch a Heart Failure Service, which he credits as one of the highlights of his 39 year career working for SA Health.

“Being able to start the Heart Failure Service, then watch the team behind the service grow and improve upon the service, and what we offer community over the past 15 years has been a real privilege,” said Jeff. “I also work with in collaboration with a dynamic team of specialist nurses in the Chronic Disease Management Unit to care for people with co morbid conditions such as respiratory disease and diabetes.” 

Jeff’s patients were at the heart of what he was trying to achieve from the beginning when establishing the Heart Failure Service. Jeff made the decision to invest in himself and become a Nurse Practitioner, undertaking a master's degree on top of his fulltime work, which saw him become a qualified Nurse Practitioner in 2009.

“I enjoy working as a Nurse Practitioner as I am autonomous in my role,” said Jeff. “Anything from assessment, to diagnosis, treatment, to reassessing after diagnostic tests and referring onto our cardiologist and/or registrar.”

The Heart Failure Service supports approximately 300-400 people each year with predominately chronic heart failure. 

Our service helps people reduce the likelihood of being readmitted to hospital or accessing the Emergency Department by managing their health conditions,” said Jeff. “We look after people with a new diagnosis of heart failure, and people who have chronic heart failure who need constant review and assessment.”

Jeff enjoys the variety of his role. “No week is the same as I review patients in clinic at Lyell McEwin Hospital, GP Plus Elizabeth, at home or by phone consultation. “At any given time, I am working with 50 clients, and collaborating with other medical and nursing specialities to provide holistic patient care, so no day is the same.” 

According to Jeff he has been able to stay working as a nurse for 39 years in the public health system thanks to the variety of roles, ongoing education, support, and clinical expertise available to him.

“I hope to finish my career here at Lyell McEwin Hospital,” said Jeff. “I love my role; I have a really close group of medical, nursing and allied health colleagues in our direct team, and I am fortunate to work collaboratively with other medical and nursing specialists across Lyell McEwin and Modbury Hospital.”