Vince Fragomeli, with the specialised Nursing Unit at the Nepean Hospital, are highly regarded for its treatment of viral hepatitis. Clinical nurse consultant Vince Fragomelli and his team were honoured at the Cheryl Burman Award recipient in 2012 for their work in caring for those with hepatitis C. They were using a nursing-led model where patients were primarily cared for by the nursing staff. Vince had two nurses working with him and there were satellite clinics at Blue Mountains and Lithgow Hospitals. There are also had clinics within the methadone clinic at Nepean and the needle and syringe exchange at the hospital.

A nursing model of care facilitates rapid assessment and initiation of treatment for patients living with viral hepatitis, and a reminder that this was still during the interferon days. Clinical trials being carried out at the site gave patients access to state-of-the-art therapies that they otherwise might not have been able to access.

Find out more about The Cheryl Burman Award:  https://www.hep.org.au/get-involved/cheryl-burman-award/

See a list of past Award Winners:  https://www.hep.org.au/blog/cheryl-burman-award-winners-since-2013/