Brightening up the patient journey

Scotty Gillies loves his role in the Clinical Transport Team.

Scotty’s loud shirts and socks are not the only thing that brightens a patient’s journey to their appointments or treatment. Scotty’s friendly banter, jokes and general enthusiasm for his job also help lighten the mood.

“I work in the Clinical Transport Team, taking people from STARS to their appointments at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, for things like dialysis and bone mineral density testing. I average about 29-35,000 steps a day,” Scotty said.

“My main aim on the ride over is to make them laugh and take their mind off their health issue and whatever test or treatment they are having. I talk to them about the latest sport results, their family and, at the moment, maybe stop to look at the jacarandas in flower.

“On Fun Shirt Fridays I wear these bright shirts, and every day I wear neon socks. Anything to put a smile on people’s faces. That’s what I love most about this role, the interaction with the patients and the great people I work with,” he said.

Scotty came to Metro North Health from working in the automotive spray-painting industry for 23 years. After ending up in the intensive care unit at The Prince Charles Hospital with pneumonia and suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Scotty was told he needed to find another job that didn’t affect his lungs.

“As soon as I got out of hospital, I knew I wanted to give back – to be part of the healthcare system that took such great care of me. If it wasn’t for all the staff at TPCH, I wouldn’t be here today; they saved my life,” he said.

Scotty’s enthusiasm for his job has not been lost on his colleagues either, with him recently receiving four Staff Shout Outs in one month! Staff Shout Outs provide an opportunity for staff to acknowledge and thank a colleague or team who embody the Metro North Health organisational values.

One of Scotty’s colleagues commented on his Staff Shout Out nomination, “Scotty never fails to brighten up the day of anyone he interacts with! (He’s) always having a laugh and looking out for his colleagues”.

When Scotty isn’t transferring patients at STARS, he is going camping, or watching rugby league or motor sports.

“I do miss the automotive industry and working with cars, but I still keep a hand in it by restoring cars. My latest project is a 1971 VW beetle,” he said.