The Board held its November meeting at Caboolture Hospital last week. It’s always great to see first-hand the strong community spirit of staff at Caboolture and the discussion at staff forums.

The Board visited the busy emergency department and was briefed on the redevelopment plans for the hospital by Executive Director Dr Lance Le Ray.

The Board was also briefed by the Chief Executive and received the usual management updates on patient safety and quality performance, clinical services, HR, finance, operations, and the Herston Quarter.

As part of the meeting, the Executive Director of Women’s and Children’s Stream Tami Photinos presented the work of the clinical stream and the Board were impressed by the success of the Queensland Milk Bank, progress toward Closing the Gap targets for reducing smoking rates during pregnancy, and local initiatives such as the Caboolture Young Mothers for Young Women Program (CYMYWP).The CYMYWP is a joint initiative between Caboolture Hospital and community based organisation MICAH Projects that supports young mothers to navigate community and hospital services earlier and to link them with GPs for postnatal care.

The Board also approved the new Metro North Safety and Quality Strategy 2019-2023 and noted progress reports on the Clinician Engagement Strategy 2016-2018 and Health Service Strategy 2016-2020. Progress toward implementation of the new termination of pregnancy legislation and strategies to improve Metro North health coding capability were also noted.

The following day, the Board held its Executive Committee meeting at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH), which enabled it to consider several issues of strategic importance to Metro North. Dr Andrew Staib and Dr Clair Sullivan briefed the Board on the implementation of the Digital Hospital across the state. The Board reviewed progress of the Herston Quarter Precinct and STARS development and took a site tour. Metro North’s Close the Gap plan was discussed including initiatives to improve access and health outcomes as well as education and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

During the past month, Board members have participated in several events across the HHS including the Metro North Safety and Quality Forum, Caboolture Hospital’s school based trainee graduation ceremony, and the end of year thank you event for our consumer volunteers at Brighton Health Campus.

Board members are looking forward this month to attending the Deadly Start Education 2 Employment school based traineeship launch at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) on 28 November.

The Board held its October meeting at Brighton Health Campus last week. It’s always lovely to visit our seaside facility.

The Board saw the new Wellbeing Garden and met with staff to talk about the importance of Brighton and the Community and Oral Health Directorate which is Metro North’s third biggest facility. Brighton is an important community and healthcare hub and is one of Metro North’s top five infrastructure priorities.

The Board was briefed by the Chief Executive and received the usual management updates on patient safety and quality performance, HR, finance, operations, and the Herston Quarter. The Chief Executive also briefed the Board on the results of the Working for Queensland Survey.

As part of the meeting, the Executive Director of Cancer Services Glen Kennedy presented the work of the clinical stream and the Board were impressed by the implementation of SIBR (structured interdisciplinary bedside rounding), which aims to improve communication and discharge planning, and the increase in telehealth services which have grown by 620% over the past 12 months.

Acting Executive Director Community and Oral Health Directorate Tami Photinos briefed the Board on changes in the directorate as well as an update on children’s health services and work with Halwyn Centre patients and families as part of the transition to the NDIS.

The Board also approved the business case for Metro North to join the statewide roll out of the integrated electronic medical record (ieMR) in 2019 and the Strategic Asset Management Plan which is required by all Hospital and Health Services.

Earlier in the day the Board Committee Improving Indigenous Outcomes met to discuss work to improve access and health outcomes as well as education and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It was good to see Community and Oral Health’s Reconciliation Action Plan highly commended at the Staff Excellence Awards last week.

During the past month, Board members have participated in several events across the HHS including the Metro North Staff Excellence Awards, TPCH Charlie’s Week, the Mental Health Expo, Redcliffe Hospital’s new pathology laboratory opening, and Caboolture Hospital’s 25^th anniversary celebrations.

Board members are looking forward this month to attending the Metro North Safety and Quality Forum, Caboolture Hospital’s school based trainee graduation ceremony, and the end of year thank you event for our consumer volunteers.

Last week the Board visited Kilcoy Hospital for its September meeting. It is such a lovely location and the staff are always so welcoming. Board members met with staff over lunch and chatted about some of the work happening at Kilcoy such as expanding the types of services available at the hospital through additional telehealth clinics.

The Board received updates on the usual matters from management including a briefing from the Chief Executive, and reports on Finance, Operations and Activity, Human Resources, Patient Safety and Quality, Clinical Services and the NDIS implementation.

Chief Digital Health Officer Clair Sullivan gave Board members a presentation on the Digital North Strategy. This strategy outlines Metro North’s digital transformation including introduction of the integrated electronic medical record and technological advances to help manage increasing demand for healthcare services.

The Board also received a presentation from Dr Sean Keogh on the proposed design of Caboolture Hospital’s new emergency department. Caboolture is in a growth area and there is significant infrastructure investment over the next few years to enable the hospital to continue providing excellent care to the local community. The work undertaken by Sean, and the other staff of the Emergency Department, to ensure a highly functional department is truly impressive.

The Board endorsed the 2018 Quality of Care report. The report highlights some of the patient-focused initiatives happening across Metro North such as the new Caboolture kidney care clinic. The Quality of Care report is now available online and I encourage you to read it and to celebrate what is being achieved.

Board members have attended several events across Metro North in the past few weeks, including the Centre for Palliative Care Research annual conference, the RBWH Healthcare Symposium, and the Redcliffe Hospital Staff Excellence Awards. This month Board members are looking forward to attending the Metro North Staff Excellence Awards, RBWH QSuper Race to the Roof, and TPCH Charlie’s Week events.

The Board held its August meeting at The Prince Charles Hospital. The two staff forums were well attended.

As part of the visit, Board members met with Professor John Fraser and discussed the work of the Critical Care Research Group including the model for ICU and delirium and the ICU living lab. This multidisciplinary research group brings together people with varied skills, experiences and qualifications for example architects, which demonstrates that achieving optimal health outcomes is complex.

The Board also met Dr Nicole Bartnikowski and toured the Medical Engineering Research Facility (MERF). This unique model encourages excellent working relationships between universities and clinical staff and international collaborations.

The Board was briefed on the usual matters by management including Finance, Operations and Activity, HR, Patient Safety and Quality, Clinical Services and the NDIS implementation. The Board was briefed on progress of the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment, Redcliffe Hospital multi-story car park and the Herston Quarter SRACC UQ (The University of Queensland) Alliance.

Executive Director of Clinical Services Dr Liz Whiting briefed the Board on the expansion of the RADAR initiative for aged care. Medicine Stream Executive Director Dr Jeffrey Rowland and Assistant Director of Nursing Kevin Clark presented the Stream performance report including a 15 per cent reduction in long wait outpatients across all medicine specialities, and the roll out of the new GP with Special Interest model of care at the Nundah Health Precinct for headache referrals to neurology.

Leilani Orali from the TPCH Clinical Council provided an update on Clinical Council matters including Council support of improvements to the transfer of care including the Discharge Summary App and the excellent C1 Values in Action initiative.

TPCH Hospital Executive Director Anthony Williams briefed the Board on the campus redevelopment and the Lighthouse Project, a joint initiative of the Heart Foundation and the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Associations aimed at improving health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

The Board approved the Annual Report including the Financial Statements for 2017-18. This report will be tabled by the Minister for Health in Parliament by the end of this month.

In recent weeks Board members have been to several events including the opening of the TPCH Healing Garden and the Brighton Healthy Ageing Expo. I was also very pleased to participate in the Redcliffe Hospital Staff Excellence Awards.

The next Board meeting will be on 25 September at Kilcoy Hospital. Staff will be invited to attend a staff forum on the day. If you have any questions or feedback in the meantime, please contact the Board at mnbfeedback@health.qld.gov.au.

The Board held its monthly meeting at Redcliffe Hospital last week. The hospital has a wonderful community feeling and it’s always a pleasure to visit and meet with many staff around the hospital and at the staff forums.

Board members toured the medical imaging department and new pathology service with Acting Director of Medical Services Dr Jim Houston, and were briefed on key safety and quality indicators. The Redcliffe medical imaging department is one of the busiest in the country for its size. Board members also discussed the Nursing Workforce plan with Director of Nursing Sally Taranec and met staff in the newly built level 6E and 6W Orthopaedic ward.

As part of the Board meeting, the Board received the usual management updates from the Acting Chief Executive, Human Resources, Finance, Operations, Clinical Services, Patient Safety and Quality, and the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The 2018-19 Budget was noted.

The Board also noted the Surgery Stream performance report including the success in reducing orthopaedic outpatients waiting lists. The stream has had a 53% reduction in long waits over the past 12 months.

Redcliffe Hospital Executive Director Louise Oriti briefed the Board on the progress of the hospital’s Access Best Care initiative (ABCi). ABCi has resulted in patients seeing a doctor 21 minutes faster and leaving the Emergency Department two hours earlier than before the initiative was introduced. Chair of Redcliffe Clinical Council Dr Hamish Pollock provided an update on Clinical Council matters.

Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit Paul Drahm and Community and Oral Health Directorate’s Director of Service and Operational Planning Hayley Middleton briefed the Board on the progress of the Indigenous Health Data Atlas.

In the past month Board members have attended events across Metro North including the excellent NAIDOC family fun day at Caboolture and the Koobara Kindy community NAIDOC event. Associate Professor Cliff Pollard also visited Redcliffe Hospital yesterday for the Staff Length of Service Awards. Several Board members attended the RBWH Quarries Awards and Day of Excellence last week.

The next Board meeting is on 28 August at The Prince Charles Hospital. Staff will be invited to attend a staff forum on the day. If you have any questions or feedback in the meantime, please contact the Board at mnbfeedback@health.qld.gov.au.

The Board held its June meetings at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital last week. This was an excellent opportunity to spend time at RBWH and meet many staff over two days and at the staff forums.

During the hospital visit, the Board met with the new Director Dr Sean Rothwell and colleagues in the Emergency and Trauma Centre, which sees a patient every five minutes on average, and heard about the red blanket program. The Board also visited the Grantley Stable Neonatal Unit, NeoResQ and Queensland Milk Bank which has expanded into a statewide service and even supplies donated milk interstate for pre-term babies. Dr Pieter Koorts and team do an amazing job caring for the state’s tiniest and sickest infants. Board members also took the opportunity to see the impressive state-of-the-art cardiac catheter labs and met with Dr Peter Stewart and colleagues who are using new technology to improve patient experiences.

As part of the Board meeting, the Board received the usual management updates from the Chief Executive, Human Resources, Finance, Operations, the Herston Quarter, Clinical Services, and Patient Safety and Quality. The Board approved the revised Metro North Strategic Plan 2016-2020 (2018 revision) and was briefed on Clinical Council matters and the Community Board Advisory Group (CBAG). CBAG is an important strategic committee which advises the HSS on consumer and community engagement.

Executive Director of RBWH Dr Amanda Dines briefed the Board on the hospital including the successful ACHS accreditation and progress of initiatives such as Values in Action implementation, Choosing Wisely and Team Royal.

The Board also received an update on the Heart and Lung Clinical Stream from Program Manager Archana Mishra. This included the key challenges and achievements of the Stream such as the increasing number of patients being treated via Indigenous outreach clinics and telehealth appointments. The Stream has delivered 193,000 episodes of care over the past 12 months.

At the quarterly Executive Committee meeting, the Board was briefed on Metro North’s budget position ahead of the end of financial year, the implementation of the NDIS and an update on Community, Indigenous and Subacute Services (CISS). The Board was impressed with the important work happening across CISS including allied health, pharmacy, medical, nursing and Indigenous health.

The Board also met with Professor Frank Gannon, Chief Executive of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, to discuss strategic partnership and engagement. Research is an important part of improving healthcare. There are currently more than 1300 research projects happening across Metro North including over 300 international collaborations.

During the month Board members attended events across the HHS including the launch of the CISS Reconciliation Action Plan, the Metro North Health Forum, the CAHRLI symposium, the ABC outside broadcast at RBWH, and the launch of the Sony You Can Centre. Board members are looking forward to attending NAIDOC events next week at Caboolture and Taigum.

The next Board meeting and staff forum will be held on 24 July at Redcliffe Hospital. In the meantime, staff are invited to send any questions or feedback to the Board at mnbfeedback@health.qld.gov.au.

The Board held its May meeting at Nundah Community Health Centre, where members had the opportunity to meet with staff from Community, Indigenous and Subacute Services (CISS) and Mental Health. It was excellent to see so many people at the lunch time staff forum.

It was the first Board meeting for new members Dr Paula Conroy and Mr Bernard Curran. The other new member of the Board, Dr Kim Johnston, was an apology as she was presenting at an international conference.

As part of the Board meeting, the Board received its regular updates from management including, Finance, Operations, Human Resources, Patient Safety and Quality, and Clinical Services. The Board approved several matters pertaining to the specialist ambulatory care and rehabilitation centre at Herston Quarter. The Board also received an update on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) which will be going live from 1 July. The Board approved changes to the current audit plan to deal with emerging issues and noted updates on risk and capital projects.

The Chief Executive briefed the board on current negotiations with the Department on the service agreement. The Board commended all facilities and directorates for excellent work to deliver services and high quality patient care.

Acting Executive Director CISS Tami Photinos showed several Board members around the Nundah CHC including clinical and non-clinical areas. Services at Nundah include the Complex Chronic Disease Team, Aged Care Assessment Team, perinatal mental health and the taxi subsidy clinical assessment unit. The centre has excellent community engagement.

Tami also briefed the board on the Women’s and Children’s clinical stream including the expansion of the milk bank with fridges now at Redcliffe and Caboolture and NeoResQ service and the successful GLOW initiative.

Executive Director of Metro North Research Scott Bell provided an update on the achievements of researchers across Metro North and key challenges. Last year across the HHS there were 1400 research papers published, 390 clinical trials and Metro North researchers were awarded almost $30M of funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). As part of the Research Strategy, Metro North aspires to have the most efficient ethics and governance approval process in the country.

Executive Director Allied Health Mark Butterworth provided an overview of the great work of allied health professionals in Metro North including the increasing focus on research.

While the Board was at Nundah, Mental Health Executive Director Brett Emerson gave several Board members a tour of the recently opened Nundah House. They met with Operations Director Senthil Muthuswamy and Team Leader Brendan Murdoch and were impressed by the Step Up Step Down model of care.

Board members attended the Metro North Research Excellence Awards last week. It was another excellent celebration of our staff and there were many brilliant researchers recognised on the night. Congratulations to the finalists and winners.

The next Board meeting will be held at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital on 26 June. Staff will be invited to attend a staff forum and questions or feedback can also be sent to the Board at mnbfeedback@health.qld.gov.au.

The Board held its April meeting at Caboolture Hospital last week. In addition to visiting the Specialist Outpatients Department and the Cardiac Care Unit, Board members had the opportunity to talk with staff about the hospital redevelopment, expansion of Woodford Health Centre, opportunities for clinical service planning, and support for staff wellbeing.

As part of the usual business, the Board was briefed by the Chief Executive and received management reports on human resources, finance, strategic risk, operations, and safety and quality. The Chief Executive presented the TPCH Master Plan refresh which sets out the future of the campus. The Board also received progress reports on the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Herston Quarter redevelopment project, and the specialist rehabilitation and ambulatory care centre.

Caboolture Hospital Executive Director Dr Lance Le Ray briefed the Board on the hospital as well as the Woodford Health Centre. Dr John Waugh, Director of Paediatrics, also briefed the Board on ways in which Metro North can work with government and non-government partners to improve the lives of vulnerable children for better health and broader social outcomes. The Board also received an update on the work of the Caboolture Clinical Council from Nursing Director Sarah Widin.

Associate Professor Glen Kennedy presented on the key achievements and challenges of the Cancer Care Stream. This included the progress of the Queensland Sony You Can Centre and the new pharmacy dispensing robot at RBWH, as well as statewide telehealth clinics and the Geriatric Oncology Model of Care for Caboolture and Redcliffe Hospitals and North Lakes Health Precinct.

Executive Director Oral Health Andrew McAuliffe also briefed the Board on the performance of Oral Health Services, including the expansion of services to vulnerable groups including providing dental care at Halwyn Centre, engagement with homeless advocacy and support groups, and establishment of early intervention and prevention programs targeting infants and children in low socioeconomic areas.

The Board endorsed the 2017 Annual Progress Report for Connecting for Health Strategy for Inclusive Engagement, Involvement and Partnerships 2016-18. This report highlighted collaboration amongst consumers, carers, staff and community partners. The Board also commended Caboolture Hospital for its approach to community engagement and outreach.

Board members look forward to returning to Caboolture Hospital on 17 October to celebrate the hospital’s 25^th anniversary. Board members will also be attending the ANZAC Day ceremony at RBWH tomorrow morning.

The Board visited Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital last week for the monthly Board and Executive Committee meeting. During the visit, the Board had the opportunity to meet with staff in Cancer Care Services and were impressed with the new pharmacy robot. Board members were also impressed with the services provided by the radiology department in the RBWH Emergency and Trauma Centre.

As part of the usual business, the Board was briefed by the Chief Executive and received management reports on human resources, finance, strategic risk, operations, and safety and quality. They also received progress reports on the Herston Quarter and specialist rehabilitation and ambulatory care centre, and the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The Board also received an update from the Chair of the RBWH Clinical Council Dr Mark Appleyard. Executive Director Medical Services Dr Elizabeth Rushbrook briefed the Board on Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness capability.

The Board also approved plans for future healthcare services and the refreshed draft of the Metro North Strategic Plan for consultation. In addition after considering various options, the Board agreed to begin the Metro North Digital Transformation Program. Given Metro North provides a quarter of the state’s health services, this will include the introduction of the Queensland Health integrated electronic Medical Record (ieMR) Advanced Solution, subject to appropriate funding support from the Department of Health.

Executive Director Dr Amanda Dines briefed the Board on the progress of the RBWH Clinical Services Plan and the hospital’s commitment to Values in Action. Executive Director Mental Health Associate Professor Brett Emmerson provided an update on the Mental Health Directorate and its key achievements and challenges. The Board commended Mental Health staff across Metro North for their tireless efforts in often difficult circumstances.

The Board also received an update on the work of the Critical Care Stream from Acting Assistant Director of Nursing Gareth Davies. The stream has had success since the QEAT Rapid Improvement Event in November in improving access for all patients to emergency care. The stream has also provided clinical frailty scores for 56 per cent of patients over 75 presenting to emergency departments.

In the past few weeks Board members have attended a number of events around Metro North including the very impressive Closing the Gap event at Brighton Health Campus. The commitment of staff to these crucial health targets will help us close the gap in health outcomes and life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The Board held its first meeting of the year at The Prince Charles Hospital last week. It was a very busy day of activity.

In addition to a staff forum, TPCH Executive Director Anthony Williams briefed the Board on current and future campus projects, car parking and the Queensland Government’s Adolescent Extended Treatment Facility. The Board commended TPCH on staff-led initiatives which demonstrate Metro North’s Values in Action such as the clinician initiated C1 Project (Culture One Team) whose vision is for TPCH to operate as one team, crossing disciplines and specialties.

As part of the usual business, the Board was briefed by the Chief Executive and received management reports on human resources, finance, risk and audit, operations, and safety and quality, as well as the progress of the Herston Quarter and SRACC, and the NDIS implementation. The Board also received an update from Chair of the Metro North Clinical Council Dr George Javorksy on work to improve discharge summaries to GPs via an application linked to the Viewer. Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Alanna Geary provided a report on nursing and midwifery services across Metro North.

The Board was also briefed on Metro North’s progress towards a digital hospital, leadership development initiatives, and efforts to improve breast health screening across Metro North. The Chief Executive provided an update on the progress of the Indigenous employment strategy and improvements to procurement across the HHS. The Medicine Clinical Stream Executive Director Dr Jeffrey Rowland and Assistant Nursing Director Kevin Clark provided an update on the work of the stream including achieving a 28 per cent reduction in total long wait outpatients in 2017 and a 33 per cent reduction in neurology over the same period.

Last week Board members attended the tenth anniversary of the RBWH Trauma service and farewelled Dr Darryl Wall who is retiring as director of the service. Board members will be attending the Metro North Nursing and Midwifery conference later this week.