A summary of the meeting is provided below.

• The Board noted the report from the Chair including a summary of key meetings and events attended. The Board noted the Caboolture staff forum held the day before and the Board Community Engagement Forum on Co-designing Health Equity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• The Board noted the patient safety and quality report including performance on key indicators and received an update on the implementation of the Caboolture Hospital Surgical Services Independent Governance Review recommendations.
• The Board approved the Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP), which is a 10 year asset plan required by Queensland Health for all its hospital and health services and it approved that further planning occur on the preparation of Metro North facilities to move from paper based to electronic medical records.
• A progress report on the Metro North Multicultural Action Plan 2021-2023 was noted, including expenditure on interpreter services and consumer engagement initiatives.
• A briefing from the Acting Chief Executive on important issues for Metro North was provided including the Herston Biofabrication Institute, progress of RBWH CAR_T production (the only site in Australia manufacturing non-commercial CAR-T cells) and COVID response. The Board noted progress against the Care4Qld strategy.
• The Board received updates on clinical services including progress to reduce long wait patients. The Board noted operations, HR and financial performance for the month.
• The Executive Director, Women’s and Children’s Clinical Stream discussed the annual progress report for the Stream. Key highlights included holding the Adolescent and Young Adult Transitions workshop to informing clinician priorities, supporting critical projects such as Dads and Peers Project, Child Protection App and Children in Care Advocacy Project and commencing the NeoReturn Service, which returns neonates closer to home for care.
• The Board noted reports on Communications, organisational risk, Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Project, Herston Quarter Project Redevelopment and capital projects.

The final Board meeting for 2021 will be held on 21 December at the Brighton Wellness Hub.

A summary of the meeting is provided below.

• The Board noted the report from the Chair including a summary of key meetings and events attended and was verbally briefed on the Caboolture Hospital Surgical Services independent governance review report.
• The Board noted the patient safety and quality report including performance on key indicators.
• The Board welcomed Clinical and Staff Council chairs from the Metro North Clinical Council and facility councils including Community and Oral Health, Redcliffe Hospital, Caboolture Hospital, The Prince Charles Hospital and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Topics discussed included staff wellbeing, staff fatigue, and opportunities to encourage togetherness and engagement. The extraordinary work by Metro North staff over a prolonged period was commended.
• The Board received an annual progress report on Working Together: Strategy for Inclusive Employee Engagement detailing the implementation of services such as R U OK? Training, Fitness Passport, staff psychology service and peer responder program.
• A briefing from the Acting Chief Executive on important issues for Metro North was provided including the COVID response and a demonstration of a population health epidemiological modelling tool from the Department of Health. The Board noted progress against the Care4Qld strategy.
• The Board received updates on clinical services including the expansion of telehealth services and improvements to outpatient referrals. The Board noted operations, HR and financial performance for the month as well as a report on maintenance priorities and an updated five year financial outlook.
• The Executive Director, Metro North Research discussed the annual progress report for the Metro North Research Strategy 2017-2022. Highlights include the steady increase of investigator driven clinical trials, the awarding of 15 Clinician Research Fellowships and the development of a Consumer Engagement in Research website to help staff to partner with consumers in the design, development, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of research.
• The Board noted reports on Communications, the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Project, and the Herston Quarter Project Redevelopment including the plan for the Northern car park.

The next Board meeting will be held on 30 November at Caboolture Hospital.

A summary of the September meeting is provided below.

• The Board noted the report from the Chair including a summary of key meetings and events attended and approved amendments to the Executive Committee terms of reference.
• The Board noted the patient safety and quality report including performance on key indicators and the annual progress report on Connecting for Health Strategy for inclusive engagement, involvement and partnerships 2019-2021. The annual progress report also outlines Metro North Health’s compliance to the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard 2: Partnering with Consumers.
• The Board discussed its strategic priorities including MN32 and long term planning for the community of Metro North, the development of the Herston precinct and opportunities for strengthening clinical, research and industry partnerships, the commitment to Closing the Gap and practical initiatives occurring in this space such as the Better Together Pharmaceutical program and the Deadly Start school based traineeships. Other priorities include the implementation of the digital electronic record across all Metro North facilities and the leadership of Metro North to bring together safety and quality chairs across Hospital and Health Services to learn from each other’s local experiences.
• The Board received a detailed briefing on the Have Your Say staff engagement survey results and noted the importance of actions by all local teams to celebrate what is working well and to support improvements in response to survey feedback.
• A briefing from the Acting Chief Executive on important issues for Metro North was provided including the COVID response (current initiatives and future planning) and an update on research initiatives. The Board noted progress against the Care4Qld strategy.
• The Board received updates on clinical services including the expansion of Rapid Access Clinics, operations, HR and financial performance for the month.  The Board noted the external review of surgery at the Caboolture Hospital which commenced on 13 September 2021.
• The Executive Director, Redcliffe Hospital provided an overview of the hospital redevelopment and clinical priorities. The Executive Director and Program Director of the Metro North Medicine Clinical Stream briefed the Board on the Stream’s priorities and provided an updated on the Kidney Health Services Plan and the Palliative Care Clinical Services Plan.
• The Board noted reports on Communications, the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Project, and the Herston Quarter Project Redevelopment.

In light of the restrictions to wear masks, the Board met in person at the Clinical Skills Development Service, Herston where social distancing requirements could be met.

The Board will next meet at Redcliffe Hospital on 28 September and will also hold its Executive Committee meeting at Kilcoy Hospital on 20 September.

A summary of the August meeting is provided below.

• The Board noted the report from the Chair including a summary of key meetings and events attended and approved amendments to Board Committee terms of reference for the Safety and Quality Committee and the Community Advisory Committee.
• The Board endorsed the draft Statement of Commitment to achieve First Nations Health Equity in South East Queensland by 2031.
• The Board noted the patient safety and quality report including performance on key indicators.
• A briefing from the Acting Chief Executive on important issues for Metro North was provided including the COVID response (current initiatives and future planning) and an update on the Deadly Start traineeship program. The Board discussed progress against the Care4Qld strategy and noted that the Board will be monitoring performance against the priorities.
• The Board received updates from the Chief Finance and Corporate Officer on the financial position and approved the annual financial statements.
• The Board approved the Metro North Health 2020-2021 Annual Report for submission to the Department of Health and noted the update on the Herston Quarter Redevelopment.
• The Board noted the clinical services report including significant improvements to outpatient referrals, trialling across specialist clinics of patient report outcomes measures, and expansion of rapid access clinics. The Executive Director Heart and Lung Clinical Stream briefed the Board on work to improve long waits including a 46% reduction across specialist clinics. Research highlights were presented, including 230 peer review journal papers and over $13.5 million in grants awarded.
• The Board noted reports on Communications, the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Project, other significant infrastructure projects for Metro North, quarterly Very High and High Risks Report, the Department of Health Strategic Plan 2021-2025, and the annual progress report on the partnership agreement with Central West Hospital and Health Service.

In light of the restrictions to wear masks, instead of holding its meeting at Redcliffe Hospital, the Board met in person at the Clinical Skills Development Service, Herston where social distancing requirements could be met. The Board will next meet at Redcliffe Hospital on 28 September.

A summary of the meeting is provided below.

• The Board noted the report from the Chair including a summary of key meetings and events attended and approved amendments to Board Committee terms of reference.
• The Board noted the patient safety and quality report including performance on key indicators and endorsed that Metro North continue preparation to move to Short Notice Accreditation Assessment under the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
• A briefing from the Acting Chief Executive on important issues for Metro North was provided covering the COVID response including vaccinations and the Satellite Hospital Program.
• The Board received updates from the Chief Finance and Corporate Officer on the end of financial year position and the preparation of the annual financial statements.
• The Board approved the organisation’s Risk Appetite Statement as well as decisions regarding the Herston Quarter Redevelopment project.
• The Board noted the clinical services report, Metro North Research update and report from Surgical and Intensive Care Services, as well as preparation of the Metro North Health Annual Report 2020-21.
• The Executive Director Redcliffe Hospital discussed the hospital’s COVID-19 response through the onsite Fever Clinic and Vaccination Clinic. An update on progress toward the Better Together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2019-2022, capital works infrastructure program and staff engagement survey results was provided.
• The Board noted reports on the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Project, Metro North Assets and Infrastructure, Annual Risk Review and Strategic Risks, and Communications.

The Board will hold its next meeting on 31 August 2021 at the Clinical Skills Development Service, Herston.

A summary of the meeting is provided below.

• The Board noted the report from the Chair including a summary of key meetings and events attended and approved amendments to the Board Charter.
• The Board thanked the Chief Executive for his service to Metro North and his leadership over the past four years.
• The Board noted the patient safety and quality report including performance on key indicators.
• A briefing from the Chief Executive on important issues for Metro North was provided including COVID response and actions to respond to emergency department pressures.
• The Board received updates from the Chief Finance and Corporate Officer on the 2021-22 internal budget allocation and service agreement with Queensland Health.
• The Board approved updates to the Metro North Strategic Plan 2020-2024 and the Risk Appetite Statement, and discussed a proposal for implementation of an electronic medical record across Metro North.
• The Board noted the clinical services report including the successful take up of Virtual ED which supports care in the community and avoids unnecessary hospitalisations, and expansion of the RADAR model which is a partnership with Queensland Ambulance Service.
• The Executive Director Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospitals and Woodford Corrections Health discussed outpatient activity, safety and quality indicators, staff wellbeing, consumer engagement and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health including the ED Ambassador program.
• The Board noted reports on the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Project and Communications.

The Board will hold its next meeting on 27 July 2021 at Redcliffe Hospital.

A summary of the meeting is provided below.

• The Board noted the report from the Chair including a summary of key meetings and events attended.
• The Board noted the patient safety and quality report including performance on key indicators.
• A briefing from the Chief Executive on important issues for Metro North was provided.
• The Board welcomed the Mental Health Commissioner and representatives from Children’s Health Queensland and the Brisbane North PHN to discuss mental health and alcohol and other drug service needs and priorities for Metro North residents.
• The Board approved the Internal Audit Annual Audit Plan and Strategic Audit Plan.
• The Board noted the clinical services report including details of the Medicine Stream report on emergency, inpatient and outpatient activity and the Rehabilitation Clinical Services Plan (2017-2022) progress report.
• The Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer discussed the work of Nurse Navigators and Nurse Practitioners and the Board was briefed by the Executive Director Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital on the facility.
• The Board noted reports on the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Project, Legislative Compliance program, Risk, and the refreshed Metro North Health Service Strategy 2021-2026.

A summary of the meeting is provided below.

• The Board considered a number of items that were carried over from the March meeting due to the condensed meeting time impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
• The Board noted the report from the Chair including a summary of key meetings and events attended, including the Metro North NextCare Conference. The Board acknowledged the quality of speakers from a range of industry leaders and influential change agents and the commitment and dedication of management in organising the event and driving innovation.
• A briefing from the Acting Chief Executive on important issues for Metro North was provided.
• The Board noted a report from the COVID-19 Incident Controller on key reflections and potential lessons from the COVID-19 response.
• An update was provided on the process and timeframes for the 2021-22 State Budget.
• The Board noted the clinical services report including details of the Cancer Care and Emergency Medicine Clinical Streams.
• The Board received an update on the work being progressed across Queensland Health to improve the governance of statewide services.
• The Board had a facilitated discussion to review the Risk Appetite Statement.
• The Board acknowledged the valuable contribution of Board member Associate Professor Kim Johnston. Kim’s appointment as a Board member will cease in May.

A summary of the meeting is provided below:

• A condensed Board meeting was held and a number of items postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions and to enable a face-to-face discussion to occur at the next Board meeting in April.
• The Board noted the report from the Chair and the briefing by the Acting Chief Executive on important issues for Metro North including COVID-19 hotel quarantine.
• The Board approved the Draft Metro North Hospital and Health Service Strategic Plan 2020-24 (2021 refresh) for submission to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for review in accordance with Agency Planning Guidelines.
• Management updates were provided on finance and operations.
• Health Service Planning and Strategy and Mental Health Directorate staff provided an update on mental health and other drugs services currently available for Metro North residents. This included workforce, infrastructure and funding, and potential opportunities to improve the integration and connectivity of services both within and between service providers.

The Board will hold its next meeting on 27 April 2021 at the Clinical Skills Development Service, Herston.

A summary of the meeting is provided below:

• The Board was briefed on patient safety and quality performance for Metro North, including key metrics such as complaints and compliments received, SAC1 and SAC2 incidents, hospital acquired pressure injuries, falls with harm, and the transfer of care reports completed within 48 hours of discharge.
• The Board noted the report from the Chair and the briefing by the Chief Executive on important issues for Metro North including COVID-19 hotel quarantine.
• The Board noted the Clinical Services Report including the Healthcare Excellence and Innovation 2021 Strategic Work Plan. The Plan outlines how the work of the clinical streams, outpatient strategies, clinical intelligence and PHN partnerships are driving a future-focused agenda for Metro North clinical services. The Board also noted the key activities over 2020 inclusive of COVID-19 preparation, planning and response work across older persons services and the priorities for 2021.
• Management updates were provided on human resources, finance, operations and the Herston Quarter Redevelopment Project, the Executive Director, STARS, reported on progress and the significant milestones achieved being the effective opening of STARS and interim accreditation.
• The Interim Director, Herston Infectious Diseases Institute (HeIDI), provided an update on HeIDI which is a new collaborative clinical research institute jointly funded by Metro North and the RBWH Foundation. HeIDI will build on existing strong linkages with public health to enable an integrated system-wide response to emerging infectious disease threats.
• Reports were noted on infrastructure projects, Internal Audit, and organisational risks. The Communications report detailed progress in online, social media and other initiatives. The Board approved the Green Metro North – Sustainability Strategy 2021-2026. The Strategy represents Metro North’s commitment to environmental sustainability over five strategic elements: Green Monitoring; Green Partnerships; Green Facilities; Green Initiatives; and Green Workforce.
• The Chairs of each Board Committee provided an update on their respective Committee’s work program comprising Safety and Quality Committee, Risk and Audit Committee, Finance and Performance Committee, Improving Indigenous Outcomes Committee, and Community Advisory Committee.
• The Board discussed the outcomes of a Board Evaluation undertaken last year and agreed on a number of actions that will be progressed throughout 2021.