Message from TPCH Executive Director

This week, TPCH held a special First Nation Community and Consumer Connection day to mark the launch our first ever Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community and Consumer Council (Traditional language name to be gifted). The role of the Council is to co-design the journey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients who access care at TPCH, through building greater understanding of what makes the journey a culturally safe and responsive one.

There is a lot of work to be done in the health equity space, so this day was an important step for TPCH in starting genuine conversations with members and partners of TPCH’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, about their experiences of our health system, both good and bad.

Overall, the day was an invaluable opportunity to listen and start thinking about how we can make the care we provide, more appropriate to meet the needs of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and achieve the health equity agenda. A big thanks to Kirsty Leo and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services team for organising such a constructive session. A very positive step forward in progressing our health equity journey.

Executive Update

This week, Director Corporate Services, Bretine Curtis; Manager Facility and Support Services, Bianca Neaves and I visited our Protective Services team. This busy team responds to over 1,100 requests for assistance each month, working to uphold a safe environment for our staff, patients and visitors. This includes supporting clinical staff in providing care to physically challenging patients in areas such as the emergency department – and they do it with great care and compassion. A huge thanks to the entire team. (Not my best selfie this week!)

Also this week, Director Patient Safety, Dr Paul Lane; A/Nursing Director Safety and Quality, Zachary Sheldrick and I visited the Quality Effectiveness Support Team (QuEST). QuEST is responsible for the management and provision of equipment to clinical areas, to support best practice patient care. Clinical Nurse Consultant, Tracy Nowicki and the team were well prepared, presenting to us on different initiatives driven by the service including a Swifti porterage chair, establishment of an incontinence associated dermatitis audit, and Quest Express. We were very impressed by the enthusiasm, innovation and patient-centred approach of this team, and their strong commitment to supporting the staff at TPCH to provide fantastic care to our patients. Well done!

Our Executive walkaround also included Heart Lung Outpatients Department where Director Corporate Services, Bretine Curtis; Finance Manager, Darren Ransom and I spoke with staff about the installation of the new Q-Flow system. It was good to hear first-hand about the progress, and a big thanks to Cheryl Ross and Nick Buckby for taking the time to chat to us, especially during a such a busy period.

In continuing this week’s focus on health equity, I had the opportunity to attend Metro North’s inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Showcase which highlighted some of the exceptional service delivered to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as part of the Metro North Health Equity Strategy.  Kirsty Leo, Assistant Nursing Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service; and Trina Scott, Nurse Navigator, First Nations Outpatients Department flew the flag for TPCH, with Kirsty presenting on TPCH’s Connecting Care to Country clinical re-design and NAIDOC and Reconciliation Excellence Awards. Trina highlighted the recently established First Nations Outpatients Department which supports the delivery of culturally safe, responsive and timely care for all First Nations patients of TPCH. Thanks Kirsty and Trina, we have some great initiatives coming out of TPCH.

FAST FACTS

This week we will profile TPCH’s People and Culture team.

Did you know?

• In 2022, Human Resources restructured into a People and Culture model.  This means that the local People and Culture Team now focus on positive workplace culture improvement
• The three-person People and Culture team at TPCH brings a wealth of experience from a range of organisations, collectively sharing approximately 60 years of HR experience between them!  They continue to keep their knowledge contemporary through regular education and updates from Metro North and the Department of Health.
• The team provides advisory and support services that enable TPCH to get the best out of its most precious resource – its people.
• This team is a trusted ‘first port of call’ for all HR advisory needs for line managers and team members aligned to current policy and consistent quality standards.
• It supports culture improvement interventions, providing resources and support across the organisation to ensure the culture of our workforce underpins our strategic vision for globally recognised health care services and the best outcomes for our patients.
• The team assists with local and informal resolution for performance and behaviour issues through the delivery of fast, effective resolution and support for line managers.
• It provides comprehensive performance and development advice and support to ensure TPCH’s workforce capability and professional development initiatives meet the emerging needs of its people into the future.
• The Metro North Recruitment Team provides advice on Talent acquisition and recruitment, supporting workforce supply needs across Metro North, and providing operational recruitment support and advice to get the right people into the right roles within best practice timeframes.
• For day-to-day questions about terms and conditions of employment, award entitlements and HR policy matters, you can contact the Metro North Ask HR service on 1800 275 275.

Staff Profile

This week, we will profile Senior Podiatrist, Avon Dalitz.

Avon, who moved into podiatry following a previous career in programming, provides high risk foot care to patients in a range of settings including outpatients, inpatients and in multidisciplinary clinics with orthopaedics, vascular and plaster technicians. This includes wound care, offloading and casting, footwear assessment and modifications, and neurovascular assessments.

Avon enjoys engaging with patients, helping set them on a journey of optimal care to improve their foot issues and increase their quality of life, and ultimately avoid amputations.

Passionate about staff well-being, Avon values a positive, open and respectful work environment. He places importance on the opportunity to explore research and efficiency initiatives, that can be translated into practice to improve patient outcomes.

Outside of work, Avon enjoys spending time with his two young children who have just started school. He also likes programming, basketball and gardening.

Shout out

This week’s shout out to Robyn Heads, Duty Nurse Manager, who retired this week after 45 years of service to Queensland Health. Robyn commenced work at TPCH in the 1990s in the area of cardiothoracic nursing, holding a Nurse Unit Manager role in both Wards 1B and 2B for over a decade, before becoming Duty Nurse Manager in the early 2000s. Robyn is well known for her common sense, fair and compassionate approach, as well as her ability to put the patient at the forefront of everything she does. She has been an excellent mentor and role model for many nurses at TPCH, always displaying a ‘can-do’ attitude and a natural enjoyment of nursing. She has been a great asset to TPCH and the nursing profession. We wish Robyn all the best in her retirement.

Today’s quote

“Fairness is not an attitude. It’s a professional skill that must be developed and exercised.” – Brit Hume

Tami.