Message from the Executive Director

A big shout out to our physiotherapy department who showed how a push up challenge is done!

The physiotherapy team were slow off the blocks but in one day completed 4,311 push ups well and truly above the Metro North target of 3,144.

Congratulations to everyone involved, it was an amazing team building exercise and certainly generated lots of healthy conversations around mental health.

Our staff really got into the challenge with push ups occurring on the
grass, in the sunshine, in the gym and even at home.

It was a healthy competition with the following tally on the day:

• Cardiac (380 push ups)
• Orthopaedics (979 push ups)
• Internal Medicine (1,300 push ups)
• Thoracic (1,503 push ups).

Congratulations to the individual male winner Matty Linnane (300) and the female winner Anthea Smith (150) push ups on the day.

Executive update

While we did a shout out to Nurse Navigator Rosie Trent last week, I caught up with her on her last day.

Thank you for all of your years of service Rosie. We wish you all the best in your new, exciting role in Metro North and ongoing career. Good luck.

This week I spoke with Professor Stewart Kearney, who is the new Director of Northside Medical School – University of Queensland.

It was a good opportunity to discuss his role, vision and how we move forward together with this great partner.

I also caught up with the Director of Social Work Services Emma Rawlings (and the broader team) who job shares with Miranda Bartlett. Emma is leaving TPCH to take on a new role in the Department of Education.

At the time, I also met Paul Maplethorpe, one of our senior social

workers, who is going back to the United Kingdom to be closer to his family.

We wish you all the best Paul and Emma!

Important Update: Tier 2 in our Acute Respiratory Illness Response Plan

There is an increase in numbers of people attending and being admitted to our services with acute respiratory illnesses, especially influenza.

As a result, Metro North Health will make a planned transition to Tier 2 in our Acute Respiratory Illness Response Plan today.

All TPCH staff are encouraged to:

• continue to wear masks in clinical areas, in line with the PPE guidelines
• ensure flu and COVID vaccinations and annual fit testing are up to date
• maintain compliance with mandatory training programs
• stay home if you’re unwell and let us know if you’re off sick as soon as possible via the Smart Leave form on MyHR
• check with your line manager for any other requirements in your local workplace under your directorate Acute Respiratory Illness Response Subplan.

For more information, please see the Metro North Acute Respiratory Illness Response Plan.

Visitors will also be encouraged to wear a mask, sanitise hands when coming and going, and stay away if they have respiratory illness symptoms. Masks and hand sanitiser will be provided at entrances.

You may have seen that Queensland Health’s COVID-19 traffic light system has ceased and COVID in the community will be managed the same way as other acute respiratory illnesses.

In the interest of reducing the risk of COVID transmission in health facilities, it has also been determined that staff who have not exhausted their special pandemic leave, which was due to expire on 30 June, will still have access to any remaining balance for COVID sick leave.

Infrastructure Update: What’s happening at TPCH

Car Park construction– site establishment works to commence

At the staff forum earlier this month a project update about the construction of the car park was shared and that Multiplex will commence works on site soon.

Multiplex will begin to establish their construction site from early July and you will notice a number of changes over the next three months.

From July, fencing and hoarding will be installed around the site. This will also require the closure of the footpath on the southern site of Main Road for the duration of these works to accommodate the building site and for underground service diversion works to take place. A new pedestrian crossing will be set up along Main Road, north of the First Avenue intersection.

Regular information about site activity will be made available to staff. You can subscribe to receive construction notices from Multiplex by emailing QLDconstructionsenq@multiplex.global to be added to the distribution list.

You can also get up-to-date information from Car Park | The Prince Charles Hospital (health.qld.gov.au) and via Metro North Broadcast emails.

Staff profile

Introducing Deborah Bick our new NUM Cardiac Investigations Unit (CIU).

Deborah commenced at TPCH on May 22 and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in cardiology nursing having spent the past eight years as the NUM Cardiac Investigations Unit at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. John Hunter Hospital is a tertiary level hospital with the Cardiology Service specialising in structural heart, complex PCI, interventional diagnostic procedures, a progressive EP service and cardiology research.

Deborah has also worked as an endorsed Nurse Practitioner in Acute Coronary Syndrome and as a Service Manager / Director of Nursing of a large Emergency Department.

Deborah has hit the ground running in the role of NUM CIU and has in collaboration with the CIU team, gently gained the respect of the interdisciplinary team at TPCH.

Deborah’s career aspirations are to be the best within her professional domain; deliver models of care with a quality, safety and patient focus; direct and lead a team with both vision and integrity while working within fiscal boundarys and organisational expectations.

Shout out

This week, we will shout out to Acting Director Social Work, Emma Rawlings who will leave TPCH to take on a new role in the Department of Education.

Emma has been a key member of TPCH Social Work Department since 2018, having worked across various clinical lead roles before transitioning into her current director role.  Emma has been the driver behind several excellent Metro North initiatives including the Child Protection App, the implementation of the Metro North and now statewide child protection SaFE training program.

Over the last six months, Emma has embedded the new Clinical Lead Domestic and Family Violence role into all programs across the hospital. Her specialist clinical skills and knowledge will be missed by the team at TPCH, and we wish her all the best with her new career endeavour.

In-person Enterprise Scheduling Management training started

This week in-person training sessions commenced for staff who will be receiving referrals and booking appointments in Enterprise Scheduling Management (ESM). Please check-in with your line manager if you have not yet received your prerequisite training email or been booked in for your in-person training session.

Prior to attending an in-person session, it is essential that mandatory prerequisite training is completed. This prerequisite training is an online training module hosted on Talent Management System (TMS). Please refer to the Metro North Health ieMR Program’s TPCH QHEPS page for instructions on how to register for and complete your online training.

ESM is the outpatient scheduling module of the integrated electronic Medical Record (ieMR), and will be replacing HBCIS APP across all ambulatory outpatient areas at TPCH from Monday 7 August 2023.

If you believe you require ESM training, and have not yet received an email, please first discuss with your line manager before escalating to the ieMR Program at: ieMRProject-MetroNorth@health.qld.gov.au.

Today’s quote

“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.”
— Glenn Close

Tami.