Geoff Grima, A/Executive Director
Last week, I was celebrating the arrival of spring. This week, with winter officially over, we’ve now also stepped down to Tier Zero in our Acute Respiratory Illness Response across Metro North Health.
The change doesn’t mean we’re being any less vigilant around infection prevention or hand hygiene, and we continue to encourage staff to wear surgical masks where they feel they need to.
There are also new guidelines for hospital staff who test positive for COVID-19.
The rules now are that staff should not attend work for at least five days following either the onset of symptoms or when they test positive (whichever is earlier). As always, staff should only return to work when they are well.
Child Protection Week
We’re being reminded this week that child protection is everyone’s business, and caring for children is everyone’s responsibility. During Queensland Child Protection Week, the team in the paediatric emergency department section have been showing their 
prompting conversations about child protection by dressing as their favourite superheroes.” width=”300″ height=”200″ />support and prompting conversations about child protection by dressing as their favourite superheroes.
Child Protection Week is also the perfect time for everyone to check to make sure that their mandatory child protection training is up to date.
Getting involved with Giving Day
Everyone is getting ready for this year’s Redcliffe Hospital Giving Day on Thursday 12 October.
Giving Day is Raise it for Redcliffe’s major fundraising event, and the big banner is now up in front of the 
main entrance.
Hospital staff are being invited to get involved by signing up to make some goodies for the bake sale or putting their name down to volunteer their own time on the day in the phone action hub, where volunteers will be taking and making calls for donations.
If your ward or work area would like to get involved, contact Sharyn at redcliffe@rbwhfoundation.com.au.
Raise it for Redcliffe is our philanthropic partnership with the RBWH Foundation.
Find out more about Giving Day on the Raise it for Redcliffe website.
R U OK? Day
R U OK? Day is Thursday 14 September 2023, and the key message this year is “I’m here to hear”. The message calls on us all to check in on others who may be experiencing a tough time and let them know you are there for them.
To help equip Redcliffe Hosptial staff to have those conversations, there are face-to-face sessions available next week, facilitated by Staff Psychologist Drew Craker.
To find out more about the sessions and to register, log into TMS.
#IamRedcliffe Team of the Month
We presented our #IamRedcliffe Team of the Month for August at this week’s Staff Forum. Congratulations again to patient support officer Amy Forbes.
Amy received the award for going out of her way to help her team and the way she brings her best attitude to work each day.
Congratulations to the five other nominees, including the SOPD Gastroenterology team, the CSD team, Sarah Lovell, Emily Payne, and the Paediatric Ward.
Nominations for the September award close on Friday 15 September. Don’t miss the opportunity to nominate a deserving team or colleague.
Sharing your good news
Lastly this week, a reminder that the Metro North Communications team is always keen to share more of the good things happening at Redcliffe Hospital.
Please make sure you let them know about those important events and things happening in your ward and work area. Everyone is invited to share the good things, the small things, the big things, they all matter!
Geoff.