Message from the Acting Executive Director

While Glynis has been acting in the Chief Operating Officer role in Metro North, I had the pleasure of attending the COH launch of the Metro North Disability Services Action Plan 2024-2029.

At this important event, we heard from consumer Joshua Thomas who has a lived experience with the health care system.

Joshua posed some clear and important questions to us all as health care workers and providers.

‘What can we all do to make the patient experience better?’
‘How do we all strive to understand our patients abilities and make our patients feel safe?’
At COH, we have already begun the journey to improve the care we provide to people living with or who have lived experience with disabilities, thier families, carers and support people.

We were a key partner in the development of the Metro North Health Disability Service Action Plan, have developed health passports for Halwyn residents being admitted to hospital, introduced a social work NDIS coordinator in COH, and expanded our specialist needs dentistry across the service, including at our Satellite Hospitals.

Shortly, we will be developing a COH All Abilities Working Group to continue to progress the actions outlined in the Disability Service Action Plan, and I encourage as many staff as possible to get involved by contacting Kate Schultz via COH-DAH@health.qld.gov.au.

Further detail will also be provided in the coming weeks.

Volunteers get together for some mandatories

Recently the Volunteer and Consumer Program for COH, completed their annual mandatory training requirements at the Brighton Wellness Hub.

The training session covered:

Code of conduct
Values in Action and Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights
Fire safety
Infection control
Occupational violence prevention
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability and Awareness and Health Equity
Recognise and report – Obligations and responsibilities
Awareness and understanding about dysphagia
Wheelchair instruction – What steps to follow to keep everyone safe.

Some post-training feedback from volunteers and consumers said it was informative, interesting and well organised, and a good opportunity to refresh.

Thank you to Helen Kane, Learning and Development Facilitator and all guest speakers (Christine Thomson, Horace Nona, Hapafilia Liu and Sarah Banford) for taking the time to participate in the annual mandatory training session.

Volunteer and Consumer Program for COH, completed their annual mandatory training requirements at the Brighton Wellness Hub.

Are you Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and work in Community and Oral Health?

Do you want to culturally connect with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in Community and Oral Health?
Do you want to have input into future priorities and actions?
A Community and Oral Health gathering is being held for any Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identified staff members tomorrow from 10.00 am to 12:30 pm at the Brighton Health Campus Auditorium.

If you would like to along or have any questions please email coh-a_tsi_hlthteam@health.qld.gov.au.

10 out of 10 – Caboolture Diabetes Clinic

“The level of service and support we have received from the diabetes clinic at Caboolture has been amazing.

“All of the staff across all departments have been great and have been extremely helpful in my understanding and recuperation from this condition .

“They all deserve a 10 out of 10!”

A final shout out

“In 2023, I underwent surgery for a pacemaker as I had a very low pulse and blood pressure.

“Following heart surgery, I needed help to improve my breathing, energy levels and fitness.

“I’ve finished an eight-week program of rehab with the Healthy Ageing Assessment and Rehabilitation Team at Kallangur and they got me using weights, walking machines, bikes and step machines.”