Adj Prof Jackie Hanson, Chief Executive
This week I held a vidcast with Board Chair Jim McGowan AM. It was Jim’s last vidcast before he finishes his term as Chair next Sunday. I would like to thank Jim for his support of me, the executive and of Metro North staff during his tenure.
Jim has been a staunch advocate of what we are all doing. We will also be farewelling our longest-serving Board Member, Deputy Chair Dr Kim Forrester, who has served since Metro North’s Board was formed and has had a particular focus on patient safety. Several other Board members will be retiring next week as well, and I wish them all the best and thank them for their commitment and dedication to Metro North Health.
This week we have recognised Close the Gap Day, an especially important focus for those of us in healthcare. I attended Redcliffe Hospital’s Yarning Circle earlier this week.
I hope you were able to attend one of the Close the Gap Day events around Metro North to acknowledge the work we are doing but also the work that still needs to be done to close the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s life expectancy and health outcomes.
Accreditation
While I was at Redcliffe, Acting ED Louise O’Riordan and I received the official Certificate of Accreditation.
Redcliffe was Metro North’s first facility to undergo the new short notice assessment last year. This week TPCH also received official notice of its accreditation status.
Most of our directorates have now been through the accreditation process (except STARS) but it’s important that we don’t take our focus off being accreditation-ready every day. Even if you’re not in a clinical role, you can help by making sure your mandatory training and PDPs are up to date.
Corporate Business Services Awards
Today I attended the Corporate Business Services Awards and acknowledged the work of many of our behind the scenes staff.
Congratulations to all the finalists and winners who demonstrate excellence, leadership and Metro North’s values. Well done to the Office of the Chief Finance and Corporate Officer for organising the second annual awards.
See Alister’s message below for all the winners.
Multicultural Services
Yesterday we also celebrated Harmony Day, another important day that acknowledges and embraces the cultural diversity across our workforce and our patients.
Around 15 per cent of our staff identify as culturally and linguistically diverse. About one in three of the people who live in the Metro North region was born overseas and almost half have an overseas-born parent.
Diana and Noura are two of the Metro North Language Services team who help patients who have a primary language other than English communicate with their healthcare team. Noura is an Arabic language interpreter, the most commonly requested language across Metro North, followed by Mandarin and Cantonese.
We have a lot of resources online to help staff support patients such as translations of a range of documents, information about caring for people where there may be cultural or religious considerations, how to organise a translator, and information on how to use the CALD Assist app.
Rapid access hand clinic
This week our Rapid Access Hand Clinic at TPCH was in the media, thanks to their work with Queensland Ballet dancer Taron (pictured with advanced occupational therapist Kylie Bebel).
After fracturing his hand playing soccer, Taron was referred to the clinic from the ED and thanks to the streamlined process was back dancing in time for an important audition.
The rapid access clinic is an option for patients with injuries like finger dislocations and hand fractures that don’t require surgery.
You can read more about the clinic in the Quality of Care Report online.
Peer Responders
This week is Metro North Peer Responder Week. The Peer Responder program is designed to support staff wellbeing and promote help-seeking behaviours. Peer Responders, located in every directorate, are trained in Psychological First Aid to provide confidential support to their colleagues experiencing emotional distress of any kind (professional or personal).
Peer Responder Week is a chance to acknowledge and celebrate the 280+ staff we have across the health service who have volunteered to take on the Peer Responder role. The week is also an opportunity to learn more about the program, raise awareness of this support available to all staff, and encourage you to get involved.
Do you have a Peer Responder in your team? I encourage you all to:
- Thank a Peer Responder for the volunteer work they do
- Encourage your colleagues to seek peer support when needed
- Inspire a supportive, values in action colleague to become a Peer Responder
Compliment
We received this compliment from a STARS surgical patient:
“I was very impressed with the care and courtesy of your staff members as well as the cleanliness and amenities of your facility… Overall, I found STARS hospital to be an amazingly clean, well-maintained facility with caring and competent administrative, nursing and medical staff.”
Well done to everyone at STARS!
Kind regards,
Jackie.