Sarah Black, Acting Executive Director
Sea of Hands at RBWH
I’ve enjoyed my first week filling in for Louise Oriti as Executive Director while she acts in the Chief Operating Officer role with Metro North. As we enter a busy time of year, I’d like to thank our staff for continually putting our patients first and creating a safe and caring environment here at RBWH.
Reconciliation Week
It was wonderful to see a huge turnout for our Reconciliation Week event on Monday, with participants creating a ‘Sea of Hands’ in the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags out the front of RBWH, on the corner of Bowen Bridge Rd and Butterfield St. The location means this symbol for reconciliation can be viewed by the general public passing by the hospital. Prior to the planting of the hands, we heard a poignant speech from our Cultural Capability Officer Geoff Binge about the significance of this week, which begins with the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum (27 May) and ends with Mabo Day (3 June).
It was just one event of this important week in our calendar, whose theme this year is Now, More Than Ever – a reminder for all of us the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continues every week of the year.
A reminder, too, that on Thursday 6 June at 10am there will be a special Reconciliation Week morning tea hosted by the Dietetics and Food Services Team on Level 2 of the James Mayne Building. It’s an opportunity for staff to taste test tradition-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander homemade dampers and Australian Johnny cakes and other tasty treats using ingredients from native plants, fruits, seeds and grains. You can also enjoy the artwork and native plants hallway display while you’re there.
12 months of Deadly Feet
I would like to acknowledge the success of the Deadly Feet program, which as of last month has now been running for over a year. It’s aim is to improve clinical pathways and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients at risk of, or with foot disease, through early detection, risk modification and intervention. In the 12 months to April, 2024, the program saw 224 patients attend appointments and 220 people screened opportunistically at community events. Deadly Feet has also just moved from a project within Health Equity Implementation (Metro North) to business as usual in Vascular Services within Surgical & Perioperative Services at RBWH.
Waiting for What Survey
Metro North will conduct the Waiting for What Survey on the weekend of 6-9 June 2024. Waiting for What is a survey tool that identifies what an inpatient is waiting for that is preventing timely discharge. The survey is intended to give a better understanding of what challenges are causing delays in discharge from acute hospitals or transfer of care to support improved patient flow.
The survey will be conducted at 10.30am and 4.30pm on Thursday 6, Friday 7, and Sunday 9 June and at 8pm on 6 June. Inpatient beds and emergency department short stay units will be included in the survey, with some exclusions. The survey will be conducted by Metro North Health clinical staff with minimal disruption to clinical care. The information collected by the survey will inform updates to the Metro North Acute Bed Capacity Management Plan and the Metro North Subacute Care Plan.
LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day
RBWH Social Work Department and friends, with the support of Pride in Metro North, marked LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day with a fashion statement and photo. Held annually on 28 May since 2020, LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day is the first campaign of its kind in the world. The goal is to let LGBTQ+ victims and survivors know that they are #seenandbeleived and that there are organisations and people out there to support them – social workers either proudly wore their #seenandbelieved t-shirts or displayed the LGBQT Domestic Violence Awareness Day poster.
LGBQT Domestic Violence Awareness Day 2024 also saw the launch of a free, online training for frontline workers responding to LGBQT+ who are experiencing domestic and family violence ‘See, Hear, Believe’. It can be accessed here SEE, HEAR, BELIEVE | LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation (dvafoundation.org).
If you need support, you can contact the Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline (1800 497 212).
Crazy Socks 4 Docs Day
Next Friday (7 June) is Crazy Socks for Docs Day, which is always colourfully celebrated at the Royal. While the name is pretty self-explanatory, the day is all about raising awareness of the mental health of doctors and health practitioners and driving positive change through action. It aims to normalise the conversation around mental health and create a safe place to do it. You can donate to this important cause at the Crazy Socks 4 Docs website.
Thank you all very much for the ongoing work you’re doing to support our community.
Kind regards,
Sarah.