Dale Dally-Watkins, Executive Director
A/Director of Allied Health (far left) with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identified staff and Dale Dally-Watkins (second from right) and Henry Nona (far right).
This week is Reconciliation Week, a very significant week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. On Tuesday we held a Reconciliation Week event on level 7 at STARS, including a wonderful didgeridoo performance and Welcome to Country by Aaron and Jerimiah from the Nunukul Yuggera Dance Company.
We also heard from Acting Allied Health Director Tamsin Mahoney and Henry Nona from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team who spoke about the importance of the week and how we can walk together on the reconciliation journey.
It was heartening to see so many of our staff attending the event, particularly our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identified staff.
Following the formalities, staff enjoyed bush tucker from the Birrunga Gallery including a selection of native meats and dips, wattleseed and chocolate brownie and damper breads and fresh and dried fruit.
Elders Yarns at Chermside Community Health Centre.
Yarning Circle
On Monday, I had the privilege of being invited to attend the Elders Yarns at Chermside Community Health Centre by Sherry Holzapfel, Executive Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. It is always so beneficial to hear from Elders of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community about their experiences in a culturally safe environment. I have invited Sherry to host her next meeting with the Elders at STARS.
Giving Day
The Royal Women and Brisbane Hospital Foundation are holding their annual Giving Day on Wednesday June 12. The Giving Day is the Foundation’s major fundraiser, with funds distributed via two annual grant rounds across RBWH and STARS for research and patient initiatives. As part of this year’s Giving Day, STARS will hold a bake sale as a fundraiser from 8.00am -2.00pm (all until the goods run out) on level 3 at STARS. If you would like to contribute any baked goods for the bake sale you can drop them off to Room 116 on level one at STARS beforehand, or directly to the stall after 8.00am on the day.
Staff can also support the Giving Day by being part of the audience in the live Sunrise Giving Day broadcast from 5.30am at the Royal. Contact S.Clayton@rbwhfoundatoion.org.au if you would like to be on TV!
If you would like to donate to the RBWH Foundation, you can do so on their website. Every donation made by 12 June will be doubled by the generous giving partners, so it is a great time to donate.
Metro North Spinal Injury Services Project update
The project team have had a few changes with Ben Hackwood returning to his substantive role as Nursing Director Geriatric and Rehabilitation Service. Meredith Ogilvie-Brown has commenced in the role of medical project officer/subject matter expert and along with Leah Vegh will continue with planning around SCI care.
The draft business case has been provided to the Metro North Executive and is expected to be submitted to the System Planning Branch next month.
Waiting for What Survey
For your awareness 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 will be included in the survey, with some exclusions.
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.
Queensland Health Awards for Excellence finalists
I am so very proud to announce that STARS have a number of finalists in the Queensland Health Awards for Excellence. The Comprehensive, High-dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT) is nominated in the Embracing Research and Innovation category for its intensive therapy program for people with post-stroke aphasia. CHAT, developed in partnership with QARC, improves everyday communication though one-to-one therapy, group work and computer-based treatment. CHAT has been a game-changer for stroke patients, giving them back their ability to communicate with their friends and families.
The Dietitian First Gastroenterology Clinic (DFGC) is a finalist in the Digitising healthcare category for its statewide virtual care model that allows patients to receive dietary care for functional gut disorders in a timely manner. Patients participating in the clinic report an improved quality of life with many not requiring further medical investigations or treatment.
In the Advancing Sustainability category our team have been involved in two of the finalist projects, implementing the Green Metro North Sustainability Strategy across Metro North, including STARS. This has involved a very successful waste reduction and recycling program.
Congratulations also to the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Institute for their nomination in the Transforming Health category for Intra-Operative Radiation Therapy (IORT), which takes place at STARS. This technology really does transform the lives of breast cancer patients, reducing their radiation treatment from 3-6 weeks down to just 30 minutes.
The Queensland Health Awards for Excellence will be held on Wednesday 19 June at Brisbane City Hall. Well done to all the teams for their nominations and we wish you the best of luck for the awards.
Recent media coverage
STARS Research and Education Alliance projects have been featured in the news recently, with the great work of QARC and the Aphasia Tech Hub profiled on Channel Seven. Past patient Scott spoke about how life changing the service was for him following his stroke. Watch the segment.
Patient compliment
It is always wonderful for me to read feedback from patients and their families. We recently received the following feedback about the care received at 6A.
“On behalf of my mum, I would like to thank every single member of staff at 6A STARS. Mum had a few weeks with you guys and was treated so well. The care she received and the amount of attention to detail was impeccable. We thank you all very much for all you do, Doctors, nurses, SW, OT, Physios, Speechies, food attendants, cleaners and orderlies, Thanks to you all” – family member of 6A patient
Acting ED and Brief the Boss
I will be taking leave next week (3- 9 June) and Jayne Stevenson will be Acting ED for that time. Please make her feel welcome. Jayne will be attending the Brief the Boss event on Thursday 6 June, along with Allied Health Director, Michelle Stute. Brief the Boss is a great opportunity for staff to come and have an informal chat about ideas they may have or suggestions for improvements.
Kind regards,
Dale.