Jane Hancock, Acting Chief Executive
Thank you all for your work during another challenging week. It’s wonderful to see the health service pull together to ensure shifts are covered at all of our hospitals and patients continue to receive excellent care.
We anticipate increased demand will continue for a few weeks yet as winter respiratory illnesses take hold in the community. Please take care of yourselves and each other. If you haven’t had your flu shot yet, I can’t recommend highly enough that you get it as soon as possible.
It’s been an exciting week for Metro North in the infrastructure space. Tuesday’s Queensland Government budget announced funding for infrastructure developments including a major $1.06 billion redevelopment with an additional 204 beds at Redcliffe Hospital.
The budget also included $300 million for an expansion at The Prince Charles Hospital, and the $750 million Queensland Cancer Centre which will be at Herston Health Precinct. Ongoing funding was confirmed for the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Project and the three satellite hospitals at Kallangur, Caboolture and Bribie Island which Metro North will operate.
In yesterday’s vidcast, our ED Strategy, Planning, Assets and Infrastructure Kate Copeland gave a good overview of these projects. You can watch the recording on QHEPS.
Congratulations to Metro North Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alanna Geary who was named the recipient of Griffith University’s Outstanding Alumni award this week.
Breaking the problem loop
It seems appropriate to look at dealing with problems in this current environment that is dominated by COVID-19, influenza and just unbridled demand. Whilst there are undeniable problems and challenges in these challenging times, I would caution us all about allowing these to become obstacles that prevent us from pursuing opportunities.
As Seth Godin put it in his blog The Problems with Problems, problems can create other issues and distract us from looking for opportunities and being grateful.
There are challenges: limited resources – including time, people or organisations not working cooperatively.
There are opportunities: These may be new ways of doing things, new relationships, something new to learn, new sources of information – you get it!
Problems get in the way: The more we think about problems, the heavier we feel, the less we sleep, the more ineffective we are and the more irritable we become.
I am not suggesting that focussing on opportunities will cause the problems to evaporate, but always focussing on the problems, limits not just you but those around you.
Call to action
- Reframe: This takes effort, attention, and practice, but does allow you to see things in a new light.
- Express gratitude: This is not so difficult – be thankful and see the impact it has on your own happiness.
- Celebrate an achievement with someone: The positive feedback loop is a positive motivator for you and others – it can halt the downward ‘problem’ spiral.
- Fix something: This can reinforce achievement and stimulate creative thinking.
I have tested these actions and I can vouch for their effectiveness. I encourage you to shift your focus past the problems and operating environment just a bit and see for yourself the impact this has on you and those around you, and (importantly) the opportunities this creates.
If you or your family are struggling with emotional wellbeing in these uncertain and stressful times, here are a couple of suggestions in addition to the above:
- Mental Health, Alcohol, and Drug Service 1300 MH CALL
- Use the Employee Assistance Service
- Black Dog Institute
- Beyond Blue
- ReachOut Breathe (free app) – practical support and tools and tips for youth
- Support options for children
Thank you for all to work that each one of you do every day. For those of you who are having a break with your children, stay safe and enjoy. For those of you who will continue to work over the school holidays – thank you again.
Warm regards,
Jane