Louise Oriti
Metro North Health and Redcliffe Hospital introduced some changes this week to further strengthen our Tier 3 COVID-19 and influenza response. As part of this, we’ll be postponing non-urgent planned care and non-essential meetings and training for the next four weeks. The impact of COVID-19 and flu on clinical demand and our hospital workforce continues to be significant. These changes will help us better support emergency and acute patient care.
It’s been great to see how everyone has worked so collaboratively over the past few days to enact these temporary changes. I’d like to thank our clinical and administrative leaders for how they’ve helped guide the implementation of these changes. I also acknowledge the professionalism, compassion, and empathy shown by those staff contacting patients to reschedule their care.
We met with our senior medical leaders around these changes yesterday. We ran a Managers Forum this morning with our NUMs and line managers, and all staff were invited to a Special Staff Forum earlier this afternoon. We’ll schedule more forums next week to make sure everyone stays informed.
If you have questions about how these changes may impact your patients or work area, please talk to your NUM or line manager.
COVID testing and Staff Contact Tracing
Most days this week, our hospital has had around 90 staff unable to attend work because they’re either COVID-positive or a close contact. That number does not include staff who are away with the flu or other illnesses. If you are unwell, please do not come to work. If you need a RAT kit, they are available on request from your line manager. PCR testing continues to be available at a range of community providers. If you do become COVID-positive or a close contact, you need to let your line manager (or hospital coordinator) know. You also need to register with our Staff Case Management Team using this form.
Fire and Evacuation changes in the Main Building
As part of the hospital’s Paediatric Emergency Department Upgrade, there’s been a change in how fire evacuations work in the Main Building. For those unable to join one of the Staff Briefing Sessions, there is a recorded session available here. It’s important that everyone understands how these changes impact their work area.
Lastly this week, thank you to everyone who has already submitted a nomination for this year’s Redcliffe Hospital Staff Excellence Awards. With everything that’s happening right now, we’ve decided to push those awards back to late September. The good news is that this means nominations will be open for longer, giving everyone even more time to nominate those who are bringing their A-game and inspiring others to do the same. #IamRedcliffe.
Louise Oriti
Executive Director
Redcliffe Hospital