03 April 2020 – COVID-19 (coronavirus)

Dear Colleagues,

As I say every week, I am extremely proud of the work being undertaken throughout Metro North to respond to COVID-19, not only this past week, but since we first stood up in late January. Your commitment to our community is commendable and I’m seeing our values being put into action every day. It is in my and the health services’ sincerest interest that you are looking after yourself and your families physical and mental wellbeing.

3D Printing Challenge

This week we put a challenge out to our community to increase our PPE. Thousands of people have responded and are on the case 3D printing 3000 face shield frames in the next three weeks.

We’re coordinating the campaign through the Herston Biofabrication Institute. I’m excited to see what else we can achieve through people power and thinking outside the box. If you’re a 3D printing enthusiast and want to join the campaign, you can find the specs here.

PPE Clinical Advisory Group

I have been making reference to the peak group who provide advice on PPE directly to the CE this week and have outlined below the membership. This group will be the final decision making authority on our standards for the health service and be responsible for making recommendation on when the different stages should be enacted.

• Dr Hamish Pollock – ICU Redcliffe
• Louise O’Riordan – Safety & Quality Redcliffe
• Janice Geary – Infection Control TPCH
• Dr Alex Chaudhuri – Infectious Diseases TPCH
• Dr Chris Stones – Anaesthetics TPCH
• Dr Brian Kirkby – General Surgery/Endoscopy Caboolture
• Dr Andrew Redmond – Infectious Diseases RBWH
• Dr Peter Goodyear – Anaesthetics RBWH
• Dr Sean Rothwell – Emergency Medicine RBWH
• Michelle Kane – Safety & Quality COH
• Dr Colin Myers – MN HEOC
• Jackie Hanson – MN ED Operations

Executive Update

I have asked Mark Butterworth to continue acting in the role of Executive Director in Safety and Quality until the end of 2020 while we undertake recruitment for the position. Michelle Stute will stay on as acting Executive Director Allied Health for this period.

Communicating with You

We’ve had great success this week with the launch of our Vidcasts. Thousands of staff have taken the opportunity to ask questions of Alex Chaudhuri (Infectious Diseases Specialist), Janice Geary (Infection Control Nurse), Sarah Bench (Executive Director HR), Jackie Hanson (Executive Director, Operations) and myself. The feedback is staff who have been able to participate have appreciated the opportunity. If you missed any of the live streams, the recordings are on our Metro North COVID-19 page.

This week’s COVID-19 staff newsletter is also available online.

Here is the communications schedule for the next fortnight:

Social Distancing

In line with government recommendations, please ensure you are allowing 1.5m between yourself and others, including other staff members where possible. I also ask you limit the number of people travelling in lifts.

As healthcare workers, we need to be setting an example and abiding by the restrictions in place to support our response to COVID-19. Be mindful of physical distance, wash your hands or use the various hand sanitising stations installed across the health service and be kind to one another.

On a personal note, Ned has been itching to indulge in becoming an amateur hairdresser. She keeps offering to cut the hair of Sam and I to help with social distancing. The Flock of Seagulls look went out in the 1980s. This may make my Vidcasts popular but I declined.

Sam has had to stop going to the gym and so had his first PT session in the local park, unfortunately it was not a great success. His new strategy is to suggest a PlayStation Virtual Headset which would allow him to exercise and at $400 is a bargain compared to a PT and gym membership. I think there is a flaw in that proposal!

Again, thank you all for your tireless work and commitment to our health service community and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay safe, look after yourselves and your family and always be kind.

Regards,
Shaun