1 April 2020

Dear Colleagues

As the week progresses, I thank you for your support and commitment to our preparations and early response. I can truly say that each and every effort absolutely counts.

Today I would like to share with you the following topics:

• Amazing staff response for reallocation survey
• Updated advice for vulnerable staff
• Mobilising the Better Together Van
• Online Vidcasts

STAFF RESPONSE TO REALLOCATION SURVEY

The tremendous response to yesterday’s Staff Reallocation Survey continues to impress me. In less than 24 hours, more than 200 of you have responded and provided essential details to help support our plans to respond. Thank you! If any of you have self-identified that you are suitable for reallocation, it is not too late to register your interest/availability here.

UPDATED ADVICE FOR VULNERABLE STAFF

Yesterday I flagged that we were refining our advice for vulnerable staff. This comes after clarification from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, and even further information from Queensland Health.

The Metro North advice can be found on our website – Guidance note for vulnerable staff under the HR Resources tile. I appreciate that only you know your personal circumstances and that times like this can be stressful and difficult to navigate. I encourage you to review the guidance, and ask questions of your line manager or HR staff regarding your situation. We are here to support you and work with you to ensure your safety.

I remind you that our priority is your safety during this emergency. We are earnestly ensuring that the best guidelines and processes are available for our workers who are dedicated to the care of affected Queenslanders. I ask you to show confidence in our processes and procedures, and diligently refresh yourself with all infection control guidelines at this time.

MOBILISING THE BETTER TOGETHER VAN

With face-to-face community engagement largely on pause at the moment due to COVID-19 social-distancing restrictions, we continue to look for ways to engage our vulnerable populations. To this end, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit is mobilising the Better Together Health Van with a focus on the health and wellbeing of our First Nations people. We are partnering with the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health to partner to deliver flu vaccinations for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members. This is a great way to take the health message into the community, and ensure that they have access to maximum protection during this time.

ONLINE VIDCASTS

The VIDCAST series continues, and this week addresses COVID-19 from a HR, infection control, infectious disease and general operations perspective. Your questions are great, and are ‘keeping us on our toes’! Please keep them coming. Links to Vidcasts will be progressively published online over the next few days so that you are able to ‘catch up’ if you missed a session or two.

On a personal note, I’d like to thank the many people who have emailed me with encouragement!! I could not do any of this without a fabulous team that supports me. They are cool, calm and collected, no matter what challenge is thrown their way. They are on your side, and I can honestly say that there is no team I would rather be with during this emergency.

It has been a day where the COVID-19 activity has slightly ‘lulled’ – but it is not a time for us to take the eye off the ball. Keep alert, wash your hands and stay safe.

Kind regards

Dr Liz Rushbrook
Metro North Health Incident Controller

Metro North HHS – Overview of Cases*

*With effect 1000 1 April 2020
**Metro North has one recorded death