Dear colleagues,

Echoing Sunday’s message, Queensland has recorded two new positive COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. One from West Moreton, a healthcare worker from Ipswich Hospital, with details for the second still to be released.

Today, we added another quarantine hotel under within our catchment – The Hotel Grand Chancellor at Spring Hill. Metro North now looks after 9 quarantine hotels which, at the moment, have over 2000 quarantined guests in them. It makes for a very busy time and our MN EOC and the COH Team are working tirelessly to ensure that the individuals and families are supported, provided assistance as necessary and screened appropriately.  Thank you to all who work diligently to make sure this all happens.  It is a big job but it is being done exceptionally well. 

Further updates today are:

• Updates out of the Metro North EOC
• Definition of Essential Meetings
• Wellbeing

Updates from MN EOC

Today all local EOCs will have received a few updates from us in MN EOC. Firstly, a letter from Dr John Wakefield, QLD Health Director-General stating that support persons for patients with disabilities should be able to visit our hospitals at any time.

There was no COVID-19 vidcast today, however you can go back and watch Saturday’s if you so missed seeing mine and Shaun’s faces today! There will be a Wednesday’s vidcast – so keep an eye out for the link Wednesday morning for you to ask all the hard questions!!

Definition of Essential Meetings

Metro North Strategic Planning have kindly come up with a definition of essential meetings at Metro North! This has been a very frequently asked question in our vidcasts and I’m happy to be able to provide one to you in writing. An essential meeting or workshop:

1. directly relates to essential functions of MN (as outlined in business continuity plans)
2. directly relates to priority initiatives of the HHS, for instance, Value Oriented Systems
3. will result in decisions or actions that are critical to patient care, the HHS achieving performance targets, or the COVID-19 response
4. will result in decision or actions that will mitigate risks related to the HHSs legislative, industrial and financial obligations
5. directly supports the wellbeing of staff.  

Additionally:

• The meeting or workshop will not prevent staff providing support to the COVID-19 response, who, if the meeting or workshop did not proceed, could be reallocated to the COVID-19 response?  This includes the time spent planning for the meeting or workshop.
• The meeting or workshop can be delivered in a way that is compliant with the Chief Health Officers Directions.
• If the meeting or workshop is conducted in an offsite venue, they must have a COVIDSafe Plan

Wellbeing

In the spirit of Self Care September, and RUOK? Day being this Thursday, I’d like to strongly encourage everyone to reach out if you think your colleague may be struggling. Ask them if they’re ok and offer any support you can. There are some fantastic resources on the RUOK? website to assist you in these conversations. I’ve also heard Bruce has written a great piece on how to have a meaningful RUOK? conversation which will be published this Thursday for RUOK? Day. Remember, a conversation could save a life!

Today was a lovely day today and it is so nice to not have to rug up in the winter woollies.  Even though I was born in the Northern Hemisphere (Canada) and spent the first 11 years of my life there, I am a Queenslander through and through and I love the sunshine and heat. I am looking forward to summer and so I am enjoying the current sunshine and springtime!!

I do hope that you had a great Monday and my quote for today (and every Monday!) is, “May your coffee be strong and your Monday productive”.

Kind regards,
Alanna Geary
Metro North Incident Commander

Metro North HHS – Overview of Cases*

*With effect 7 September 2020, 1000

**Metro North has three recorded deaths (one person a return traveller into NSW, who passed away in NSW)

*** These numbers reflect the cases being managed by Metro North.