Dear colleagues,

I am sure we have all seen the media coverage of a positive COVID-19 case of a staff member at Parklands Christian School in Parkridge. In total, Metro South Hospital and Health Service have recorded three positive cases today linked directly to the staff member at the school. This is the first positive COVID-19 case in Queensland for a number of days and it is important we comply with any restrictions imposed by the Premier to ensure our situation does not become similar to one we are seeing down South.

What does this mean for Metro North?

Here at Metro North, we are leaning forward and implementing components of our Tier 1 response. The new revised Tier 1 response is now up on the intranet for your information and appropriate action. Please familiarise yourselves with this document at your earliest convenience.

To summarise, this involves:

• Reactivating daily Incident Management Team teleconferences
• Reinstating daily Incident Controller message to keep staff informed
• MN Emergency Operations Centre remains stood up
• Continuing PPE stocktake at each site daily
• Continuing medication stocktake at each site daily
• Continued reduction of hospital access points
• Increased high touch point area cleaning
• Continue concierge at key entrances
• Continue testing for anyone who presents to fever clinics
• Continue security presence at entrances to facilities
• Increased use of our virtual models for outreach
• Cancellation of non-essential meetings or move to Teams
• Non-essential training to be cancelled or be delivered virtually where able
• As per CHO direction 5 visitors will not be able to attend facilities if they are unwell

With this news we are expecting an increase in presentations at our fever clinics across Metro North where we will be maintaining staffing to keep up with this expected demand.

We are also cognisant that while our Southern counterparts in NSW and Victoria are not tracking as well as we are up here, appropriate staffing across Metro North for pandemic response is priority over deploying staff down South.

With regards to the situation in Metro South, there is a chance Metro North could be called on to assist. We will monitor this situation closely while maintaining vigilance and see what comes to light in the coming days.

Any Metro North staff member who is requested or is requesting to work in a health service other than Metro North (including interstate) is required to receive approval from their line manager and then from the Chief Executive MNHHS Shaun Drummond.

We will not be suspending non-urgent elective surgeries or procedures or any outpatient appointments at this time but will monitor the evolving situation closely and update you as needed. We will also closely monitor community transmission and reallocate wards as COVID-19 inpatient wards should the situation necessitate this.

Our four Metro North fever clinics are fully operational and have had a busy day. The Brisbane North PHN has advised that the community-based GP respiratory clinics are available and the larger clinics at Nundah and Morayfield have good capacity for community testing. Further requirements for Fever Clinics and hours of operation will be reviewed over the next day or two.

Metro North Mantra

• Physically distance where possible.
• Excellent hand hygiene INCLUDING sanitizing at every entrance and exit to our hospitals.
• If you’re sick, GET TESTED AND STAY HOME– do not come to work, your line manager will send you home if you are unwell.
• Avoid crowded places or transit quickly through high foot traffic areas if they can’t be avoided.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, dispose of the tissue immediately, and wash your hands.
• Do not travel to identified COVID-19 hotspots and avoid any other unnecessary interstate travel.
• Follow all health directives and restrictions imposed by the Premier and Queensland Health.

Your safety is our priority

We understand that this information will be stressful for some staff members. Please be reassured that we are taking all precautions to keep our staff, patients and community safe. We need your help in this, if you see someone directly disobeying signage or physical distancing around the hospital, feel empowered to call them out if it is safe for you to do so.  Please do this in a respectful way but we have a responsibility to our community to assist in keeping everyone safe. Remind other visitors and staff to use the sanitising stations located around the hospital. Encourage unwell colleagues to go home or stay at home.

Metro North are leaning forward and ready to take the next step if required. I ask all staff to “keep calm and carry on” and we will keep you as updated as soon as possible on the changing situation. If you have any HR concerns relating directly to COVID-19, there is a COVID-19 HR webpage on our extranet site with all information you might need.

If this situation is stressful or causing you distress, I encourage you to reach out to one of our various wellbeing support programs – R U OK?, COVID staff psychology support, Peer Responders or Benestar on 1300 360 364. As always, there is a large amount of wellbeing resources located on our Staff Wellbeing extranet page. Your physical and psychological wellbeing is of the utmost importance always, but especially during this time. Remember, you as our staff are our most important asset and we will do our utmost to keep you safe. Please be assured that everything that can be done is being done to protect you and ultimately your loved ones. We are all in this together and yours, mine and our loved ones health and wellbeing is paramount. Make informed decisions, use the resources available and seek advice when you need it.

Together as Metro North-ions and Queenslanders, we will get through this pandemic.

Kind regards,

Alanna Geary
Metro North Incident Commander

Metro North HHS – Overview of Cases*

*With effect 29 July 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.