5 April 2020
Dear Colleagues,
Yesterday was a good day in Queensland with only nine additional confirmed COVID-19 cases. This is not time to get complacent though. The number of confirmed cases fluctuates each day and we anticipate more high number days – we certainly haven’t hit the peak of ‘our’ curve.
I would like to thank you all for doing your part to slow the transmission.
In today’s update:
- Screening outcome notification tools
- Flu vaccines
- Occupational violence
- Vidcasts
- School holidays
- COVID-19 numbers
Screening outcome notification tools & other information for the public
Currently people who test negative for COVID-19 receive a text message with their results. To support these notifications, Digital Metro North have created an online resource for staff including a user guide, patient information sheet, FAQs, and downtime procedures if required.
Additionally, there are patient resources now available on each of our hospital websites (on the Patients and Visitors page) around visiting restrictions at our hospitals and general information about COVID-19.
Flu vaccines
I would like to highlight again today that Metro North have purchased more than 16,000 flu vaccines to support our staff vaccination program. Staff are strongly encouraged to get a vaccination at work. Alternatively, if you have had your vaccination a community pharmacy, please let us know so we can record it (I am secretly excited at the potential record vaccination rate we can achieve this year). We will also reimburse you on presentation of receipt.
This year we are not providing vaccinations for students or contractors. Vaccinations are available for frontline staff first, with other staff vaccinations in the coming weeks.
Occupational violence
With the social distancing requirements our usual occupational violence prevention training is not possible. We are moving this essential training into a virtual format to ensure staff are still able to access it, with one half day module already available. We anticipate that the balance of this key training will be available within a week.
We are also working with our union partners on a collaborative approach to occupational violence messaging during this unusually tense time.
Vidcasts
We are continuing our roster of vidcasts next week:
- 2-3pm Monday Chief Executive, Shaun Drummond;
- 1-2pm Tuesday infection control nurse, Catherine Watson;
- 2.30-3.30pm Wednesday infectious diseases specialist, Dr Paul Chapman; and
- 2.30-3pm Thursday HR manager, Colin Smyth.
The links to join each vidcast will be sent out that morning. These can be accessed by staff at work and at home and are an excellent opportunity to ask your burning questions of our experts. For those who can’t attend the live stream, the videos will be uploaded to our COVID-19 webpage within a day or two.
School holidays
We have compiled lists of vacation care providers who are offering spaces for the children of essential workers. The lists are on our COVID-19 staff resources page under ‘Preparedness and Schools’.
In the past two days Premiers around the country have reassured children that the Easter Bunny has been given special exemption to cross borders. This is great news for kids (and chocolate lovers). If you do see the Easter Bunny in the next few days, please remember to practice social distancing – he’s a frequent traveller.
Metro North COVID-19 Numbers
I am often asked about the numbers that we record, and why they sometimes differ to the numbers recorded on the Queensland Health website. Whilst we work to make our numbers as consistent as possible, remember that numbers represent a ‘point in time’ and there is sometimes a small discrepancy, due to differences in timing of recording, admission, transfer and ‘discharge’ of our patients. We take our responsibility for care of our COVID-19 patients seriously, and it is their health and welfare that is our priority.
I look forward to another productive week – with exciting work to be finalised creating a staff wellbeing capability, opening of our ‘Virtual ED’, and much much more.
Happy Sunday.
Regards,
Dr Liz Rushbrook
Metro North Health Incident Controller
Metro North HHS – Overview of Cases*
| Confirmed COVID-19 Cases | |||
| Virtual Ward | Inpatient Ward | Inpatient ICU | Recovered |
| 120 | 13 | 5 | 140 |
*With effect 1000 5 April 2020
**Metro North has one recorded death