Message from the Chief Executive

Adj Assoc Prof Jackie Hanson, Chief Executive, MN Health

In 2017, Metro North launched our MN32: NextCare aspirational roadmap. At the time, even 15 years seemed like a tight timeframe to achieve some of our stretch goals. In the past five years, we’ve achieved a huge number of our goals, like building new facilities, opening our institutes, developing our closing the gap plan, and expanding our digital footprint.

MN32 was refreshed in 2020 and updated to add new targets, but as we move out of the pandemic, we have a new perspective. It’s time to refresh MN32 to create a shared vision for our future and confirm our priorities and timelines. The past nearly 3 years of pandemic response has forced us to be agile and flexible, to innovate and accelerate our plans. With the Department of Health reform agenda, we have the potential to influence how care is delivered across the whole system, and how we can better partner as a whole network, and offer alternatives to hospital admission.

Metro North is also in the midst of a capital sprint, with the Caboolture Hospital redevelopment and satellite hospitals underway, and funding for redevelopment of Redcliffe and The Prince Charles Hospitals, and the new Queensland Cancer Centre at Herston. Our infrastructure plan needs to align with Queensland Health’s 15-year plan, but there is also opportunity for us to put forward new ideas for growth and expansion.

All staff are invited to provide your thoughts and feedback on MN32 to ensure we capture a range of options and energise our big picture thinking. Consultation will also be through existing forums such as Clinical Council meetings and other meetings, as well as with our external and community partners.

The MN32 refresh will be managed by the Metro North Strategy and Planning and Strategic Developments teams under Kate Copeland. Yesterday Kate and I held a vidcast to talk about the refresh process and answer questions. You can watch the recording online and the MN32 refresh video.

If you would like to participate in the MN32 refresh, send your ideas or expression of interest to Metro North Strategy and Planning or Strategic Developments.

We are now a month out from the #NextCare Health Conference, which will be 8-9 November at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. #NextCare is one of the staff development opportunities we offer as part of MN32, and it’s an excellent way for staff at any level of your career to take the next step on your journey of leadership. Registrations are still open for the two day conference and the Leaders Breakfast on 8 November with former special forces officer Mark Wales.

Over the past month I have been able to get out and about across Metro North more than in the past 18 months. I have been grateful to meet with many staff and hear your thoughts. Next week the COO Jane Hancock and I are starting our listening posts visits.

We are very keen to hear your ideas, reflections and suggestions.

Kind regards,

Jackie