Adj Assoc Prof Jackie Hanson, Chief Executive, MN Health

This week I spent some time working in the food services department at TPCH. Despite how busy the work environment is, the staff were very engaged and helpful. It’s a reminder to me that we have many dedicated staff who work behind the scenes to ensure we can provide great care for patients.

Thank you to all our food services staff. It was also an experience that helped cement my priority to work on strategies to reduce waste across our health service. The TPCH team were leaders in introducing a system that allows patients to order the food they want when they are hungry which has reduced food waste and improved the experience of patients. We’ve come a long way from the perception in my early nursing days that hospital food couldn’t be delicious!

It’s great to see happy emergency department staff at Redcliffe Hospital with a new waiting room opening yesterday. The room is part of the development of the paediatric ED which is due for completion early this year. I look forward to the benefits our patients and staff experience from this welcome expansion.

This week we’ve welcomed 174 medical interns across Metro North. Please remember that starting a new job – especially when there are so many people, places and new things to get used to – can be daunting and make them feel welcome and supported as they get up to speed.

We also launched the Level Up mentoring program at junior doctor orientation this week. This program is our commitment to improving gender equality in the medical profession by providing all junior doctors regardless of their gender with the support and opportunities to reach senior positions over the course of their career. The program includes opportunities for mentoring, leadership development programs, and specific pathways for reporting discrimination, bullying and harassment. To find out more, including how to become a mentor or mentee, please visit the Level Up QHEPS page.

Don’t forget we are preparing to be ready every day for accreditation assessment across Metro North. Please make every day a day where you talk about what this means for your team, service and directorate.

Kind regards,

Jackie