Adj Prof Jackie Hanson, Chief Executive

Have Your Say Survey

We have ended the 22/23 financial year with a very strong performance on many levels which is a testament to our staff who have remained focused on ensuring our people and community are always put first. There is no doubt that our community expectations are changing, as are how our staff feel connected and part of a team in the workplace.

The results from the recent Have your Say survey will shortly provide us with more information on connectedness and team culture. In the meantime, it is critical that work is ongoing at the local levels on ensuring that no matter how challenging our work is, we have assessed and created the most favourable psychological environment. This is so very important as most people spend almost a third of our day in the work environment.

New infrastructure

We are moving closer to the opening of our first Satellite Hospital, Car Park and Clinical Services building in our Caboolture Kilcoy and Woodford Directorate. This is an exciting milestone, providing additional health care services in a region with a growing population. Another exciting milestone achieved this week was the launch of the Concept Design for the Redcliffe Hospital expansion. It has taken some time to get to this point, but the launch means the project is now live.

NAIDOC Week activities

This week (July 2-9) was National NAIDOC Week, a very significant week in our annual calendar. There were many NAIDOC week celebrations across Metro North and the Brisbane North Region. I was able to attend several events throughout the week including the Community Elder lunch on Monday and the Domo Boys event held at the Education Centre on Thursday. The Domo Boys frank presentation detailing their experiences as the Stolen Generation, living in the Cherbough Dormitory for Boys was very powerful and thought provoking. The sharing of these stories, of truth telling are an important part of our health equity journey.

On Thursday I was joined by Metro North’s Executive Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Sherry Holzapfel and special guest Edward Monaei, Regional Manager, Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Art for a vidcast to talk about NAIDOC Week and an update on the Metro North Health Equity Strategy.

As we continue to engage and listen and learn from our traditional custodians, I am still hearing from patients that cultural safety is an issue. I ask that every effort is made to identify Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patients and provide them with appropriate cultural support across all our facilities and directorates. Our Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officers (IHLO) do an amazing job of providing culturally appropriate support,
advocacy and advice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families.

Emergency Department Alternatives

During the month of July we are running an Emergency Department Alternatives campaign. The aim of the campaign is to let the community know the different avenues available to them to receive health care, in addition to the Emergency Department. While some health issues do require a visit to the ED, many can be safely managed in other settings such as virtual ED or Minor Accident and Illness Centres.

The ED Alternatives campaign is designed to connect people with the best option for them to receive the health care they need in the way they would like to receive it.

Kind regards,

Jackie.