Adj Prof Jackie Hanson, Chief Executive
Community Open Day on Monday 31 July at the satellite hospital
I am heading off on leave next week for a month while my family celebrates some important milestones. Jane Hancock will be the Acting Chief Executive while I’m away and Tami Photinos will be Acting Chief Operating Officer. One of the things I’m disappointed to miss while I’m on leave is the opening of the Caboolture Satellite Hospital. We are holding a community open day on Monday 31 July at the satellite hospital with facility tours, food trucks, children’s activities, health stalls and demonstrations, and a smoking ceremony.
This week I received a copy of Putting Patients First, the Government’s new strategy to address ramping and hospital capacity issues. The strategy outlines complex causes of ambulance ramping and the key initiatives such as investing in more virtual care and alternatives to emergency departments, strengthening the Queensland Ambulance Service, boosting the frontline workforce, and improving access to beds. Please take time to read and understand the plan and our focus.
Our acute respiratory illness response across Metro North continues with our tier 2 activation. We are seeing high numbers of COVID-19 and influenza presentations across our services. If you haven’t yet started conversations between your inpatient and ED teams to plan and share solutions for patient flow, please make the time for these important conversations.
Staff Councils
The Metro North Staff Council met this week and continues to take a strong interest in staff wellbeing and matters of safety and quality. These critical topics should be part of every teams daily conversations, especially during our busier periods.
I also had the pleasure this week of joining the Community and Oral Health Staff Council and executive at Brighton to acknowledge the work they have been doing across COH facilities. The council has been focussing on staff wellness, engagement, and cultural initiatives like the recent COH Connect Week staff barbeques, morning teas, coffee carts and fun activities.
It was a great opportunity to say thank you to Kate Schultz the outgoing COH Staff Council Chair and welcome new Chair Belinda Sawtell, and Deputy Chair Monique Scherer (pictured with me and Board member Bonny Barry). I thoroughly enjoy visiting our facilities and recognising the valuable work of staff and services on the ground.
Brisbane Open House this weekend
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, take the opportunity to explore some of the beautifully restored heritage buildings at the Herston Health Precinct as part of the Brisbane Open House free annual event. The Herston Quarter heritage precinct will be open to the public on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 July from 9am to 4pm to provide a rare opportunity to get a glimpse inside the beautifully restored and historic Edith Cavell and Lady Lamington buildings. Take a take a wander down memory lane, read stories about some of the people who live in the nurses’ quarters on the buildings and signage around the precinct, and wander through the former nurses’ quarters and surrounds with a self-guided tour. QIMR Berghofer, the UQ Mayne Medical School and Pathology Queensland (Block 7) will also open their doors to the public over the weekend. Some guided tours will occur over the weekend.
Kind regards,
Jackie.