Jane Hancock, Acting Chief Executive

Metro North Health Equity Showcase

We’ll achieve health equity when all people within our communities have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. There are still many longstanding systemic health and social inequities that need to be addressed. It is a complex challenge that demands much of use. This week we saw more of what can be achieved through partnerships with communities at the Metro North Health Equity Showcase.

The showcase highlighted some of the exceptional initiatives and programs across the health service to improve outcomes, access and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This was the second showcase for 2023 and it was excellent to join around 120 people including Elders, community members, partner organisations, and staff at the event to get an update on our journey to health equity.

Thank you to Aunty Helenor who shared her powerful story about her experience with the Deadly Feet program. Aunty Helenor spotted the Better Together Health Van while visiting her brother at Caboolture, which led to an important intervention with Deadly Feet. I encourage you take a short moment to listen to her story. It is moments like this that show us the importance of being adaptive to care when engaging with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. 

You can read more about what we’ve achieved this year in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team year in review.

Accreditation

This week we received formal notification that Redcliffe Hospital has been accredited for another three years. Redcliffe was the first of our directorates to undergo the new short notice assessment process. This week is Caboolture, Kilcoy and Woodford’s turn. Thanks to everyone making our assessments a success. It is exciting to hear from surveyors how welcome staff have made them feel and how keen teams have been to share their achievements.

Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Program

Well done to the teams at Caboolture Hospital who have successfully relocated services from the main hospital to the new Clinical Services Building. A big thank you to all the move team and a special shout out to Fiona Brewin-Brown, Dr Liz Rushbrook and Louise O’Riordan who supported the moves this week of the Emergency Department.

Staff Excellence Awards

It is so important to ensure high performance to celebrate success and achievements. The Metro North Staff Excellence Awards provides us with this opportunity. 

The awards will be held next Friday. Tickets sales will close on Sunday as the venue requires final numbers and dietary requirements ahead of the event. If you haven’t yet had your team end-of-year get together, the awards gala dinner is a great opportunity to come together and celebrate with your colleagues.

A word from Howard Schultz: “Success is best when it’s shared.”

Warm regards,

Jane.