Adj Prof Jackie Hanson, Chief Executive
This week we have seen high demand across Metro North, particularly record presentations to our emergency departments and minor injury and illness clinics. We have managed this extremely well and I want to thank everyone for your efforts in ensuring patients flow through our services to get the right care where they need it. This sentiment was echoed in a letter to the Courier Mail this week from a Caboolture Hospital patient who praised the quality of care he received.
This week we also welcomed the new Redcliffe Hospital Executive Director Cang Dang. I look forward to working with him. I’d like to thank Louise O’Riordan for her leadership and commitment over the last year while acting in the role.
Yesterday the new Board Chair, Jane Hancock and I met with the new Board members for the first time. The new members advised us that they each chose Metro North for the reputation, calibre, and quality of service the organisation provides. This was heartfelt and genuine and is a reflection of the commitment and capability of all of you who lead with knowledge, passion and care. It is exceptionally important to accept this feedback and reflect on what you do each day to make Metro North great, and to make sure your teams know how much they are valued.
The Board Chair and I will hold a vidcast on Tuesday 23 April at 12.30pm.
I think it is also important that I share as the Chief Executive what a privilege it is to serve you all. I know the care you feel and that makes it difficult with some of the decisions I am compelled to make. I want to reassure you that I make these decisions with deep reflection.
Respect @ Work
I would like to remind everyone that Metro North’s Respect @ Work framework to prevent and respond to sexual harassment is live. it’s deeply concerning that the team have been very busy with complaints already.
We all have a role to play in ensuring that our workplace is free from sexual harassment and inappropriate sexual conduct. In 2024 there is no excuse for this kind of behaviour in the workplace. Please take your responsibilities seriously and familiarise yourselves with the framework. If you missed the vidcasts about the framework and manager obligations earlier this year you can watch the recordings on QHEPS.
Flu season and vaccination
We are seeing signs that the flu season is starting. Our staff flu vaccination program will begin next week at TPCH, Redcliffe Hospital, and Caboolture Hospital and Caboolture Satellite Hospital, followed by RBWH and STARS the following week, and COH from 29 April. You can find out when your local vaccination clinics are open on QHEPS.
Influenza is a serious illness, especially for children, older people, and other vulnerable groups. Vaccination reduces your risk of catching flu, reduces your risk of hospitalisation if you do get it, and helps to protect your family, colleagues, and patients from transmission.
If you choose to get vaccinated at a community pharmacy, please let us know on the online form. This helps us with workforce planning during flu season. You can also get your flu vaccination and COVID booster at the same time at some pharmacies.
This year there is a different vaccine available in community pharmacies for people over 65 years. Staff who are over 65 are encouraged to talk to your directorate’s local infection control team about your options.
Yesterday Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alanna Geary, infectious diseases physician Dr Krispin Hajkowicz, and Metro North Public Health Unit director Daniel Francis held a vidcast to give an overview of the flu season and vaccination. If you missed it, the recording is on QHEPS.
Spring Hill Community Mental Health Centre
Between late April and June, Metro North Mental Health will relocate some existing community services into a new location at 121 Wharf St, Spring Hill, which will better accommodate the increased demand for clinical services over the last five years.
The Spring Hill Community Mental Health Centre will bring together 180 multidisciplinary clinicians and staff to establish a mental health hub that will provide clinical services for adults and older people within our region in one space.
The new location will allow us to collocate specialist clinical, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and peer roles in community-based teams and act as an outreach staff hub for the 1200 consumers currently engaged with mental health community services.
Teams moving into the new centre include the Inner North Mental Health Service, which has been in its current location in Fortitude Valley for more than 30 years, followed by outpatient clinics from RBWH Mental Health Centre, the Older Persons Mental Health Team, and the MIRT and Mental Health Resource Team. More information about the move is on QHEPS.
World leading scientists
Metro North researchers are leading the world in many fields. Nineteen RBWH researchers were recently named in Stanford University’s list of the 100,000 most cited scientists in the world.
Congratulations to Executive Director Women, Children’s and Families Stream Professor Leonie Calloway, Clinical Director Research and Education for RBWH Internal Medicine and Aged Care Dr Alison Mudge, and Consultant Urologist and Robotic Surgeon Dr Matthew Roberts who are in the top two per cent of the world’s most-cited scientists.
Our Journey Towards Health Equity Funding
I am pleased to announce applications for the ‘Our Journey Towards Health Equity Funding’ are now open. The funding aims to strengthen our efforts towards achieving health parity by 2031 and prioritising actions to achieving equity in healthcare and service delivery for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Initiatives should align with the priority principles in our Health Equity Strategy:
- eliminate institutional barriers,
- re-shape the system,
- transform care,
- strengthen the workforce.
If you have an innovative idea, program, project, or workforce initiative to support these areas, I encourage you to apply. Applications open today until 24 May 2024. You can find information on how to apply and the criteria online or contact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team.
Metro North is committed to achieving health equity and improving the healthcare outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our community. A recent report from Edith Cowan University found that that the life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men is still 8.8 years and for women 8.1 years lower than the national average. Chronic conditions are still the leading cause of avoidable hospitalisation, with ischemic heart disease the leading cause of death.
I strongly encourage you to reflect on the report’s findings and discuss with your team ways that you can help to improve these outcomes.
Thank you to everyone who attended the Metro North Senior Executive Team forum at TPCH last week. It was good to chat with you and answer some questions. Those questions we couldn’t answer immediately will be followed up. Please feel free to contact me if you have further feedback to add.
Jackie.