Adj. Prof. Jane Hancock, Chief Operating Officer

Dale Dally-Watkins

STARS Executive Director

I’m pleased to let you know that Dale Dally-Watkins has been recruited to the Executive Director Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS).

Dale has been the STARS Director of Nursing since 2019, having played a pivotal role in the project prior to opening. Her professional experience includes Metro North Director of Nursing – Navigation Innovation & Strategy, Acting RBWH Nursing Director, RBWH Assistant Nursing Director Trauma Service, and Clinical Nurse Consultant at both RBWH Emergency Department and Mater Private Hospital Emergency Care Centre. 

Dale has a Bachelor of Nursing, with Masters in Applied Management and a Graduate Diploma in Health Management from Queensland Health.  Dale has worked in Canada where she obtained speciality qualifications in Obstetrics.  

Dale said she is delighted and excited to be given the opportunity to continue to lead the team at STARS, and while there is a lot of work to be done she recognises the commitment, passion and care that all teams within STARS have in delivering health care services to our community. Dale will commence her new role when she returns from leave on 4 December. Geoff Grima will be Acting ED STARS from Monday 30 October while Dale is on leave. 

The recruitment processes for Redcliffe Hospital and Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospitals and Woodford Health Service are still underway.

Safeguarding our workplaces

Metro North has recently undertaken a security audit on access to high risk or restricted areas at our facilities such as emergency departments, maternity and birthing suites, pharmacy areas, operating theatres, nuclear medicine, medical records, and IT areas. 

The audit identified a range of concerns, including auditors gaining access to secure areas. This poses a significant risk to our facilities and patients, such as damage to Metro North facilities, impacts to patient care, possible misappropriation of pharmaceutical products and confidential patient and staff data, and potential for physical harm to Metro North patients and staff.

1. Undertake the Privacy Training Module on TMS
2. Make yourself aware of your responsibilities
3. Have your ID on and show this to someone if they ask for identification
4. Don’t let people “ghost” into a room/area behind you – wait until the door is closed before walking away.
5. If you don’t know who someone is in a restricted area, then politely ask to see some identification.
6. Remember safety and security is everybody’s job!

DFV project grants – EOI Open

Metro North has introduced a new Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Project Grants Program 2023-2024 to support Metro North projects working towards recognising, preventing, and responding to DFV in our health service or workplace. Expressions of interest are due by 13 November. If you’re interested, you can contact CAHRLI for the guidelines and EOI form.

Occupational violence

A big thank you to the Metro North Staff Councils, especially Redcliffe, for their direct feedback on the impacts of rudeness and physical aggression on our frontline staff. Our number one priority at Metro North is ensuring the safety of our staff, patients, and community. 

In March 2023, more than 2,600 security incidents were reported across our facilities. It is essential that we work to reduce these numbers so every staff member returns home safe after each workday. We are keen to hear what else we can do to address occupational violence in Metro North and are holding an Occupational Violence Prevention Staff Forum from 12-4pm, Thursday 9 November 2023 at the Eaton’s Hill Hotel. 

We are looking for 100 people to participate on this forum that will be facilitated by the fabulous team from Articulous. Your line managers and senior directors have been asked to find ways to allow frontline staff to attend so we can hear from you. If you are interested in attending and have some ideas that you think might be helpful, then please complete the nomination form.

Finally, I have written to you previously about kindness, but as I reflect on the rise in occupational violence in our workplaces and violence and unkindness more broadly in our newspapers, newsfeeds, social media, I realise it is not easy to block this out or to get overwhelmed. So, this weekend, practice giving yourself the same kindness that you give to others – turn the news off and go for a walk, eat a healthy meal, read a magazine, ride a bike, meditate, pick some flowers, listen to some music – whatever works for you.        

Warm regards,

Jane.