Dear colleagues,

NAIDOC week is wrapping up this weekend. Due to the restrictions, we have held another virtual NAIDOC celebration this year with a series of videos hosted on the Better Together Van webpage to acknowledge the history and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. You can still watch the videos that have been added during the week.

This week I attended the forum for Chief Operating Officers of Queensland hospital and health services which included a powerful acknowledgement of Country I would like to adopt in Metro North where appropriate: (This event) respectfully acknowledges the Custodians of the land across Queensland where our health services are located. We also pay our respects to the First Nations Elders and valued persons, past, present and future and recognise the strength and resilience that First Nations people and their ancestors have displayed in laying strong foundations for the generations that follow. For it is through building a joint understanding of land, wind, water and community that we work together to reduce health inequities across Queensland.

I would also like to thank the TPCH leadership team and staff who have rallied to meet the challenges faced in the last two weeks while continuing to deliver services. Thank you also to the Metro North executives who have worked at the elbow to support the team. The incredible response from Cancer Services and Medical Imaging are a testament to patient focused care.

While I admire the way many of our staff responded, there were a few reports that some of our people may have lost sight of our Values in Action, particularly compassion, respect and teamwork. These values are held dear and are what drives all of us to do the right thing and care for each other. Can I gently remind us all of that.

We are now in the new 21/22 financial year. We do not yet have the formal end of year position but early signs demonstrate the again the strength, teamwork and patient focused culture we have. We have very few long wait surgical patients, our OPD performance is better than projected, our gastroenterology waiting lists are reducing for the first time and our EOY financial position is positive. All of these achievements have been delivered during a year of pandemic and record activities. Again thank you to all who contribute to this phenomenal outcome. I am excited to see what we can achieve this year.

Lastly, usually I would be regularly be visiting our many sites around Metro North to catch up with people, however with the current visitor restrictions that is being limited. I would like to, however, invite you arrange a virtual catch up via TEAMs if you would like to.

Thank you all,