Dear colleagues,

I am very pleased to announce that Dr Daniel Chambers will be commencing as the new Metro North Executive Director Research from Monday. Dan brings to the role more than 15 years of both clinical and research experience within Metro North and other health services. Dan’s current role is a thoracic and transplant physician at The Prince Charles Hospital where he has developed a significant body of world leading research. I look forward to the contribution he will bring to the Metro North Office of Research.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic environment, we have achieved a significant reduction in outpatient long waits this year. I would like to acknowledge the commitment and hard work of the Metro North Health Outpatient Strategies and directorate outpatient services over the last six months. The target set for Metro North Health was 7,200 long wait patients by 30 June 2021. Metro North Health achieved 7,307 long wait patients at the end of the financial year. This is an outstanding result considering we were sitting at 12,930 at the end of January.

Directorates have achieved this significant reduction in outpatient long waits through well planned actions including a structured program of audits undertaken across all specialties, active scheduling strategies to manage cancellation/fail to attend rates, additional activity through twilight and weekend clinics, onboarding of clinical staff to undertake additional activity, alternative pathways of care with allied health and nursing led services and integrated rapid re-entry and discharge pathways.

Well done to everyone involved.

Regards,

Liz