Dear colleagues,

You may be aware that there is a global shortage of raw materials used for sterile surgical wrap due to the pandemic. We are continuing to work with the Department of Health on this issue. Over the past few weeks I have seen a significant demonstration of teamwork and our Metro North values as staff have collaborated across facilities and with our colleagues in other HHSs to manage stock. Thank you.

Standard 4

Every month Metro North reviews our performance against one of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. This month we reviewed Standard 4 – Medication Safety.

The intention of the Medication Safety Standard is to ensure clinicians are competent to safely prescribe, dispense and administer appropriate medicines, to monitor medicine use and to ensure consumers are informed about medicines and understand their individual medicine needs and risks. Medicines are the most common treatment used in healthcare and as a result are associated with a higher rate of errors and adverse events than any other healthcare intervention. Medication error has been defined as ‘a failure in the treatment process that leads to, or has the potential to lead to, harm of the patient’.

Through the Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREMs) pilot which started in December, we ask inpatients to provide feedback to help build a positive patient experience and improve outcomes.

While 91% of patients say they received information about how to take their medication, only 58% say they have been told about side effects. Although the data is limited at this early stage, it provides an opportunity to identify areas requiring focused improvements. As the data becomes more established it will be reviewed, monitored and utilised to inform targeted improvement strategies across the Clinical Directorates.

I would love to hear your quality improvement initiatives and feedback. Please contact my office on MN_ClinGovQandRisk@health.qld.gov.au.

Thank you for your support.

Regards,

Michele