Dear colleagues, 

As most of you would be aware through Metro North Health communications and media coverage, a low dose of Pfizer vaccine was administered to six people at the Kippa Ring vaccination centre before 9.30 am on Saturday 7 August. Subsequently, Queensland Health has contacted 66 people from this time, as there is no ability to trace which six received the low dose. Metro North Health Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk unit is working with the members of the public potentially affected to ensure an optimal immunity response to the vaccination is achieved.

I would like to acknowledge the great work being undertaken in all areas of the vaccination clinics across Metro North Health. This incident has highlighted a potential patient safety issue within the vaccination clinics, and I commend the conscientiousness clinicians involved for detecting and reporting the error early and putting patient safety first and foremost and thank them for their commitment to quality and safety. At Metro North Health we demonstrate, advocate for, and support a transparent safety reporting culture. This has been demonstrated and now gives us the opportunity to review processes, identify and improve policy, procedures or practices relating to the provision of these services. Metro North Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk unit is working collaboratively with key clinicians from across Metro North Health and Metro North Incident Controller to ensure that consistent, standardised, best practise principles are embedded into every vaccination process.

A total of 236,245 vaccines have been administered across Metro North Health to date. This substantial number reflects the time, commitment, and dedication of Metro North staff (many of whom are deployed) working in the clinics to protect the members of our community.

I would like to share with you a call I received yesterday from a gentleman affected by the low dosing incident. He commended the honesty, integrity and transparency of the individual staff involved at the Kippa Ring clinic and to Metro North Health for their coordinated effort to reach the members of the public affected in a timely and supported manner.

As of Tuesday 10 August, our colleagues within Clinical Skills Development Service have facilitated more than 12,738 fit tests for frontline workers, including Metro North staff, Queensland Police Service, and other essential services.

Thank you to all those staff who have been involved with fit testing across Metro North facilities, as well as our great Metro North Health staff for taking responsibility and getting fit tested to help keep ourselves, your colleagues and patients safe.

If any areas require a specific fit testing session locally, please contact MNHHSFitTestingProgram@health.qld.gov.au.

I’d like to acknowledge and express my sincere thanks to Organisational Development, Nursing and Midwifery Services, RBWH Quality, Innovation and Patient Safety Service, Clinical Skills Development Service, and the Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk team who have undertaken roles outside your normal work practice, especially those who have assisted our colleagues at Metro North Public Health and MN EOC during these challenging times. Your professionalism, support, and dedication over the past few weeks has shown Metro North’s Values in Action of respect, integrity, compassion, high performance, and teamwork which has enabled Metro North Health to help keep our consumers and Queenslanders safe. A gentle reminder to be respectful and kind to one another during these difficult times.

I am excited to announce Metro North Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk unit will host a Safety and Quality Forum which is an event aimed at increasing awareness and highlighting excellence in Safety and Quality. The event will be held on Friday 22 October at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre with the opening keynote from human rights activist and former Socceroo Craig Foster AM.

Registration will open in the next few weeks so keep an eye out for further information and I look forward to warmly welcoming colleagues and consumers to this special event.

Regards, 

Michele