We are facing a lot of pressure at the moment collectively across our service, with staff unable to come to work due to COVID-19 or being close contacts, and our virtual ward remains under immense pressure.

Collectively, our teams continue to step up and meet our challenges, and as the Executive Director I am always thankful for that.

Welcome home

While many of our operational staff where not too concerned about changes to reporting lines, it was still important that we took the time to celebrate them coming back to Community and Oral Health.

Thanks to our Chief Executive, cakes and cupcakes were shared across the service at Zillmere, Brighton, Halwyn and Cooinda earlier this week.

The 180 plus operational and support staff are an important part of our service and play a critical role in keeping our facilities safe.

     

Influenza vaccination

The Metro North annual influenza vaccination campaign is due to start at the end of the month. There will be information coming about how and where you can get your flu jab locally across our directorate.

Learning4you

Many of you would be familiar with the Learning4you update that comes out monthly from our Education Team.

Our educators have been working behind the scenes developing some fantastic innovations including the April Learning4you Sway.

With an every changing monthly focus incorporating the Metro North Values; NSQH, Aged Care, and NDIS Standards; and topics to increase knowledge in health-related issues, there is something that can positively influence everyone to provide even better health care practices.

The team has also collected and created a fantastic array of resources, videos, and presentations in the “Learning4you Online” Education COH Teams group which I encourage you to join using the Team code: 4dvdqrc.

Virtual Ward

With the number of patients now in the Virtual Ward now reaching around 700 – there is no better time to acknowledge their great work:

“I have recently had COVID-19 and I want to compliment Metro North Health on the very positive experience I had in my interactions with doctors and nurses dealing with COVID patients.  

After registering my positive RAT, I was contacted by telephone by a doctor working with the virtual ward. The doctor had lots of information and queries about my condition which was very reassuring and helpful.

An inhaler was delivered to me and I have been contacted by a nurse each day. Very impressive, very reassuring and most helpful. Well done Metro North Health. You are doing a great job with this strategy and I highly commend this initiative.”

AND

“We just wanted to give a compliment and say a big thank you to those involved in servicing the COVID-19 Virtual Ward at home. Our son was under their excellent care last week.  

“Thank you to the doctors, pharmacist and administrative staff, as well as all those behind the scenes we may not have had direct contact with but who help to ensure this ward runs smoothly.

“We are privileged to have staff as great as yourselves look after us when we need it, and what was even better for us was that this could be done at home.

“It’s true not all heroes wear capes – a lot wear N95 masks on a virtual COVID ward somewhere in the metaverse :-). My son says: Thank you very much for helping me get better!”

Don’t forget the booster

I would continue to encourage all of our staff to get the booster as it is clearly effective against COVID-19.

There will be pop up vaccination clinics throughout the school holidays, so you can take the whole family along. You can find your nearest clinic on the Queensland Health website.

Sexual Health Service

I am delighted to welcome Dr Julian Langton-Lockton to Community and Oral Health as the Clinical Director of (COH) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Sexual Health Service.

Julian has joined Community and Oral Health from his role as the Clinical Director of the Sexual Health and HIV Service within Internal Medical Services at RBWH since 2017.

Julian will provide the clinical expertise necessary to guide the establishment of a sexual health service focused on improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The service will be co-designed with community and include a multidisciplinary workforce including pivotal and key positions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

As we work towards achieving health equity, I am delighted to have the opportunity to focus on this aspect of health care and ask you to join me in welcoming Dr Julian Langton- Lockton to the COH team.

Quote to ponder

Oscar Wilde said: “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”  

Glynis Schultz
Executive Director
Community and Oral Health