Glynis Schultz, Executive Director, Community and Oral Health

As we approach the Easter break, I have reflected on the fact that although we may follow different faiths and spiritual paths, we are joined to together by a shared humanity of compassion and care.

This has been so very evident through the sustained COVID-19 response, the response to the wet weather emergencies and the continuing demand on health services.

I have a practice each evening to reflect on all that I am grateful for. It would be rare indeed when I cannot recall something to be grateful for because of your efforts.

It may be a compliment that describes how you have made people feel, it is witnessing staff caring and supporting each other, it’s seeing staff go the extra mile; it’s witnessing staff be courageous and prepared to speak up to make things better.

This week, the Executive leadership team heard from each of the service streams in Community and despite the many and very real challenges, each person spoke with real passion as they described the strategies in place and the work you are doing to improve services for our community. An opportunity to be both very proud and grateful.

Thank you to all the staff who will be working over the Easter Break, and those who are covering additional shifts due to colleagues being isolated. Your efforts and commitment do not go unnoticed, and they are very much appreciated.

If you get a chance to have a break over the long weekend, please take the time to rest and look after yourselves.

Doomben and Kippa Ring Vaccination Clinics

A major milestone has been reached with our Doomben and Kippa Ring Vaccination Clinics now closing their doors today.

The work done across our vaccination clinics is one of the central reasons why we have managed to strongly defend against COVID-19 across the community.

Everyone who has worked in our vaccination clinics can walk away with a huge sense of pride and achievement for the work they have done.

All of you have been at the forefront of keeping us all safe and deserve every recognition for your achievements and success.

BPA staff improvements for GPOHS

I have to commend the work of our General Practice Oral Health Services who have been progressing a number of BPA strategies to implement change for all staff and improve our services.

Following significant planning sessions undertaken over the last 12 months there has been some great improvements achieved:

• Outsourcing of emergency appointments was increased with available funding to ensure patients were seen within the recommended waiting timeframes.
• Principal dentists and clinic administration officers have been given the responsibility of monitoring the priority lists for each clinic to ensure that patient care is provided within recommended timeframes.
• Administration time has been allocated to line managers to allow sufficient time to manage staff, patients, rosters, appointments and other operational matters.
• Principal dentists are implementing strategies to reduce loss as a result of failed to attend appointments.
• Outsourcing of patients requiring dentures has been implemented to supplement the internal denture making activity to reduce the volume of patients waiting for dentures.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients contacting the service for the first time are prioritised for examination and treatment to reduce the burden of oral health disease within this community.
• SMS data is being used to better improve visibility of patients who have confirmed their appointments or who have not responded.

This is only a small list of the great work undertaken by the oral health team and I want to thank everyone who has been involved.

Farewell to Adrian

Please join me in congratulating Adrian McShane on his appointment to the Queensland Ambulance Service on the Sunshine Coast.

We have drawn heavily on Adrian’s logistics expertise over the past two years to set up vaccination and pop up clinics and I have been grateful for his work in preparation for the Satellite Hospitals and for following up on my many and varied requests.

While we will miss Adrian’s skills and contribution to the leader ship team more broadly, I also acknowledge that Adrian’s work with us has come at a personal cost as he has spent an inordinate number of hours each day travelling from the Sunshine Coast.
 
Adrian’s last working day will be Friday 29 April. Thank you Adrian, there are many of us who will be sad to see you go.

Name the Brighton Hill

Our team of enthusiastic gardeners do a great job every day to maintain our grounds for the enjoyment of staff, visitors and residents.

They have recently manicured a space on the “hill” between Dolphin House and 19th Avenue.

The men’s shed has generously volunteered to make a sign to increase the identification and usage of this space as a break out space for our staff, visitors and patients and we need your help to name it.

Please send entries to COH-Communications@health.qld.gov.au

Glynis Schultz
Executive Director
Community and Oral Health