We must continue to protect ourselves and our community against COVID-19, which includes ensuring your vaccinations are up to date.

The new traffic light alert system in Queensland remains at amber for moderate rates of community transmission.

Staff more than 50 years of age and those staff with greater risk of severe illness are recommended to have a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

I know our Infection Control team has been receiving many calls recently, asking whether CKW would be running COVID-19 vaccination clinics again. At this stage, there are no plans to do so.

COVID-19 boosters are readily available from community clinics, including many GPs and pharmacies.

Find a vaccine clinic provider in your area.

New-look staff ID cards have arrived!

A new Metro North Health design for hospital staff ID cards is being rolled out progressively at CKW as new or replacement ID cards are issued.

Existing staff don’t need to do anything until your ID card expires or needs to be replaced.

Staff ID cards are an essential part of keeping patients and each other safe and secure. It important that everyone wears one while at work and that it can be easily read by staff and patients to confirm your identity.

If your ID card is expiring soon, please complete the form and email it to cab-facility-services@health.qld.gov.au

Our volunteers certainly stand out from the crowd!

The Common Good Caboolture Hospital volunteers do such a wonderful job helping staff, patients, visitors and the community.

You may have noticed Jan, Lauren and Noelene and the team wearing their new bright green polo shirts to ensure that they stand out from the crowd. They’re already getting lots of positive comments.

In addition to the current vital duties they perform, such as welcoming people at the front entrance, helping with directions and general administrative support to staff, there are new exciting roles available.

These include working in the Children’s Ward, Maternity and with the Eat Walk Engage team, plus more!

If you know someone who would make a great hospital volunteer, ask them to visit The Common Good website or contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Karen (in black) on 5433 8634 or email volunteers-cab@health.qld.gov.au

Donate Life Thank You Day

Sunday (20 November) is DonateLife Thank You Day – an annual day to pause, reflect and thank donors and their families for generously giving the gift of life.

The gift of organ and tissue donation is a generous act that is life-changing for another person.

This year, the DonateLife team is focusing on how Gifted Years, which is how many extra years of life an amazing donor and their family has gifted to a very grateful transplant recipient.

Each year that is gifted to a recipient is an extra year that the recipient has to see their children grow, work on their life goals or have an adventure.

More details on DonateLife Thank You Day.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Forum postponed

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Metro North Health Equity Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Forum – originally scheduled for Thursday (24 November) – has been postponed.

The new date is yet to be confirmed but it’s expected to be early in the new year.

What a compliment!

This compliment for the Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department team recently really struck a chord with me. The few sentences below is a great example of having compassion during difficult circumstances:

“I was quickly admitted, fully assessed and was satisfied with the results as explained by the doctor.

“While there, a lady died in the opposite bed. Staff were very concerned about whether being a witness to the event had caused me distress, frequently monitoring my wellbeing.

“I assured I was not distressed but sad for her and the family. I sat praying during that time for the family and for the staff who continued in their duties quietly and efficiently while displaying empathy and understanding with the grief and anxiety of the family.”

Follow-up surgical review report now online

The follow-up report to the Caboolture Hospital Surgical Services review is now available online.

Finally,

I’m really looking forward to the CKW Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) launch at the Caboolture Hub on Monday morning. It’s the culmination of many years of hard work.

Our focus is now on delivery to ensure equitable health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and an inclusive and diverse workplace, that is not just culturally safe, but also culturally rich and proud.

Take Care,

Angie.