Christmas has always been one of my favourite times of year. Thanks for your generosity, your kindness, your compassion and your leadership throughout 2022 to ensure the ongoing health of our community. I’m always inspired by the work you do and the care you provide.

I had the great privilege of doing my most important task for the year on Wednesday – judging the Christmas decorating competition! It was absolutely wonderful and the joy that it brings to our patients and their loved ones is immeasurable.

I want to share some words from our wonderful staff from SOPD that made me think. ‘As we’ve thought about this year’s Christmas theme, we’ve asked ourselves what our community is and how to reflect that, and we’ve realised that community is a melting pot of stories that have brought us to a common place.’

For whatever the reason is that has brought you to our ‘common place’ – CKW, I’m glad it has and I’m glad I have had the opportunity to work with you to write the continuing narrative of the valuable and rich story of CKW Directorate.

A very special thank you to staff who will providing clinical care during the Christmas and New Year period, including our unsung heroes on the Switch who will answer the phone 24/7 throughout the festive period, our operational staff, our administration team and our Health Information staff, to name but a few.

We have organised lunch and dinner for all staff working at Caboolture Hospital on Christmas Day, which will include meat platters with sliced turkey, ham, salads, bread rolls, biscuits and bon-bons. There will also be a vegetarian option with crustless quiche in place of the meat selections. Please ensure you stick to COVID safe practices.

Caboolture Hospital patients will be well looked after as well with special Christmas options including roast pork and gravy with plum pudding with Brandy Custard for lunch, plus roast chicken breast with gravy and peach and mango cheesecake for dinner and dessert. Yum!

Whether you’re at work or celebrating with family and friends over the festive season, please keep in mind that there are several new COVID-19 cases being reported each day, which includes staff and the community.

It’s important to protect yourselves, family and friends by remembering the basics – including regular handwashing, social distancing and wearing a mask, particularly indoors and public transport. I want to see everyone back safe and well ready for a big year ahead in 2023!

Congratulations to CKW Medical Educator of the Year awards winners

We recently presented our CKW Educator of the Year awards. Congratulations to this year’s winners and highly commended.

The prevocational doctor who consistently contributes to education and is a rising star in the field. Highly Commended was Jaisil Punnasseril (right) with the winner Douglas James.

The registrar/ PHO who is a shining star in the field of education. Highly commended was Luke Reynolds with the winner Ramali Mendes.

A member of the nursing and/or midwifery staff who has added a sparkle to education. Highly commended was Christine Holm with the winner Maritza Harvey.

A staff member from Allied Health who has made a sparkling contribution to education. Highly commended was Belinda Chappell with the winner Richard Smith.

From among the medical consultant staff, the person you think brings a special sparkle to education. Highly Commended was Arif Shaikh and the winner Gunjan Chawla.

The final award was for the staff member who contributed the most to multidisciplinary education. The Caboolture Hospital Clinical Educator of the year 2022 was Maritza Harvey (left in the centre with me and Gunjan Chawla).

CKW Research Symposium trophy presentations

Speaking of winners, CKW Research Symposium novice researcher winner, Caboolture Hospital Pharmacist Zoe Robinson, has now received her trophy from event sponsor, The Common Good.

The novice researcher award is a new initiative that was introduced as part of this year’s event.

Zoe’s project – Investigating pharmacy staff awareness of interpreters, Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officers and medication-related resources in hospitals – is in the post-education evaluation phase with promising data to show a great increase in awareness post intervention.

Following this, the plan for 2023 is to disseminate the survey and provide education to other health disciplines within CKW with aim to address gaps in knowledge and provide equitable healthcare to all patients.

Congratulations Zoe and all the winners and highly commended. Zoe is pictured here (right) with The Common Good Research Development Manager Dr Stephanie Yerkovich. Well done, Zoe!

What a compliment!

Another great compliment about care received in the Caboolture Hospital Paediatric Unit:

“From our first interaction with the paediatric staff, I was impressed. They asked lots of questions and were thorough in gaining info to form their picture of what was going on.

“They were exceptionally child focused and friendly both towards my patient and other child. They explored all my concerns, communicated with the Queensland Children’s Hospital about our situation, but also didn’t dismiss my concerns.

“When they had possible insights, they shared these, bringing my anxiety down and making some sense of the uncertain situation. They were awesome.”

Finally,

This is my final Executive Director update for this year. I will be on leave from Wednesday (22/12), returning Monday 9 January 2023.

If you are taking time off over the Christmas and New Year period, please enjoy your time with friends and family.

If you are working at the hospital through the festive season, a very special thank you for your kindness, skill and compassionate care.

Finally, a special thank you to our volunteers. The warm, welcoming hand you extend to everyone who comes to the hospital is always appreciated.

One of the volunteer team, Brad, will come in for a few hours on Christmas Day to help visitors find family and friends. He will be at the enquiry desk (near lifts 3 and 4). Thanks for your service, Brad.

I acknowledge that not all our staff celebrate Christmas, so whatever you have planned, wherever you will be, whatever you will be doing, I would like to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season.

or those of you who do celebrate Christmas I wish you a merry one, and all, a safe and happy New Year.

All the very best.

Take Care,

Angie.