Message from the Acting Executive Director

Did you know Caboolture Hospital turns 30 next month?

30 years of caring for a community that has grown and changed as much as we have.

On the cusp of opening our new Clinical Services Building and becoming an even bigger hospital, this is the perfect opportunity to remember where we’ve come from and spend time thinking about what we’re growing into.

Throughout October, we’ll get to reminisce, celebrate and brainstorm together. We have a full month of fun coming that includes ice-cream, cake, competitions, and games (full schedule out soon!), as well as workshops and activities where you can share your ideas on how we can put our values into action to be the very best hospital for our community.

Speaking of reminiscing, we’re compiling 30 Stories for 30 years and we’d love to hear from you.

Were you born here? Were you here when the hospital opened? Are you one of our many couples or families who work here? If you have a great Caboolture Hospital story to share, contact Parker on 5433 8524 or email ckw-engage@health.qld.gov.au.

A beautiful way to reuse and recycle waste

The Caboolture Hospital ICU team have found a beautiful way to reuse and recycle waste products.

Wards across Caboolture Hospital collected medication lids and expired IV lines which Vanessa and Tash are turning into vibrant art pieces.

A series of five pieces is underway that reflect the ICU patient’s journey, nursing and medical attributes for caring for critically unwell patients, and to bring colour and calm to families of ICU patients.

How clever, creative and compassionate! Well done. I do not have an artistic bone in my body, so I greatly appreciate those who do!

“This first piece, the peacock, symbolises protection, pride, community, versatility, vision and awareness, new beginnings and inner journey,” Tash said.

“We have four more in the works – a tree of life, a frog, a galah and a rainbow heart.”

“It’s so rewarding to take items that would normally end up in landfill and create artwork that brightens up the ICU, for our staff
and for patients and their families.”

Promoting mental health recovery by good design

Moving to purpose-designed spaces at the Caboolture Satellite Hospital has provided the Caboolture Adult Mental Health Team and their colleagues, The Older Person’s Mental Health service, with an ability to provide greater connection and responses to the needs of their consumers.

Hospitals are places that support us through some of our best and worst life experiences and the design of the new mental health space provides consumers and staff with bigger rooms and spaces that help to influence a person’s mental state.

The space includes 10 consultation rooms, two quiet rooms, a sensory/comfort room, a yarning circle, a large team meeting room and outdoor spaces adjacent to green parks, which all reflect the unique needs for safety, privacy and the dignity of the mental health caregiver and consumer.

This was an important move for this team and really signals the move to a more inclusive type of care with a dedicated waiting room, easy access to free parking and rooms where the environment can be adjusted to reduce over stimulation.

It is great to hear that both community mental health teams have transitioned well and the feedback from people using the services has been so positive.

RU OK? Day

There was a sea of yellow across our facilities yesterday as we acknowledged RUOK? Day.

Caboolture Hospital had the pleasure of hosting RUOK? Ambassador, Anita Hogan, who joined us for morning tea and learning about the importance of ensuring our colleagues, friends and family know we’re always “Here to Hear”.

Staff Shout Outs

Congratulations to the individual Staff Shout Outs for August:

• Melanie Thompson – Day Procedure Unit
• Milana Cottrell – Day Procedure Unit
• Monica King – Operating Theatres
• Karen Blake – Operational Services
• Karen Mapstone – Operational Services
• Georgina Harbort – Maternity
• Cristelle Nipperess, Hritika Lamichhane, Jisa Jose, Rachel Mooney, Marylou Piamonte and Prince Kurian – Ward 3B
• Courtney Hall, Joan Coma, Emily Chassar-McGrath, Hali Jade Conkie, Khloe Bester, Phoebe Hudson, Elizabeth Ulhmann, Tiarnee De Brueys, Tia Hall and Natasha Piamonte, Shiniah Dubbin, Samy Owen, Emily Chassar-McGrath, Carly Debono – Ward 4A
• Courtney Connew – ICU
• Murray Smith – Red-Cab Mental Health Short Stay Unit
• Emma Walsh – Administration Antenatal Clinic
• Izzabella Phillips – Administration Maternity
• Ria McRae – Maternity
• Rachel Thursfield – Health Information Service
• Grant Thompson – Health Information Service
• Luana Heperi – Red-Cab Mental Health

We also had one team Shout Out this month – for the CHRP Recruitment Team, which did a great job recruiting operational staff recently.

I would also like to send a special Shoutout to Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department nurse April Hatt, who went above and beyond, even overcoming her own personal fears, during a difficult and stressful situation recently. What a Caboolture STAR!

Well done to everyone acknowledged this month for doing such a great job!

Metro North SET meeting

The Metro North Senior Executive Team (SET) will meet at Caboolture Hospital early next month.

Beforehand, we will host a special All Staff Forum, which will be a great opportunity to hear directly from the Metro North SET members and ask questions, including Chief Executive Jackie Hanson and Chief Operating Officer Jane Hancock.

More details to come but feel free to reserve the time in your diary now – Thursday 5 October 12pm to 1pm in the Caboolture Hospital Lecture Theatre. Please come along.

Compassionate Care

I would like to thank everyone who was available to attend our forum on Monday with Metro North Health Chief Executive Jackie Hanson.

As Jackie said, we have a proud history providing care for this community for close to 30 years. We provide quality healthcare services every day and want everyone to feel safe and to feel heard.

I would encourage you to familiarise yourself with our Compassionate Care Principles and how we can incorporate these into the care we provide.

There has been renewed media coverage of Caboolture Hospital this week. I know this isn’t representative of us or our values and can be distressing for our dedicated staff.

I’d like to remind everyone there are support options available to everyone – including our Peer Responders and Benestar if you would like to reach out.

Finally,

So, as we end another week, I want to thank you all for all you do.  We have challenges but your commitment is inspiring, and I am really enjoying being here at CKW while we work through to the next exciting chapter. I trust everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Enjoy the warmer days and stay safe.

Alanna.