I’m very excited to share the news that Caboolture Hospital, Kilcoy Hospital and Woodford Corrections Health has received a positive recommendation from the Australian Council on Health Care Standards (ACHS) accreditors.

This week, we have been judged by our peers and we can now say with complete confidence that our compassionate patient and family centred care at CKW is in line with the national standards.

The assessors made special mention of CKW’s strong commitment to Health Equity and work with health consumers.
I’m sure we’ll go through the results in some detail next week but I wanted everyone to hear the good news first-hand!

Kallangur Satellite Hospital opens Monday!

The Kallangur Satellite Hospital (KSH) starts accepting patients on Monday – what an achievement for all the staff involved!

Early data shows positive signs that the satellite hospitals are having an impact on low acuity Emergency Department presentations.
Well done TPCH!

Christmas decorations competition

If your team is getting into the festive spirit, be sure to register your area for the 2023 CKW Christmas Decoration Competition.

This year’s theme is ‘A Very Colourful Christmas’ and already we’re seeing some wonderful bold and bright decorations go up. The judging will take place on the morning of Tuesday 19 December with the winners announced in the afternoon.

You can register your area by emailing ckw-engage@health.qld.gov.au

When decorating your area, please remember to ensure your workplace remains safe for staff, patients and their families. This Safety Notice has more details.

GLAD to become ACCU

A reminder that we’ve changed the name of GLAD (Gentleman and Ladies Aging with Dignity) to ACCU (Acute Cognitive Care Unit).

This is the only change. All other aspects will remain the same, including its location within Ward 3B.

Congratulations to our Metro North Staff Excellence Awards finalists!

You will hopefully have seen the email from the Board Chair and Chief Executive on Monday announcing the finalists in this year’s Metro North Staff Excellence Awards. Here are the CKW finalists:

Excellence in Integrated Care
Starting Well Initiative

Excellence in Performance
CHRP Digital Commissioning Team

Excellence in Training and Education
CHRP Education and Induction Team
Jaisil Punnasseril

First Nations Staff
Aunty Sandra Blackman

Improving First Nations Health
CKW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services

Leadership
Dr Thuy Frakking

Being announced as a finalist is a great achievement given such strong competition from across Metro North Health. Well done to all!

The winners will be announced next Friday (15 December) during a gala ceremony and end of year function at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

I have already booked my seat alongside friends from CKW. I’m really looking forward to having a wonderful time and celebrating CKW success!

TIcket registrations close on Sunday. Click here for details.

Celeste starts an exciting new chapter!

A lot of movement and change at Caboolture Hospital in the past few weeks while the new clinical building came on-line. What a great achievement. My congratulations to everyone involved!

Clinical Nurse Celeste Stephens spent 20 years in Caboolture Hospital Ward 3A, so she has many fond memories providing compassionate patient care during this time. I wasn’t surprised to hear she had a tear in her eye when saying goodbye recently.

However, Celeste has started an exciting new chapter! She’s now providing patient care in a modern clinical environment as the first Team Leader on Ward 4C.

Congratulations on the new role Celeste and thank you for your ongoing commitment to improve the health of the Caboolture community!

Remembering Greg

Metro North Finance is collating messages from staff in a series of books for the late Greg Colledge’s wife and invite you or your staff to be included in this memory.

If you have a story about Greg or sentiment for his family, email it to MNF.CFCO@health.qld.gov.au before Thursday (14 December) to ensure it is included.

What a compliment!

Well done to the Emergency Department team who helped this anxious patient recently:

“I really, really dislike hospitals. I was extremely anxious/nervous even before walking in.

“Everyone there, from the lady at reception right through to the doctor, made me feel so comfortable and looked after.

“The main nurse I saw, I believe her name was Abby, and the doctor, I believe her name was Jo, they both were nothing short of amazing.

“They explained everything in ways I could best understand, kept me as calm and comfortable as could be and not once got frustrated or upset with my continuous worry and annoying questions.

“I was there for a good six to eight hours and honestly don’t have a single negative from the whole little adventure. I thank and appreciate everyone that I dealt with.”

Finally,

So today, it’s so long from me, but not farewell. My time at CKW this year has been wonderful and a real career highlight.

We’ve achieved so much together – including the opening of the new Clinical Services Building, Caboolture Satellite Hospital and getting ready for the Bribie Island Satellite Hospital coming soon.

A special thank you this week to our Command Centre, under the leadership of Dr Elizabeth Rushbrook and to all of her merry men and women.

Also, thank you to all our clinical and non-clinical teams, you are all incredible and we thank you.

Monday is officially my last day and I will handover to Karlene Willcocks on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I am sure you will welcome her with the same warmth and enthusiasm that you welcomed me. She is a wonderful leader and I know she will provide outstanding leadership to an amazing directorate with so many extraordinary staff.

I am off to Melbourne this weekend to spend some pre-Christmas time with dear friends. Dave (my Groodle) has gone to my son’s house for the weekend where he will enjoy some doggy time with my sons Labrador Zoe.

Though I will see you all on Monday, have a great weekend and, as always, stay safe.

Alanna.