Karlene Willcocks, Executive Director
Reconciliation Action Plan working group
We started the week with an event for National Reconciliation Week, recognising the importance of health equity and reconciliation. As a New Zealander, I am very honoured to spend my days working on Kabi Kabi/ Gubbi Gubbi and Jinibara land.
Thank you to CKW’s Reconciliation Action Plan working group co-chairs Jacinta Adams and Parker Michaels for organising the event on Monday morning. One of the key takeaways from the event was that we each need to take responsibility for educating ourselves and our own actions towards reconciliation and health equity.
We were joined by Metro North Acting Chief Executive Jane Hancock, Executive Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Sherry Holzapfel, members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team, Grant Carey-Ide, and other members of the Executive team. It’s wonderful that they chose to come to our event as several Metro North facilities held events on Monday morning.
Bribie Island (Yarun) Satellite Hospital Co-naming event and Yarning Table
This morning I am out at the Bribie Island (Yarun) to firstly unveil the co-name of the Bribie Island Satellite Hospital. Following consultation with traditional owners of the lands of which all three Metro-North satellite hospitals are built on we are proud to formally announce the agreed Aboriginal co-names. Bribie Island Satellite hospital will be known as Yarun. Caboolture Satellite Hospital will be known as Kabul, and Kallangur Satellite Hospital, which The Prince Charles runs, will be co-named Kalangoor. Yarun means crab or hunting ground and relates to the traditional use of lands on which the Satellite Hospital is located.
Secondly, we are at the Yarun Satellite Hospital for a Yarning Table with local Elders and traditional owners (Kabi Kabi and Djondaburri people) and community. This is an important part of ensuring the community, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, feel safe and welcome in the facility when it opens mid-year.
I’ll update you next week on the event.
Metro North Executive Visits
During the week I had the pleasure of taking Metro North Chief Finance and Corporate Officer Alister Whitta on a tour around the hospital. We visited ED, ICU, a number of our wards in the new and old building and into the kitchen where the food services team welcomed us as we watched the process on the ‘hot line’. It is always amazing to watch the number of dockets the team manage at one time, and they just keep coming! It was a great opportunity to discuss with and show Alister some of your amazing achievements, innovations and also discuss the significant impacts and challenges the current high demand is causing to most of our teams and areas. Thank you to all the team.
I am very pleased to say that we are regularly visited by the Metro North Senior Executive Team (SET) and Caboolture’s growth and the good work happening here is at the forefront of their minds. The whole of SET will be here next week for their SET meeting and staff forum on Thursday.
You told us that the organisation does not provide communication about things that affect you.
We interpreted this to mean that we should improve our engagement with you, about those things that impact on your workplace, your team and on you as an individual.
We have done: Some of the actions we’ve undertaken includes engaging with staff across CKW to obtain your feedback to create and finalise the CKW Values Charter. We recognise that there is ongoing work that needs to happen to operationalise the charter across the directorate.
The CKW Executive undertakes Exec rounding, which provides the opportunity for leaders to meet and talk with staff working at the point of care. Exec rounding occurs regularly and allows for the quick and effective exchange of information between various executive members and point of care staff, and this is also an opportunity for you to raise issues affecting you.
The CKW Executive Director also hosts listening posts for staff and various executives have hosted listening posts for smaller teams/departments to hone in and target those things specific to that area.
To enable access to organisational information, email accounts have been created for all Operational staff who historically have not had access to Queensland Health email accounts.
I would really like to know how you would like us to further engage with you all – do you want staff forums? If so when is best? Is there other ways we could link with you?
Please email your ideas to Ask Karlene.
High Community Demand Continues
This week we have been in tier 3, with high community demand again and you have done a great job to continue to provide support to our community as they come to our hospitals for care.
I really recognise that this places a lot of pressure on our CKW teams and appreciate the opportunity I have had to meet some of the teams who are feeling the pressure this week and we will continue to come and meet with more of you next week.
We have changed processes and increased staffing where possible and continue to work and assess what is possible and required, but please reach out and talk to your leaders and managers if you are needing support to review your workload or pressures.
It is really important that we acknowledge the pressure on everyone when these periods of high demand occur and, while focusing on and taking responsibility for the priorities of our team or us individually to provide the best possible care to our patients, we are respectful and kind in how we treat others across the hospital and broader network and understand that this pressure affects all our team.
In amongst all of this it was lovely to receive a compliment that truly shows our teams working together:
“After consultation with telehealth we decided to go to Caboolture Hospital. There was plenty of parking and the cost of parking was reasonable. The painted circles on the footpath made it easier to find the emergency department. On arrival the triage nurse was very efficient and caring. The young lady who did the obs and ECG was also efficient and caring. We were made to feel comfortable by the volunteers who checked to see if we needed anything. It was quite busy and we did have to wait a while but that was understandable. We were seen by Dr Jose and were very happy with his and his teams diagnosis and the options and strategies he presented.”
Thank you to you all – you are health care heroes, and you are doing an amazing job. Even when we are under pressure due to our community needs, your focus on providing the best and safest care possible is evident.
If you want me to come and chat with you or your team, please let me know and I will try to book some time.
Mabo Day
Monday is Mabo Day, the anniversary of the 1992 history-making victory in the High Court which officially recognised the continued connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the lands and country they live on. Eddie Koiki Mabo was a passionate land rights campaigner from Mer Island who challenged the doctrine of terra nullius. While he sadly passed away before the High Court ruling, his legacy lives on.
We will have more information on Monday about Mabo Day to acknowledge the day.
Waiting for What Survey
Metro North will conduct the Waiting for What Survey on the weekend of 6-9 June 2024. Waiting for What is a survey tool that identifies what an inpatient is waiting for that is preventing timely discharge. The survey is intended to give a better understanding of what challenges are causing delays in discharge from acute hospitals or transfer of care to support improved patient flow.
The survey will be conducted at 10.30am and 4.30pm on Thursday 6, Friday 7, and Sunday 9 June and at 8pm on 6 June. Inpatient beds and emergency department short stay units will be included in the survey, with some exclusions. The survey will be conducted by Metro North Health clinical staff with minimal disruption to clinical care. The information collected by the survey will inform updates to the Metro North Acute Bed Capacity Management Plan and the Metro North Subacute Care Plan.
Crazy Socks 4 Docs
Friday 7 June is Crazy Socks 4 Docs Day, aimed at breaking down the stigma around mental health for doctors and healthcare professionals.
Put on your craziest socks and join us in the Education and Skills Centre Lecture Theatre from 1-2pm. There will be prizes for the best socks. You can find out more about Crazy Socks 4 Docs online.
Kilcoy Hospital Auxiliary Fete follow-up
I had the absolute pleasure of attending the 2024 Kilcoy Hospital Auxiliary Fete last weekend. Each year, the wonderful Kilcoy Hospital Auxiliary volunteers organise a community fete and donated goods auction to raise money for the hospital. The community spirit was palpable as I met the lovely stallholders, local councillors and mayor, and our staff, and enjoyed the live music and freshly made scones.
This year’s fete had an extra special feel as it was the first since long-time Auxiliary member and treasurer Caril Davis passed away. The fete was always Caril’s project, and her presence was missed as she was remembered for all the years she dedicated to the Auxiliary.
I genuinely thank Lesley, Denise, Judy and all the other Auxiliary volunteers for working together to make sure this annual event went off without a hitch. This is a huge commitment both before and after the event and I have been privileged to get to know the Auxiliary members as they have worked at the hospital the weeks before and this week after to arrange for and tidy up post the fete.
I also want to thank the wonderful CKW and Metro North staff who volunteered their time to help out on the day, including Annette Tones, her team and her family at Kilcoy who did everything from making scones to putting up gazebos and delivering auction good to local homes, Scott Trudgett and his wife who helped to run the coffee and scone stall, and Rosey from Oral Health who answered dental questions and handed out toothbrushes. I also want to acknowledge and thank Parker Michaels who tirelessly did everything from run sheets, to physical labour, to transporting equipment, including supporting the clean up on the day and through this week. It was obvious this fete is much more than an event – it’s a time for the community to come together to reconnect and give back to the hospital that cares for them.
Board Visits to Kilcoy
I returned to Kilcoy on Tuesday for the Metro North Board meeting. The Board rotates their meetings across each of the metro north sites, ensuring they visit each site. This week was their yearly meeting at Kilcoy and I’m told it’s one of their favourite places to visit. This was the first Kilcoy visit for some of the new Board members.
During the visit we provided the new Board and Metro North Executive with a tour around the Kilcoy Hospital site and the board had the opportunity to meet with staff, and the hospital Auxiliary while they were meeting.
Whilst there was initial disappointment that there was none of the renowned scones, the hospitality, patient and community centred care, friendliness, atmosphere and beautiful catering by the inhouse kitchen was commented on and the board were very complimentary of the team and site. Thank you to the Kilcoy team.
Dog cuddles for Marlene
Long stay patient Corey visits Kilcoy Hospital
Kilcoy Patient Stories
While I was at Kilcoy on Tuesday former long stay patient Corey and his mum popped in to thank the team for the care they provided Corey. The family bought some beautiful cupcakes and little trinkets for each of the staff to say thank you! Clearly they were very grateful to the team.
The team also sent me this photo of Marlene who has been a patient with us for a few weeks and had been missing her family. She cheered up immensely with a dog cuddle.
Race to Surfers Paradise
Next week we are launching the race to Surfers Paradise, a challenge for our patients as part of the Eat Walk Engage program to get our patients up and moving. I will put more information in my message next week but if you want more information you can contact the Eat Walk Engage team.
Wards 3B, 4D, GEM, 4A and Kilcoy are all involved please encourage your patients to join in. The ward to reach your goal first will win a trophy from EWE.
Staff Shout Outs!
Congratulations to the individual CKW Staff Shout Out recipients for April. Our individual recipients were:
- Caitlin Lawrence – Ward 4D
- Courtney Hall – Ward 4D
- Hunter Eyre – Admin officer at Palliative Care
- Wendy McCracken – Ward 3B
- Christina McLiveen – Ward 3B
- Kristy Neve – Ward 3B
- Janelle Hodson – Ward 3B
- Georgia-Rose Debono – Ward 3B
- Claire McEnroe – Ward 3B
- Tamara Pohlman – Ward 3B
- Amanda Aarts – HIS
- Bianca Howard – Ward 4D
- Emily Chassar-McGrath Ward 4D
- Jasmine Pocock – Ward 4D
- Cassidy Hall – Occupational Therapy Department
- Stella Snape-Jenkinson – Occupational Therapy Department
- Leanne Cunningham – Senior Admin team
- Anna-Marie Findlay – Administration Hub
- Natasha Adams – Antenatal Clinic Outpatient Services
- Jayne Herring – Antenatal Clinic MACIE Midwives
- Danielle Vlainic – Antenatal Clinic
Congratulations to the team recipient:
Hunter Eyre
3A (currently 4A) nursing team
3A (currently 4A) nursing team, they were nominated for the supportive and inclusive manner in which they approach and engage with the nursing students. The students have commented recently on how they have felt like a part of the team and felt included in the care.
Hunter Eyre was also recognised in an individual Shout Out! Hunter is the administration officer for our Palliative Care ward. She has been at the ward since it opened in November 2023. The shout out stated: ”Hunter is extremely helpful, knowledgeable and always happy to help in all things admin.”
When Hunter was asked why she thought she was nominated, she responded:
“We are such a good team! We all get along, it’s amazing. We can all have a laugh. Everyone is so appreciative of everyone, and nothing is too much. If you come to me with a question, I will do anything I can to help.”
Well done, Hunter, and thank you for your dedication to our pal care unit.
What a fantastic way to recognise your colleagues or a team. For more details and to submit a Shout Out, visit the QHEPS page.
10,000 Steps Challenge reminder
We’ve reached the end of the Queensland Health 10,000 Steps Challenge. Ctrl+Alt+Elite are leading the way for CKW! You have until Monday 5pm to get your steps in so that they are counted towards your team score.
Thank you to everyone who has taken part over the past month. It’s been a great opportunity to do something fun together with the goal of not only winning (I’m not competitive at all, I swear) but also getting moving more.
Positions Vacant
We have a number of key roles advertised – please send them to your amazing friends and colleagues (past and present).
- Director Nursing and Midwifery
- Medical Director ED Service Line CKW
- Security Officer, Caboolture Satellite Hospital
- Variety of roles at Bribie Island Satellite Hospital
Reflection
As National Reconciliation Week comes to a close on June 3, I hope each of you has taken the opportunity to learn about our history, culture and achievements and really challenge all of you to think about your role in reconciliation, and for us our individual role in achieving equity in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples. You could start by joining our Reconciliation Action Plan Group or joining one of our Equity groups. More information.
The theme for this year is “Now more than ever”, a reminder that the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people must continue. A very important message!
At the end of another very exciting and full week in which I have had the opportunity to engage with CKW staff, our community, our board, and received some amazing feedback about our services, I have also had the chance to talk to some of our staff about the pressure and stress they are feeling with the demand we are seeing.
I am really mindful that when we are under pressure or feeling stretched, especially over a long period, we can sometimes forget to look after each other rather than turn to self-protection and focusing on things that make our space easier. Please be mindful of this and focus on working together and being kind to each other to achieve the great outcomes we know we can at CKW and are easier together than when we push against each other. The way we treat each other, the curiosity and care we use in passing work on and accepting work and the way we choose to work together has a much bigger impact than you sometimes see.
Quote
”What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall.
Kind regards,
Karlene.
