To start, I want to thank everyone who has rolled up their sleeves to receive the flu jab. As you would know we have already started to move into a flu season that is going to be very challenging.
Around 1,000 Community and Oral Health staff so far have got vaccinated in such a short period of time. Such an amazing effort!
Please find the link to the current flu timetable for your information.
Great initiatives and updates
At our executive this week we were treated to a number of presentations from many of our service lines, which featured updates about the:
- Great work our call centre staff are doing to manage wait lists
- Planning to support the transition to new aged care funding models
- Planned activity to extend our pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programs
- Consultation to extend hospital in the home paediatric capability
- Continuation of geriatrician work to improve care of the elderly and our community services
- Partnering work with STARS to support our rehabilitation services at Brighton.
Also, a very big thank you to the teams across our directorate who have been doing such a wonderful job managing their budgets as we move toward a new financial year.
Community and Oral Health is always one of the leading directorates in Metro North to meet its budget obligations and that is due to the hard work and diligence of our teams.
Be part of the research conversation
Next week, there is an exciting opportunity for COH staff to be part of the broader research conversation.
COH staff – including researchers, research managers and administrators, clinical, technical, professional and administrative staff, are invited to be active participants in the Research Strategy Consultation Forum.
As we come to close of the Metro North Research Strategy 2017-2022, we have an opportunity to set a collective vision for research excellence in Metro North.
To do this, we need to understand the needs and priorities of the research community, Health Service, patients and consumers.
Staff can participate in one of two virtual Consultation Forums
Your responses and participation will help articulate a vision for Metro North Research and contribute to our refreshed Metro North Research Strategy.
Stay safe
Wet weather is predicted to continue across the week, and we know this can impact staff travel to work especially our home visiting staff. Please keep this in mind when planning your journey and stay safe during this time.
Following are some useful sites to keep an eye on.
Staff wellbeing – Grow your super vidcast
In recent years there has been a strong focus across Metro North and our directorate on values and staff wellbeing following findings from the BPA staff surveys.
Later in the month, there will be an opportunity to focus on staff financial wellbeing through a Grow your super vidcast which I encourage as many of you to attend as possible.
Infection control resources
The infection control website is a site that I would ask all staff to regularly visit and refer to as it has a wealth of resources and important information.
Please visit the site at https://qheps.health.qld.gov.au/metronorthcommunity/safety-quality/infection-control
And don’t forget
This Friday, the Metro North Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Alanna Geary will be at North Lakes Health Precinct reception in the morning and Brighton Health Campus – Dolphin House reception in the afternoon on a treadmill to raise funds for Metro North Nursing and Midwifery.
She will be walking, with some help from some of our senior nursing colleagues. Please pop in and say hello and donate to this important cause.
Michelle Kane
A/Executive Director
Community and Oral Health