I have had the absolute pleasure over recent weeks of joining team huddles and last week joined the Community Palliative Care team at North Lakes.

After the huddle, the team invited me into their Soul Bowl practice. We started with the meditative sounds of the Tibetan Singing Bowl and then recalled each person who had passed away since the last Soul Bowl practice.

As they shared the food they had brought, the staff recalled the people who had passed.

The discussion left me in no doubt that I was witnessing person centred care delivered in the context of their family.

The team recalled stories, family relationships, favourite pets, vehicles and a myriad of things that were special to the people they cared for.

The team was committed to honouring and remembering each person and their family with absolute respect and took great care to make sure that the item placed into the soul bowl was truly representative of the person they had cared for – “That car won’t do – he was a Ford man!” one staff member said as they searched for a token.

I also heard stories from the team about advocacy – arranging support through the education system so a child with special needs could stay with his family after his mother died.

This also included organising a Christmas hamper, gifts and even leniency from the electricity company for a family struggling financially after the loss of their mother at Christmas.

As the practice closed to the meditative sounds of the Tibetan Singing Bowl, I gave thanks for the gift of insight into the people and families who had been in our care.

I then went out on a home visit and witnessed the way families are included and their needs attended to so that patients, their families and their care givers are free from avoidable distress and suffering, and care is provided in general accord with the patients’ and family wishes.

This care is a true reflection of the genuine, heartfelt care provided by this team. Just inspirational!

BPA staff survey

From May 19, the third Have Your Say employee engagement survey will be open so that you can submit feedback on your experience of the workplace.

This survey is confidential, and from the results, we hope to learn how much our staff care about Metro North and COH, and their service line and individual work.

We’ll be asking for your opinions and by sharing your experiences, it teaches us how we’ve improved, where we can continue to do better and helps us to celebrate what we are already doing well!

You can have your say from 19 May to 9 June via a link that will be sent to your work email.

The link will also be available on the Metro North QHEPS, e-bulletins, MN Broadcast, and QR codes on posters and banners in staff areas.

Thanks to our volunteers

The month of May also recognises volunteers across the nation by celebrating National Volunteer Week (NVW).

NVW is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering and will be held on 15 – 21 May 2023 with the theme ‘The Change Makers’.

Since the resumption of volunteer services in May 2022 up until the end of April 2023 – COH volunteers have recorded over 2,500 hours of their time they so generously provide to our directorate.

Please, if you see any of our volunteers throughout your working day please take the time to say hello and thank them for the important work that they do for our services, patients and residents.

Length of Service celebrations

Last week we held a special celebration for some of the 25 to 40 year Length of Service recipients at the Brightness Wellness Hub.

In the coming weeks, additional certificates will be shared across the directorate for 10 to 20 year recipients through their line managers.

As the data capture of length of service names can be tricky, I ask that if you don’t receive a length of service award and think you are eligible for one to please contact COH Facility Managers via DL-COHFacilityManagers@health.qld.gov.au.

Last day – Nominate a Chermside shining star!

Our next Shining Star Award will be focused on the Chermside Community Health Centre alongside the executive visit on Tuesday 23 May.

This is the last chance to nominate a Chermside staff member for the May Shining Star Award by sending a 50-100 word submission to COH-Communications@health.qld.gov.au.

Nominations close today COB.

Sexual Health opens its doors

Great news! The Brisbane North Sexual Health Service – COH has opened!

I want to thank Dr Julian Langton-Lockton and the whole sexual health team for their work navigating and working closely with many stakeholders across the health sector and community to get this important service off the ground.

The new service is located at the Pine Rivers Community Health Centre. It is open week days from 8.00 am – 4.30 pm to people aged 14 years and over, and from all backgrounds.

It includes confidential appointments and a walk in/drop-in service. The team includes a specialist medical officer, senior sexual health nurse and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker.

Find out more by visiting Brisbane North Sexual Health Service – COH.

Glynis.