Louise Oriti, Executive Director, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital

I would like to start by recognising all staff for your ongoing contribution to supporting patient care. Your hard work is valued and appreciated by myself and the executive team.

Short Notice Accreditation and Peer Review

Over the next three to four months, we will be placing a strong emphasis on preparation for Short Notice Accreditation. I encourage you all to familiarise yourself with the national standards and implement necessary changes within your teams. You can review the NSQHS Standards Accreditation Workbook in detail or go to the website to refresh your understanding of the standards. The RBWH Executive team are assigning a sponsor to each of the National Standards to help teams support our focus on preparedness and actions.

Additionally, you are all invited to join Metro North’s Chief Executive, Jackie Hanson and our Chief Medical Officer, Dr Liz Rushbrook, next Monday at 11am for a Vidcast focussing on Standard Three – Preventing and controlling infections. Join the Vidcast from 11am next Monday.

Concierge Desk

This week, we commenced reduced hours at the RBWH Concierge Desk. The new hours are Monday to Friday, 9am-2pm. Admissions staff will remain the main point of contact for enquiries and are available Monday to Friday, 5:30am-8pm, and from 7am-7pm on weekends and public holidays. The role of the security officer will also change and they will now “rove” across the ground and first floor foyers, as well as the entrance. We believe this change will better support the public and our staff.

Medical Leadership Intensive Program

Metro North has recently launched a new Medical Leadership Intensive Program, to enhance the leadership skills of senior medical staff across the organisation. The program provides comprehensive knowledge to help medical leaders navigate the challenges of the complex and changing environment within the healthcare environment and influence positive change. The program is initially available to Clinical Directors and Medical Directors within Metro North. It is delivered in three individual sessions over a 12 week period. To find out more, please email MedicalLeadershipIP_MN@health.qld.gov.au.

RBWH Foundation Giving Day

The RBWH Foundation’s annual Giving Day is coming up on Wednesday 14 June. This is an important day on the RBWH calendar, as it allows us to help raise money which directly benefits our hospital and patients. There are so many ways you and your team can get involved, from organising a fundraiser to volunteering your time in the phone rooms on the day. It’s been fantastic to see how the money raised at last year’s Giving Day has funded many research initiatives as part of the Extraordinary Opportunities Grants. To find out how you and your team can get involved this year, visit the Giving Day website.

Refurbishment works are set to commence on the RBWH Foundation area on the ground floor. The goal is to have these completed before Giving Day.

Positive feedback

I’d like to share some positive patient feedback we’ve received for the Renal team.

I attend haemodialysis three times weekly. It’s an awful procedure but without it we would die. The nurses and support staff are amazing caring for us and they are always so lovely and cheerful in spite of how hard worked they are, often having to deal with emergencies. They are truly wonderful people.

On a personal note, I feel like I am getting to meet more of you and I am enjoying hearing about the terrific things that you do, and also some of the areas you identify for improvement.

As I walked the Redcliffe waterfront very early this morning I noted the preparation for the Anzac Day dawn service. With the commemoration of this important day on Tuesday, those of you who are working will note acknowledgement through a commemorative address over the hospital speaker system, followed by the Last Post, one minute silence and the Reveille. The address will be played throughout the hospital at 8am, excluding Level 5 to ensure our smallest patients are not disturbed. A musician will also be playing the Last Post and Reveille outside the main entrance to RBWH on Butterfield Street. For those of you who are able to leave your work areas, we encourage you to arrive at the main entrance at 7:50am for an 8am start.

I thank you for the work your do serving our community.

Kind regards,

Louise.