Five-Year Outlook Planning Day

On Thursday we commenced Phase 2 of our Five-Year Outlook planning. Our first session was attended by MN Chief Executive Jackie Hanson, Deputy Director General, Health Capital Division Priscilla Radice and Deputy Director General Planning and Service Strategy, Colleen Jen.  Each of the Service Line Executive Directors presented their service vision for the next five years. These were clear and strong visions that will form part of the wider consultation with the organisation and other MN Directorates.

There was vibrant and healthy discussion around the services that need evolving, research, workforce and the role that AI and new technology will play. It is also time to revisit the identity of RBWH, how we contribute to MN and beyond and our role within the local community. I look forward to the organisational consultation phase.

All Staff Forum

The All Staff Forums are an opportunity to share information with colleagues and to discuss any issues you think are important, so please link into the next session via Teams.

At the most recent All Staff Forum on Wednesday we touched on a range of topics. These included:

• The Executive Committee has been going through our Risk Register to ensure it’s accurate and up to date.
• There will be a number of new board members starting in April, including a new board chair, so we are going through the usual processes in preparation.
• Central Sterilising has had approval for funding, which is excellent news for Surgery and Perioperative Services as well as our future patients.

Vaccination for staff and patients

The RBWH Staff flu vaccination program will commence on Monday 22 April, and all Queensland residents over the age of 6 months can also access influenza vaccine for free in 2024.

For patients requiring influenza and other vaccinations, here is information on how to arrange this via QASIS.

Staff Shout Outs

Congratulations to the RBWH staff who received a Staff Shout Out in February:

Stephanie Gordon, Jessica Choi, Dr Harry Nuss, Michael Francis, Elaina Coyne, Kelly Sawina, Shane Johnson, Sarah Cotterell, Nadia (CIU), Jim Nichols, Rina Townsend, RBWH Subway.

Well done all of you and thanks to those who have taken the time to nominate their colleagues. If you have a colleague or team that you would like to give a Staff Shout Out to in March you can nominate them on QHEPS.

Launch of the Disability Services Action Plan

On Tuesday we launched the Metro North Health Disability Services Action Plan at RBWH.

We were joined by Metro North Chief Allied Health Practitioner Mark Butterworth and members of the Health Disability Services Plan Steering Committee to introduce the plan. The goal is to ensure a more structured approach to inclusive and appropriate healthcare for the one in five Queenslanders living with a disability. We also aim provide a supportive work environment and be an employer of choice for people with disabilities.

Kristy Jackson and the Steering Committee have done an excellent job in bringing the Action Plan to fruition, with the heavy involvement of people with a disability, their families and the disability sector.

You can find out more on the intranet page with staff resources or the internet page for patients and clients with a disability.

International Delirium Day

Wednesday 13 March was World Delirium Awareness Day (WDAD). Delirium is a sudden change in cognition (including awareness, concentration, perceptions and judgement) which can affect people of any age with serious illness, injury or who have undergone an operation. It is most common in older hospitalised adults, affecting one in four, but the diagnosis is often missed. In many cases, delirium is preventable, and there are clear guidelines on best management to reduce the serious impacts on health and wellbeing of this condition. For more information visit World Delirium Awareness Day or the Delirium Clinical Care Standard.

Twelve RBWH wards and departments participated in the annual WDAD competition on Wednesday. This is a great opportunity to raise delirium awareness and showcase some of the wonderful work of our clinical teams. Ward 9BS took the trophy this year, with 8AN, 9BN and ETC highly commended by our judges.

Harmony Week (18- 24 March)

Next week is Harmony Week, a time to celebrate cultural diversity. I encourage you to show your support by wearing orange, decorating your work area or organising a multicultural morning tea or other event for your team.

We are having a Harmony Day lunch here in the executive, where people are bringing along a plate of food from their culture or background.

More than half of Australians were born overseas, or have at least one parent who was born overseas. There are plenty of ideas on how to celebrate Australia’s wonderful diversity on the Harmony Week website.

I really appreciate all the work you do in caring for our community.

Kind regards,

Louise.