Message from the Executive Director

Update from the Executive Committee

In its most recent meetings, the Executive Committee has continued work on our Five-Year Outlook. We are keenly aware we must continue our forward momentum with planning, while moving towards implementation. This was an opportunity to reflect on our March planning day, with Director of Performance and Clinical Services Plan Anne-Maree Bouwman presenting mapping of the discussions and workshops, which highlighted some common themes across the different service lines.

We will look at the tangible things we can do to bring these plans to fruition and get ourselves into position to deliver what we’re aiming for in five years’ time.

Senior officers from Queensland Police Service’s North Brisbane District were invited to discuss plans to set up a permanent police beat here at the Herston campus. These plans are progressing well and we are hoping the operation will be up and running within the coming months. There are vast benefits to having an embedded police presence on site, for both ourselves and Queensland Police.

Herston Quarter Redevelopment Project Director David Walker provided an update on some of the 16 capital projects going on in the precinct. Stage B funding has been secured for the upgrade of the Centralised Sterilisation Department, while the Northern Carpark is on track for completion by Christmas this year.

People and Culture TMS phone support option

People and Culture are piloting a new phone support option for TMS enquiries which kicked off on Monday, 25 March.

The three-month pilot will run only for RBWH and Community and Oral Health staff and will be accessible by calling 1800 275 275 (AskHR) and choosing option ‘3’.

The aim of this initiative is to provide TMS on-demand support for employees where they can call and speak to a member of the team directly, in addition to the existing avenue of logging a ticket via IT Support.

If there is a clear need for TMS phone support, this trial will help the team finetune how this service might be rolled out across Metro North.

Local Area Needs Assessment 2024

Metro North and Brisbane North PHN are jointly developing a Local Area Needs Assessment for the Brisbane North region. To support this, they’re asking for our help in a survey consultation.

The LANA survey closes 14 April and is open for staff, community partners, and patients to gain their respective insights of the health and service needs of the Brisbane North community.

Download the LANA survey poster for your ward or clinic waiting room.

Complete the LANA survey.

Burns unit lounge afternoon tea

The new lounge in the Stuart Pegg Adult Burns Unit at RBWH was officially opened last week with an afternoon tea on Thursday. The lounge, made possible by funding from Burnside and the RBWH Foundation, is a vast upgrade on the space that was previously available to burns patients, who are often staying at the hospital for long periods. With a kitchen area, lounges and a TV, it’s just one way the Burns Unit is encouraging patients to get up and move about – which research shows improves their recovery outcomes. 

RBWH Kidney Health Service expansion at Bribie Island

The Bribie Island Satellite Hospital (BISH) is scheduled to open mid-2024 and I would like to acknowledge the teams behind the design and delivery of the various RBWH services opening there. These include a new Kidney Health Service and the six-chair Cancer Care Service.

The expansion of the RBWH Kidney Health Service at BISH means that that up 24 patients living in the Bribie Island region who are suitable for outpatient dialysis can now access care much closer to home. The Bribie Island service will work in conjunction with other kidney health satellites sites such as Redcliffe Dialysis unit, the North Lakes Dialysis unit and the 12-chair service recently opened at the Kallangur Satellite Hospital.

The Kidney Health Service will share the 12-chair facility with the new Day Medical Treatment Unit. Together these two teams collaborated to create a very efficient service design which enables the unit to flex services up or down to meet the kidney dialysis and day medical treatment needs of the local community.

At the core of healthcare, service design is the integration of services for clinicians and patients alike and it begins with adopting a very humanistic view of patients. I would like to specifically acknowledge Project Lead Day Medical Treatment Unit, Lesley Murphy and RBWH BISH Kidney Service Nurse Unit Manager Mike Terry who with a ‘patient first focus’ demonstrated clinical excellence and an innovative mindset to design this service.

Pride in Metro North launch

On Wednesday 27 March the launch for Pride in Metro North was held in the RBWH Atrium, and it was nice to see a great number of people in attendance. The event was expertly hosted by RBWH Dietitian Nutritionist Michael Wilson, who is set to be the Chair of Pride in Metro North moving forward.

Pride in Metro North is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all employees and consumers regardless of their sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics or sexual orientation.

If you would like to know more about Pride in Metro North, you can contact the committee for information about upcoming activities. For information on inclusive language and creating an inclusive and safe environment for LGBTIQA+ staff, patients and visitors, see the resources on QHEPS.

Harmony Day

Last Thursday the Royal celebrated Harmony Day, where staff members were encouraged to share their cultures and backgrounds with their teams. The Corporate Crew came up with the clever (and popular) idea to honour cultural diversity through hamburgers, with toppings inspired by cuisines from around the world.

On a personal note

To those of you who celebrate, I wish you a very happy Easter. For many of us it is an opportunity for reflection, rest and family.

To our staff working over the long weekend, my deepest thanks for your commitment and for all you do to support and care for
our community.

Wishing you all a very safe Easter.

Kind regards,

Louise.