Message from the Executive Director

Louise Oriti, Executive Director

I would like to remind you again that flu vaccinations are now available for free for our staff on the Level 2 walkway between the Ned Hanlon Building and the James Mayne Building. Please take advantage of this quick and easy service in order to protect yourselves, your families and your colleagues and patients. More information is available on QHEPS.

Celebrating our Administration Professionals

Today we celebrate National Administrative Professionals Day and thank all our amazing AO staff members for their contribution to RBWH. They are truly a key part in making this organisation tick.

This morning there were cupcakes and a small presentation and ‘Price is Right’ style game. Well done to the winners of the ‘gameshow’, WILD WOMEN from Women’s and Newborn Services, and the best-dressed winners ‘C’mon down, ring ya’ bells, you CC elves’, also known as Cancer Care.

Please take today as an opportunity to thank your administration team members for everything they do.

International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day

Two other very important dates for our organisation are coming up over the next two weekends, with International Day of the Midwife falling on Sunday 5 May and International Nurses Day on Sunday May 12 (the birthday of Florence Nightingale).

We are told countless stories of nurses and midwives going above and beyond for patients and their families, helping them through a tough time in their lives with boundless empathy and care.

We will say thank you to our wonderful cohort of nurses and midwives throughout the day on Wednesday 8 May by offering them a free coffee, available on the Level 1 walkway.

Site surveying commences for the QCC Project

Site surveying for the Queensland Cancer Centre (QCC) Project officially began last week, with surveying works getting underway across a number of locations on the Herston Campus. A range of safety measures will be in place to ensure the safe flow of vehicles and pedestrians around the surveying work zones, including traffic control and directional signage.

We can expect to see additional site investigation activities for the QCC Project ramping-up over the coming months. The QCC project team will be sending out regular communications about impacting activities to ensure staff, patients and visitors are kept safe during construction and hospital operations continue to run smoothly.

Finally, a reminder to please be safe and follow directional signage when moving around the work zones.

10,000 Steps Challenge

The Queensland Health Steps Challenge kicked off on Monday, and staff will have a chance at winning $5,000 in professional development funding for your team while improving your health and wellbeing.

Key information:

An account needs to be created for each participant
Each team requires a Team Captain – have them create their account first!
Once registered, the Team Captain will need to contact Metro North Comms to create their Team (please include your Team name and Facility/Directorate)
The Metro North Comms team will then provide the Team Captain with a code to send to Team members to use when signing up – Teams are to consist of between 7 to 10 people

Once all team members are registered, you’re ready to Get Moving Together! Whether it’s walking, swimming, cycling, or even active gardening, and dancing, every move matters!

For more information, head to the Queensland Health Steps Challenge page or contact Metro North Comms via email metronorth-events@health.qld.gov.au

All the best, Chrissy Battersby

A highly valued member of our team, Chrissy Battersby has departed on some well-deserved long-service leave. As the Assistant Nursing Director Safety and Implementation Service, she has tackled many tricky challenges with aplomb over the years. She will leave on a high, as well, having guided us successfully through the recent accreditation process. We wish you all the best during your time off, Chrissy.

How best to help colleagues in distress

Working in healthcare can often see staff confronted with situations that are traumatic or distressing. Staff Wellbeing Officer Dr Liz Crowe says it is important not to panic when a fellow staff member is upset – sadness, grief and tears are all a part of life. Providing a caring and empathetic ear without judgement can be very healing in itself.

Dr Crowe says although the reaction is often to send a distressed colleague home, this may not always be the best approach in every circumstance. Dr Crowe points out that all ranges of emotion are normal, particularly in health. Read Dr Crowe’s 12 tips for helping a colleague in distress.

Welcoming new staff and Leadership Program workshops

In the most recent Managers Forum we heard from Director of Administration Services Kristy Jackman about the scale of the administrative task of onboarding new staff.

In March alone, RBWH welcomed 89 new staff members. This highlights the importance of the onboarding process, and the role all of us play in ensuring new colleagues feel welcome.

Kristy also highlighted the three-day Leadership Program workshop held in March by RBWH Senior People and Culture Partners, Liam Downey and Jasmin McCurdy. The program covered a range of people management/HR Fundamentals topics and was attended by both Administration and Operational staff – and it received excellent survey results and feedback from participants, including this:

“Thank you for a great course. The presenters were exceptional, we were given plenty of opportunities to ask questions and in turn made the course really enjoyable and very informative. It truly met more than my expectations.”

The second workshop for the year will run in June for managers who wish to be involved.

Positive feedback

We recently received this very positive feedback which I’d like to share with you:

I came into the ER of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital [recently] … I have a long and confusing medical history, and over the past decade have had the pleasure and displeasure of being treated by countless medical personnel. I have had a few experiences that have completely traumatised me, and as you may have guessed, I was extremely apprehensive when entering the hospital.

When I came into the ER, it was busy but organised. I was very shy and anxious leading up to the front desk, however my worries were quickly let go the moment I spoke to the triage nurse.

From the moment I stepped in, to the moment I left, every single interaction I had with the staff was flawless and nothing short of amazing. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but I want to make it very clear that this experience has completely changed my view of the medical industry.

Staff are clearly very passionate about their work and I know they will go on to do great things. I will always recommend the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital thanks to this experience.

Thank you, Team Royal, for all that you do for our community.

Kind regards,

Louise.