Louise Oriti, Executive Director, Redcliffe Hospital
Thank you to everyone who has been supporting clinical care and patient flow. Community need and demand for our services are high. I am seeing impressive levels of synergy between clinical services and individuals across the organisation, and this is really supporting problem-solving and transfers of patient care.
Next week, our Emergency Department and Paediatric leaders will be seeing what they can do to improve care and flow for our youngest patients. As you know, patient flow is something that we never stop improving.
At our next Senior Leadership Team meeting, we will discuss actions for recovery from the impacts of COVID, demand over the winter months, and alternative or modified models of care. Service lines have been planning concepts along these lines for many weeks as they consider how to enhance the care we deliver. In addition, I have asked Keith Von Dohren to spend a week with Community and Oral Health to identify any other ways that we could make better use of their Hospital in the Home service.
When we have made some decisions on any changes, I will let you know.
Flu vaccinations and COVID-19 update
We’re still feeling the impact of COVID on our workforce. Most days this week, we’ve seen between 70-80 staff unable to attend work for COVID-related reasons. On top of that, we’re seeing a sharp rise in non-COVID sick leave as well.
As we head further into the winter months, we can expect both the flu and COVID to be present in our community.
The good news is that we’re just ten days into our staff flu vaccination campaign, and we’re getting close to a third of all staff having now been vaccinated against the flu. It’s a great start. Thank you to everyone who has taken this positive step in caring for yourselves and each other.
For those who are still yet to have their vaccination – our Infection Prevention team will be running pop-up clinics next week, and the pharmacy team is offering appointments each weekday.
Thanking our administrative professionals
Today we’re celebrating Administrative Professionals Day, recognising the essential work that our AOs do to keep our hospital running each day. There are administrative staff at work in pretty much every part of our hospital, and they are a valued and essential part of our hospital workforce.
You can show your thanks to an administrative professional in your team by sending a #IamRedcliffe Thank You.
Celebrating our nurses and midwives
This week and next, we’re also celebrating our diverse and dedicated nursing and midwifery workforce as we mark International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day.
Our celebrations at Redcliffe include a series of debates, a quality improvement poster competition, and our award presentations next Thursday. We also have Metro North’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Alanna Geary, at Redcliffe on Tuesday for a very special event too.
Catch the Chief will involve Alanna walking eight hours a day on a treadmill at different Metro North hospitals and facilities, fundraising for nursing and midwifery research and education. If you can, please come out and support Alanna next Tuesday. The treadmill will be set up near the Zouki Coffee Box at the front of the hospital from 7:30am. You can also donate to this great cause online.
Our nurses and midwives are always at the heart of the healthcare our hospital provides.
COVID staff debrief survey
Metro North’s COVID-19 staff debrief survey is still open. If you haven’t shared what your team learned during the first two years of our COVID response, please take the survey now. The feedback provided will help inform the development of Metro North’s Transition to Recovery Plan.
Lastly this week, an important date for your diary – our next Yarning Circle will be on Thursday 26 May at 9am in the Healing Garden. This Yarning Circle will focus on National Sorry Day. Everyone is invited to come along to share and listen to understand, so we make the best decisions. #IamRedcliffe.
Louise Oriti
Executive Director
Redcliffe Hospital