As many of you may know, Louise Oriti has been away on leave this week, and I’ve been the Acting Executive Director while she’s away. Louise will be back on Monday. During my week in the Executive Director’s chair, it’s been great to see how everyone has worked together. Our Emergency Department has managed near-record numbers of presentations, but as busy as we’ve been, we’ve still been able to help share the load across Metro North and support Caboolture Hospital in particular.
We’re all in this together. Thank you to everyone who has been doing their bit to support safe patient care.
Flu vaccination and COVID-19 boosters
Close to 50% of all hospital staff have now been vaccinated against the flu.
Our Infection Prevention team is providing more opportunities for staff to be vaccinated against the flu next week. To find out when the mobile clinic will be coming to your ward or area, call the team on #7546. The Pharmacy Department is also offering flu vaccinations between Noon and 1pm each weekday. Appointments are preferred, but drop-ins are welcome too.
By now too, most staff should have received their COVID-19 booster. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to upload that evidence the way we all did for those initial COVID vaccinations.
#IamRedcliffe Team of the Month
At our Staff Forum yesterday, we presented the #IamRedcliffe Team of the Month award for May. This month, we had five nominees, including Palliative Care nurse Nimmy Vincent, the Staff Management and Contact Tracing Team, David Mallender from Patient Services, and Nurse Educator Jacki Shapland.
Congratulations again to this month’s award winner, the Social Work Department. Social Work was recognised for their dedication to patient care and how team members go out of their way to help others, especially patients and families.
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
Well done to Ingrid King and our Cancer Care team for hosting Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea this week and helping to raise money for the Cancer Council. We were pleased to have the Health Minister, Yvette D’Ath, come along as well. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the event, especially those who brought the homemade treats to share.
Emergency Department doors moving
Everyone can expect to see some changes on Monday morning out the front of the Emergency Department. The front doors to the Emergency Department will be (temporarily) moving to the western side of the building, and a temporary vehicle turn-around and drop-off area will also be in use. These changes will all be well-signed for patients and visitors and are part of the upgrade works that will provide us with a dedicated paediatric Emergency Department section.
Lastly this week, a reminder about next Thursday’s Yarning Circle at 9am in the Healing Garden for National Sorry Day. Please come along if you can.
Keith Von Dohren
A/Executive Director
Redcliffe Hospital