Louise Oriti
We’ve had some more big changes this week to our COVID-19 response.
Redcliffe Hospital and Metro North Health stepped back to Tier 2 of our COVID response plan on Wednesday morning. In addition, the rules have now been relaxed around who can enter or visit Queensland hospitals.
On Wednesday afternoon, we held a special staff forum with the Metro North Incident Controller Louise O’Riordan to help everyone understand these latest changes. Louise’s Incident Controller Messages continue to be the must-read resource when it comes to our COVID-19 response.
Visitor restrictions and concierge
While there are still some restrictions in place, those coming to the hospital no longer need to use the Check-in Queensland app or show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination status to enter the hospital.
As a result of these changes, our hospital concierge team will be standing down as of this afternoon.
On Monday, these team members will be redeployed or return to their substantive positions.
Earlier this week, I wrote to our concierge team members to express the hospital’s thanks for how they have supported patient care and safety since March 2020. Theirs was complex and challenging work. Interacting with often emotional people required great empathy and patience. Our concierge team’s dedication and professionalism helped keep our hospital and patients safer during the peak of our COVID response.
COVID-19 tier change
The step down in our COVID-19 response tier means we can start to return to more planned care, especially in areas where our clinical capacity can support this.
In more good news, the changes also mean that our hospital volunteers will be returning to the hospital. Janene Farr and Facility Services team are working with our volunteers to help them return as soon as possible. When you see them next, please go out of your way to welcome our volunteers back.
Winter preparations
As we head further into winter, we can all expect more changes to how our hospital is managing COVID patients and patients with influenza and other respiratory illnesses.
Our Infectious Diseases Team will have more mobile and pop-up flu vaccination clinics next week, and our Pharmacy Team continue to offer staff flu vaccinations between noon and 1pm each weekday.
COVID-19 boosters are also a vital part of our winter preparations. If you’ve not yet uploaded evidence of your COVID-19 booster, please take care of that by clicking here.
Metro North Research Excellence Awards
Our ICU team were one of the big winners at last night’s Metro North Research Excellence Awards, bringing home the Complex Health Challenges Research Award. Congratulations again to Dr Alexis Tabah and the ICU’s interdisciplinary research team on this award and on their recognition as leaders in research that benefits patients and their families. You can read more about those awards here.
National Reconciliation Week
Thank you to our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group, our IHLOs, and our Cultural Capability Officer, Elwyn Henaway, for leading our respectful recognition of National Reconciliation Week. Our events began with a Yarning Circle in the Healing Garden last Thursday. More than fifty staff and patients attended our Raising of the Flags ceremony on Tuesday, and we concluded the week with a morning tea today to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mabo High Court Decision. Thank you to everyone who came along to our events to listen and learn more about how we can all Be Brave Make Change on our national journey toward reconciliation.
Senior Staff Appointments
In our Staff Forum this week, I was pleased to announce that Dr Alan Yan has been permanently appointed to the role of Clinical Director in the Emergency Department. Dr Yan has been acting in the role for some time now, and his appointment is the outcome of a very competitive recruitment process.
Among other senior staff changes, Darren Apps will be our acting Nursing Director for the Medical Service Line, while Keith Von Dohren is on secondment to COH for the next ten weeks or so.
Congratulations also to Ann Whitaker on her appointment as our Director of Pharmacy, to Saskia Hennes on her appointment as Psychology Team Leader, and to Tracy Knowlman on her appointment as Director for Dietetics and Food Services.
Redcliffe Hospital Auxiliary’s REDDY Fun Run/Walk
More than $3,800 has now been raised by this year’s REDDY Fun Run/Walk. Now in its third year, the event will be held on Sunday 19 June, thanks to a partnership between REDDY Fun and Fitness and the Redcliffe Hospital Auxiliary. Events on the day will range from a competitive 21 kilometre run to a more social five-kilometre walk.
Lastly this week, we have something to look forward to for Monday when we’ll be celebrating the careers of more than 200 hospital staff at our annual Length of Service Awards. This year we’ll be recognising staff who have collectively contributed more than 3,000 years of service to caring and supporting patient care within Queensland Health. It’s just one way that we say thankyou to show our appreciation. #IamRedcliffe.
Louise Oriti
Executive Director
Redcliffe Hospital