We’re now well into the third year of our COVID-19 response and it continues to demand agility and flexibility from us all. It’s been a marathon effort, and we’re still not at the finish line.

In response to this most recent wave, we postponed non-essential activities to focus on acute patient care. This has worked well, but there are some things that should never be postponed – like looking after our health and wellbeing.

Professional Development Plans (PDPs)

Metro North has many useful programs and initiatives to support your health and wellbeing, including our Wellness Working Group, our Peer Responder Program, and services like Benestar. Your Professional Development Plan (PDP) is an important part of this too.

The PDP process involves you and your line manager talking openly about your work and wellbeing. Your PDP is about how your professional development will be supported, what goals and objectives you and your team have, and what you need to make your role sustainable for the next 12 months and beyond.

Currently, only 60% of Redcliffe Hospital staff have a PDP in place. Our line managers will be working hard to change that by the end of the year. If your PDP isn’t current, please talk to your line manager, and watch the HR Forum session on getting the most out of your PDP.

PDPs are essential for all professions and occupations. They’re also mandatory for all hospital staff.

COVID vaccination blitz

COVID vaccinations are another way we can look after our health and wellbeing. Next week, as part of the COVID vaccination blitz across Metro North, hospital staff can access third or fourth COVID vaccinations in a clinic on the Ground Floor of MBICC on:

• Tuesday, between 7:15am and 4pm
• Wednesday, between 8am and 5pm
• Thursday, between 8am and 5pm, and
• Friday, between 7:15am and 4pm.

Bookings are strongly encouraged and can be made by clicking here. You can also arrange a vaccine appointment at local GP clinics and pharmacies.

When attending your appointment, please remember to bring your Medicare card.

As part of the Blitz, we’ll also be encouraging staff who have had their third or fourth dose to upload their evidence online. If you need help with that, drop by Lecture Room 3 in the Education Centre between 10am and 3pm next week.

Fit testing recertification

We began fit testing hospital staff for P2/N95 masks some time ago, which means plenty of staff will soon need their fit test recertified. If it’s been more than 12 months since you were fit tested, please make a booking for an annual refit.

There are several masks no longer suitable or available for use too, including the 3M 1860; 3M 1860s; and the ProShield small and ProShield medium. All staff are still required to be fit tested for two masks, so if you were fit tested for any of these masks, you also need to book in for a refit.

Wearing a P2/N95 mask and protective eyewear continues to be required in all clinical areas.

Dr Amanda Dines OAM

Our Director of Medical Services, Dr Amanda Dines OAM, announced that she has made the difficult decision to leave the hospital to focus more fully on her service to the Royal Australian Air Force.

Dr Dines holds the rank of Air Commodore in the RAAF, having served in the Australian Defence Force since 1983. She continues to serve as Director-General of the Air Force Health Reserve, a post she has held since 2020. Fittingly, Dr Dines received the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to medicine last year.

Dr Dines came to Redcliffe Hospital as our DMS after several years as Executive Director at Queensland’s largest hospital, the RBWH and has been a valued member of our hospital’s leadership team. We’re grateful for everything that Dr Dines has done for our hospital.

Dr Dines will also be taking leave in September and October during which time Dr Rosalind Crawford from TPCH will be our acting DMS. A formal recruitment process to appoint a new DMS is underway.

Acknowledging and valuing others

Lastly this week, a word about acknowledging and valuing others. It’s not only part of our Agreed Behaviours, it’s how we can all make our workplace a more rewarding and enjoyable place to be. If there’s someone in your team who has been helping to make Redcliffe Hospital a truly great place to work, please consider:

• Nominating them as our next Team of the Month
• Nominating them for a Redcliffe Hospital Staff Excellence Award
• Sending them an #IamRedcliffe Thankyou, or
• Giving them a Staff Shout Out

It’s all part of celebrating the good things, the small things, the big things, they all matter. 

Louise Oriti
Executive Director
Redcliffe Hospital