Louise Oriti, Executive Director, Redcliffe Hospital

Redcliffe Hospital has always enjoyed a strong connection with our local community. That connection is something we’re working hard to protect and maintain.

Earlier this week, we hosted representatives from BallyCara, one of the largest aged care providers on the Peninsula. As part of that visit, we took their team through our Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Units, talking more about our models of care and the patient experience.

Visits like these help to build understanding between care providers and build confidence in the health system as a whole. Thanks again to those teams involved.

Communicating and partnering with our patients is an essential part of safe and quality care.

SLT team changes

There have been a couple of temporary changes to our Senior Leadership Team this week.

Dr Rosalind Crawford has joined us from TPCH as our acting DMS for the next couple of months.

We’ve also welcomed back Keith Von Dohren after his secondment to Community and Oral Health. Keith will be our acting Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services for a couple of weeks while Sally Taranec is on leave.

DMS appointment

After a full recruitment process, I’m pleased to announce that we’ll have a new Director of Medical Services joining us in early 2023. Dr Kellie Wren will be joining us from Gold Coast HHS, where she’s currently the A/Executive Director Medical Services. Dr Wren is well-known within Metro North, with extensive experience in senior medical and leadership roles. We look forward to welcoming Dr Wren to the hospital early next year.

The future of our EOC

Redcliffe Hospital’s EOC has continued to ramp down its operations even further this week, in line with other facilities across Metro North. We’re currently planning for our EOC to officially cease operations on Thursday, 22 September. The closure of the EOC will be a major milestone in the progress of our hospital back to business as usual.     

Child Protection Week

Child Protection is everyone’s business – that’s one of the key messages for this year’s Child Protection Week. Child Protection Week starts this Sunday, and it’s the perfect time to make sure that our Child Safety Mandatory training is up to date. During Child Protection Week, everyone is also invited to join “Every child in every community needs a fair go”, a special Grand Rounds presented by our Director of Paediatrics, Dr Simon Grew together with Dr Vesna Markovic and Rebecca Olling. 

That session will be available on Teams from Noon next Thursday.

Emergency Department demountable update

The Emergency Department’s new temporary ‘Q-bital’ facility arrived last Friday, and work is progressing well on its installation and fit-out. We’re hoping this facility will be operational next week, providing six to eight additional patient spaces.

Our next Yarning Circle

Our next Yarning Circle is planned for Noon on Thursday, 29 September. Please join Elwyn and our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group as they yarn more about the way ahead with our hospital’s Reconciliation Action Plan. After the success of the last Yarning Circle, the session will be held again on Teams for everyone to join. We’ll make sure that the appointment is in everyone’s Outlook Calendar.

On a personal note from me

Last week, I mentioned that I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of my next grandchild. On Sunday, baby boy Raiden arrived – three weeks early, a little jaundiced, and much-loved by his grandmother.
Thank you to everyone who expressed their kind wishes for my daughter Sophie’s new family.

Louise