You may have seen some media reports this week concerning a nationwide cluster of Listeria. Our infection prevention and food services teams have worked closely with the Public Health Unit on this issue.

Listeriosis is primarily a foodborne disease transmitted by ingestion of contaminated food. The Chief Health Officer has identified a shredded chicken product as the probable source of this nationwide cluster, which has so far included cases in three states. Redcliffe Hospital is no longer using this product, so there is no continuing risk to patients, visitors or staff.

Listeria is a foodborne illness and is not spread from person to person. Hand hygiene vigilance should continue to be practised, but there is no general requirement for additional PPE beyond that required for standard precautions.

In healthy people, Listeria is usually only a mild illness with limited (if any) symptoms. It can, however, present a more serious risk for pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system. Symptoms can take up to two months to develop, including fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and neck stiffness.

Anyone concerned they may have symptoms of Listeria should talk to their GP or call 13 HEALTH for advice.

ESM rollout new go-live date

The timeframe leading into go-live for Enterprise Scheduling Management (ESM) at Redcliffe Hospital has been extended by one week, with the go-live date now scheduled for Tuesday, 3 October 2023.

While everything from a staff and business readiness standpoint is where it needs to be, and the data migration activity is ready to support a successful go-live, there was an issue with the technical environment that required remediation before ESM going live at Redcliffe Hospital.

Staff are encouraged to continue using the ESM practice activities. If you have any questions, contact the Metro North ieMR Program team.

Dementia Action Week

Thanks to everyone who got involved in Dementia Action Week. The purpose of Dementia Action Week is to build understanding and reduce the stigma around dementia.

The Rehabilitation Unit celebrated with meaningful floral decorations across the ward, while 6 West provided purple treats and education for staff. Ward 4 East was the standout, with involvement across the ward from multi-disciplinary teams, patients and carers.

Thank you again to Louise Hutt for arranging the activities and to everyone at Redcliffe Hospital who cares for patients living with dementia.

Have Your Say staff survey update

NUMs, managers, and team leaders are all encouraged to join a vidcast with the Chief People and Culture Officer, Kristal Lowe and staff psychologist, Andrew Craker, for some tips on how to interpret the Have Your Say staff survey reports.

The session should be in everyone’s Outlook Calendars for next Monday at 2:00pm.  If not, join the session.

Research Symposium and Research Awards

We hosted the seventh Redcliffe Hospital Research Symposium last week, thanks to Dr Joel Dulhunty and his research team. Once again, the Symposium’s presentations and posters showcased the diversity of research and quality improvement activities at Redcliffe Hospital. Around 100 staff and clinicians attended the Symposium in person, with another fifty joining online.

Jane Geltch, the lead consumer in research at Redcliffe Hospital, presented the keynote. Jane talked about the importance of partnerships and co-design between clinician-researchers and consumers and the work underway at Redcliffe to build community partnerships.

Our thanks again to all those who presented and exhibited posters.

Congratulations also to all of our research award recipients announced at the Symposium, including:

Research Excellence Award – Individual

Jane Geltch

Best publication

Alka Kothari, George Bruxner, Leonie Callaway and Joel Dulhunty for It’s a lot of pain you’ve got to hide: a qualitative study of the journey of fathers facing traumatic pregnancy and childbirth. 

Highly commended: Rebecca Murray, Andrew Riddell, Andrea Warwick, Nicholas Rukin et al. for Development of 3D printed biodegradable mesh with antimicrobial properties for pelvic organ prolapse; and also Christopher Edwards, Benjamin Searle et al. for The application of artificial intelligence in the sonography profession: Professional and educational considerations.

Best Concept Presentation

Katie Roderique and Stephanie Lockyer for Implementation of a pre-prostatectomy pelvic floor class.

Highly commended: Sam Cullen for Deadly Feet: a codesign process for the implementation of an early foot disease screening program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Research Excellence Award – Team

Nutrition and Food Services (Dietetics)

Best Poster

Jayden Barker, Matthew Eustace, Nicholas Ah Yui, Karen Lim, Kevin O’Callaghan and Anna Brischetto for Implementation of a penicillin allergy de-labelling service at a regional hospital.

Highly commended: Kelly Sawina, Shabeena Miskin and Carolyn Johnson for Improving patient safety and care with Translational Simulation: FEES Outpatient Clinic.

Best Presentation

Kylie Jacobs, for Accuracy of intra-arterial line transducer levelling practice in a general Intensive Care Unit. 

Highly commended: Seckin Akgul, for Carboplatin dose calculations for patients with lung cancer: significant dose differences found depending on dosing equation choice.

Car park changes starting next week

From next Monday, 37 car spaces will be permanently closed in the main public car park (P1), as the Redcliffe Hospital Expansion construction team establishes their site compound on the hospital campus.

Another 48 car spaces will be temporarily closed to ensure the site is safely established. These 48 car parks will reopen to the public on next Friday.

To make sure patients and visitors have priority when it comes to parking spaces closest to the hospital, hospital staff will no longer be able to use the main public car park (P1). 

Staff with approved access will continue to be able to use the restricted West Block car park, and all staff are welcome to park in the multi-storey car park.

Redcliffe Hospital Expansion Update

In addition to our current hospital expansion, planning is underway for the future redevelopment of the Redcliffe Hospital campus.  To ensure we meet the growing healthcare needs of our community, Queensland Health is progressing a proposed amendment to the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) associated with Redcliffe Hospital.

A key component of amending the MID is to seek community and stakeholder feedback on the long-term vision for the Redcliffe Hospital campus. Letters encouraging our neighbouring residents and businesses to provide feedback on the proposed MID amendment were sent out earlier this week.

Feedback on the future staged development of Redcliffe Hospital campus is due back to the Redcliffe Hospital Expansion project team by 13 October 2023.

If you would like to know more about the opportunity to provide feedback on the long-term vision for Redcliffe Hospital during this preliminary round of consultation, email Redcliffe_projects@health.qld.gov.au.

Listening Post with CE and COO

Some good opportunities are coming up for all Redcliffe Hospital staff to sit down and talk directly with the senior leadership of Metro North.

Next Wednesday, we’ll host a Listening Post with the Chief Executive, Jackie Hanson and the Chief Operating Officer, Jane Hancock. Everyone is invited to drop by for a chat in the Staff Courtyard from 12:30pm.

A special staff forum is also coming up with the entire Metro North SET on Thursday, 2 November. The details for both should be in your Outlook calendars.

Lastly this week, thank you to Geoff Grima for acting as Executive Director while I was away on leave.

It’s good to be back.

Louise.