Louise O’Riordan, Acting Executive Director
Throughout October, across all Metro North facilities, we’re celebrating the work of our Operational Services staff. Operational Services include our patient support officers, cleaners, porters, security, food services, gardeners and grounds staff. At Redcliffe, that’s around 250 people without whom the hospital could not function.
During Operational Services Recognition Month, all hospital staff are encouraged to nominate an operational team member or special recognition. Completed nominations can be emailed to Facility Services Director Janene Farr.
Other ways that you can show our Operational Services team members how much we appreciate them include:
- nominating them for a #IamRedcliffe Team of the Month award,
- send an #IamRedcliffe Thank You, or
- submit a Metro North Staff Shoutout.
Redcliffe Hospital Auxiliary AGM
Thank you to Rhonda and Larra from the Facility Services team for helping with the Redcliffe Hospital Auxiliary’s Annual General Meeting.
The event was well attended, including by local community leaders and elected representatives, all showing their support for the Auxiliary and their role in supporting Redcliffe Hospital.
Our Auxiliary does a wonderful job raising funds to support projects that make the patient experience more comfortable.
Over the past year, the Auxiliary volunteers raised nearly $75,000 and funded projects in the Palliative Care Unit, the Rehabilitation Unit, the Zen Den, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, and wards 5 East and 4 East.
Since 1971, the Auxiliary has raised more than $929,000 for hospital projects, with expectations strong that they’ll break the $1,000,000 mark within the next year.
Our deepest thanks to our Auxiliary members and to President Liz Hancock for everything they’ve done to support patients.
#IamRedcliffe Staff BBQ
I hope everyone enjoyed the #IamRedcliffe Staff BBQ on Monday. Thanks again to our facility services and operational teams for helping make that possible.
There’s one more Staff BBQ planned for later this year. We’ll make sure everyone has that in their diaries.
At the Staff BBQ this week we were pleased to have displays from several higher education 
providers with information about postgraduate nursing and research courses, including our friends from QUT, UniSC, and ACU.
While waiting in line for their free BBQ lunch, everyone also had the opportunity to talk with Fran and the team from Health and Safety Services bout October Worksafe Month.
Also part of the Worksafe month display was Metro North’s fire safety trainer, Phil, who was offering everyone hands-on practice with the training fire extinguishers.
Find out more about what Fran and the team have planned during October Worksafe Month.
Seniors Legal and Support Service
Redcliffe Hospital’s social work team has partnered with the Caxton Street Legal Service to provide the Seniors Legal and Support Service (SLASS) to patients at Redcliffe Hospital.
The service provides free legal advice and support to older people who are at risk of, or experiencing, elder abuse, neglect and/or financial exploitation.
Referals to SLASS can be made via the social work team using PFM, selecting “legal”.
Allied Health Professionals Day
This Saturday is International Allied Health Professionals Day. The theme for the day is “Stronger Together”.
Allied Health Director Geoff Grima emailed all of our allied health team members this week to express the hospital’s gratitude for their commitment to patient care – something we see every day in literally every part of our hospital.
You can show your appreciation by nominating an allied health team for our
#IamRedcliffe Team of the Month, or submitting an #IamRedcliffe Thank You, or a Metro North Staff Shoutout.
Post-referendum safe spaces
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team will be hosting a post-referendum safe space next Monday for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. This safe space will provide an opportunity to come together after the Voice Referendum to seek support and yarn with colleagues in an informal setting.
When: Monday 16 October 2023
Time: 9.00am – 12.30pm
Where: Chermside Community Health Centre
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff can drop into the safe space at any time between 9am and 12.30pm. The space will be open to all staff from 1.30pm to come together with colleagues and show their support.
There will be no formal proceedings or structure on the day. Tables and chairs will be set up for staff to sit and yarn, with tea, coffee, and water available throughout the day. Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Officers, Jesse and Nickita will be available on the day if you require one-on-one confidential support.
If you require support prior to this event, please reach out to the SEWB Officers via ATSILT_Wellness@health.qld.gov.au, or access the support services available to you across Metro North Health.
Raise it for Redcliffe Giving Day
Lastly this week, a huge thank you to everyone who helped to make Raise it for Redcliffe’s Hospital’s Giving Day yesterday such a big success.
More than $200,000 was raised, which will be used to fund the next round of Wishlist Grants, Research Fellowships, and projects in the Rehabilitation Unit and Palliative Care Unit.
We’ll have lots more to say about Giving Day next week – but we should be very proud of our hospital and local community.
Louise.