Helen Boocock – Executive Director

A warm hello to you all, and I hope you are coping in these changing, busy times. Today there are 19,932 new cases in Queensland, and modelling suggests we are moving towards a peak of the current surge at the end of January.

Boosters

National and International evidence strongly supports the importance of a vaccine booster to maintain COVID protection for yourself, your family and friends, your colleagues and our patients. With the anticipated peak of COVID transmission within the next 2 weeks, the importance of booster vaccination is critical.

If it is now 4 months since your second dose and you have not yet had a booster dose then this should be a priority.

The RBWH staff vaccination service is open

• Room 1060 – Level 1 James Mayne Building at the northern end of the Outpatient area
• Open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday (will not be open on Aust Day Public Holiday)
• Your direct family and household contacts are welcome to access this service if they are accompanied by you
• No appointment is required – drop in at your convenience

Tier 4

Yesterday (18 January) Metro North Health moved to Tier 4 in our COVID-19 Response Plan. Please read the Metro North Incident Controller message for details on what this change means for our services and workforce.

PPE

Please ensure that you are aware of the mask requirements in high risk PPE. Ensure that when delivering clinical care and/or within 1.5m of patients that you wear P2/N95 mask and protective eyewear. Staff during activities other than patient care should wear a surgical mask. Try and have your breaks outside, ensure that you socially distance and only remove your mask when eating or drinking
COVID-19

We have a number of staff currently off work with COVID-19 or as close contacts. Thank you to line managers for keeping our IMPS team informed to facilitate us returning staff to work in a timely manner.

Our COVID-19 patients and patients who are close contacts are being managed under precautions in single rooms.

Rest assured STARS has good procedures in place inclusive of Fit Testing, donning and doffing training and infection control awareness. If you have any queries or concerns please raise this in the first instance with your line manager. A reminder re the Metro North COVID staff support hotline 07 3646 5500  open 7 days a week 8am-5pm.

Planned care

Thank you to everyone for working really hard to continue delivering planned care at STARS. With the reductions to planned care across the rest of the health service, we are taking this opportunity to review our processes and business rules so that we can optimise outpatient and surgical activity, and make sure the patients who are most in need of care are seen within STARS. Please be aware that in the Tier Four plan for Metro North Health all planned care is significantly reduced; this does not apply to STARS.

Staff psychology support sessions

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on all of us, especially over these last couple of weeks with the rapid escalation of cases in Queensland. Staff Psychology and Culture and Wellbeing is hosting virtual sessions each week for STARS staff to offer a listening ear and explore coping strategies to improve or maintain your wellbeing.

Sessions will be held every Monday from 2.30 – 3.15pm. Click here to join the Teams session.

You can also contact Staff Psychology directly on 3647 9673 or email MNStaffPsychology@health.qld.gov.au.

Stay safe and as always thanks for providing great care for our patients.

Helen Boocock and Kellie Stockton
Executive Director