Helen Boocock

We received a letter from the Metro North Hospital and Health Board Chair Mr Jim McGowan AM congratulating us on our successful accreditation result.

Everyone’s hard work has not gone unnoticed, and it’s great to see your hard work recognised at the highest levels within Metro North. Ms Jackie Hanson, our Chief Executive also sends her thanks and congratulations to you all – you might recall she mentioned our great result in her recent weekly message.

Food Services, Patient Security and Patient Support Services

Last week we formally welcomed our colleagues from Food Service, Patient Security and Patient Support Services under the STARS governance following the Clinical Support Services Business Case for Change. It is our pleasure to now have these great teams formally part of our STARS team – although we’ve always felt they are part of our extended family since we’ve opened. We couldn’t operate as a hospital without them, but they also provide compassionate care every day – so please take the opportunity to say hello and officially welcome them to STARS.

Ward 6C

Thank you to all the teams who helped prepare for the opening of our newest Ward – 6C. Once again, you all stepped up to a challenge and delivered with great results. Ward 6C officially opened on Monday to provide additional sub-acute bed capacity to Metro North. Thank you to all the staff who are currently running 6C this week – the first few weeks of opening a ward are always challenging.

4B goal setting initiative

4B has kicked off the STARS Goal Setting process this week with great success. Over 50 4B team members accessed the online training platform in preparation for the launch to develop an understanding of the process, with a further 19 team members undertaking workshop training to equip themselves with the skills and knowledge to perform the goal setting link worker role. Last week eight patients have been identified to participate in the goal setting process, with link workers and buddies allocated across professions.

In the coming weeks we look forward to seeing goal boards displayed bedside and our 4B team working collaboratively to help our patients achieve goals they have identified as being important to them in their recovery.  It is exciting to see the many months of preparation by the Goal Setting Working Party coming to fruition in implementation of an evidence-based, patient-centred process that supports the high performing team on 4B to achieve clinical excellence!

Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit

On Wednesday last week we saw the soft launch of the 8 bed Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit (BIRU) on 5A. Currently we have 5 patients in BIRU, and over the coming weeks this will grow to our 8 bed capacity.

Within a short period of time, the team have been able to endorse the BIRU model of care, plan and commence the Brain Injury education program and commence the development of ABI specific processes to guide our practice.  Over the coming weeks, BIRU will see the Ambassador role embedded onto the ward, the implementation of the inter-disciplinary Allied Health Clinical Assistant role and communication regarding the key performance indicators we will capture during this pilot.

Congratulations all on the successful opening of BIRU.  We look forward to the continued development of the Brain Injury service over the coming months.

As you can see, there has been a lot going on at STARS this last couple of weeks and it is all underpinned by everyone’s commitment to deliver exceptional patient-centred care. Thank you all for your continued hard work, integrity and passion to achieve the best health outcomes for our patients.

Current Tier 4 status and our planned care (Procedural and Outpatient Services)

Planned care remains cancelled across Metro North Health, unless there is a risk of harm, so services can release staff to assist with urgent care across Metro North. From Wednesday Metro North Health plan to recommence planned care, with STARS returning to normal planned care (surgical and OPD care) but under Tier 4 guidelines from next Tuesday, pending staffing availability to manage our sub-acute beds. A big thank you to all our teams who are continuing to provide our essential services in these challenging times, and for the significant effort involved in delaying our planned care this week.

Currently there are visitor restrictions in place in Ward 5A and 6B due to a number of COVID cases. Our COVID cases have been transferred to RBWH as per agreed protocols but some patients in these wards currently remain classified as close contacts. We understand the impact this has on our patients (especially over a holiday period) but thank you for noting these restrictions.

Fit testing

Now that most staff have been fit tested it’s important to remember to please keep clean shaved to keep safe while providing care. Clinical staff need to be fit tested annually, and to make a fit testing appointment if you have any significant changes (weight change in the face etc.)

Staff testing clinics

If you have any COVID symptoms, please get tested. Staff can access PCR tests at TPCH and Redcliffe fever clinics. Other sites have RAT kits available. Details of where to get a COVID test are available on the COVID extranet.

Happy Easter

Finally, and not least, for those of us having a break over Easter, rest up and please enjoy your downtime with family and friends. For our staff who are working over Easter, thank you very much for your commitment and care.

Best wishes and stay safe.

Helen Boocock
A/Executive Director
STARS