Geoff Grima, A/Executive Director

Staff Excellence Awards

Judging for the Metro North Staff Excellence Awards has now been finalised with finalists being announced on Monday. The awards will be presented at the gala dinner on the 15 December. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the year with your work colleagues so if you haven’t already bought your tickets, look at getting a table together. Buy your tickets.

Short notice accreditation

We are still waiting to see when STARS will undergo short notice accreditation. We will receive 24 hours’ notice, either on a Thursday or Friday, with accreditation beginning the following Monday or Tuesday. Four assessors will visit STARS for a total of four days.

In preparation for short notice accreditation at STARS, this week I would like to focus on Standard 7 Blood Management and Standard 8 Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration.

The Blood Management Standard aims to improve outcomes for patients by identifying risks and using strategies that optimise and conserve a patient’s own blood, as well as ensuring that any blood and blood products that patients receive are safe and appropriate.

The Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration Standard aims to ensure that a person’s acute deterioration is recognised promptly and appropriate action is taken. Acute deterioration includes physiological changes, as well as acute changes in cognition and mental state.

Some tips for Standards 7 and 8 include:

• Store, distribute and handle blood safely and securely
• Report blood related adverse reactions or incidents
• Use early warning and response systems, including early warning tools
• Make sure you do a full set of observations and escalate any concerns
• Encourage patients, carers and family members to raise concerns.

Members of the STARS4stroke team

STARS4stroke team

Our wonderful STARS4stroke team have been fundraising to support the brilliant work of the Stroke Foundation in preventing stroke, saving lives and enhancing recovery. So far, the team have raised over $3,000 together whilst striving to deliver excellent stroke rehabilitation care. If you would like to support the team you can donate. Your donation will bring hope, assistance, and improved outcomes to stroke survivors and their families.

Staff Council Expression of Interest

Are you a proud STARS staff member? Are you passionate about always looking for opportunities to improve patient care and interested in looking for more ways to improve our staff wellbeing and camaraderie?

The STARS Staff Council currently have several vacancies and are seeking expressions of interest from all work areas within STARS, both clinical and non-clinical. If you are interested in joining, please email through a one-page (max) response describing why you would like to join the STARS Staff Council. Please see the terms of reference for more information.

RBWH Foundation CEO Simone Garske and Acting Executive Director STARS, Geoff Grima with the ground floor Christmas tree.

STARS Christmas tree

If you’ve been down to the Ground Floor recently you would have seen the wonderful STARS Christmas Tree. The beautifully decorated tree was supplied by the RBWH Foundation and is adorned in purple and gold decorations. The tree will hopefully bring a little bit of cheer to STARS patients, families, visitors and staff. The Christmas tree installation is also a reminder of the RWBH Foundation’s ‘Gift of Time’ Christmas appeal. The annual appeal raises funds for our world-leading researchers, doctors and medical teams to advance patient care and develop breakthrough treatments. If you would like to you can make a donation to the ‘Gift of Time’ Christmas appeal.

Final words

Today is my final day here at STARS and Dale will be returning to the Executive Director role this coming Monday. It has been an absolute pleasure to lead STARS over the last 5 weeks and I want to say thank you to all staff for making me feel welcome. I have thoroughly enjoyed working here amongst the beautiful buildings and being part of the Herston Precinct, but most of all I have enjoyed working with all the staff and seeing firsthand the great work you all do.

For me, I will now take some time off to spend with my family before I embark on my next journey at The Prince Charles Hospital. I hope everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and I hope someday I get to come back to STARS and work
with you all again.

Take care,

Geoff.