Thank you to everyone for continuing to step up to meet the challenges of the current environment.

Some staff may be aware that TPCH has several key groups involved in driving our local pandemic response. Our Incident Management Team and Clinical Advisory Group hold daily meetings to discuss strategies to remain effective in our current response, and ensure we are well positioned to meet the many and varied demands on our services at this time. These groups, which consist of staff from across all professional areas and disciplines, play an important role in monitoring, conveying and addressing important issues that impact on the hospital’s overall response on a daily basis. I’d like to thank these groups for their commitment and efforts during this time. Everyone has really gone above and beyond.

Also, I appreciate that we are sending out a large amount of information to staff at this time, some of which is duplicated with Metro North. Apologies if this is overwhelming, but we want staff to stay well informed about the current situation.

Planned care reduction

In line with Metro North’s direction, we are continuing to reduce non-urgent planned care across TPCH where possible. This is critical to release staff to be deployed to support emergency and core activity. Metro North will review its approach to planned care at the end of January.

Vaccination Clinic

TPCH Vaccination Hub in the Education Centre will close at 5pm on Friday 4 February 2022. Staff or their household contacts who are due for a booster, i.e. 13 weeks (3 months) after their second COVID-19 vaccinate, are encouraged to visit the Vaccination Clinic and make a booking before the closing date.
The Pfizer vaccine will then be available from the Staff Vaccination Clinic operated by the Infection Management Service. There will be limited bookings available every Monday and Thursday, 8.30am – 4pm. hours. More information about the booking process will be provided in due course.

Fever Clinics / COVID Testing service

Public Fever Clinic – 8.30am to 4pm, 7 days

Staff Only Testing Clinic – 7am to 2pm, 7 days
Staff members can bring family members from their direct household for testing, and must bring their ID badge.

Other Staff Testing Clinics 
Metro North is also offering a number of staff only testing clinics

• RBWH Education Centre, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.15pm
• Caboolture Hospital staff carpark, Monday to Sunday, 7.30am to 5pm

Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT)

TPCH wishing to access at RAT should visit TPCH’s Staff Only Testing Clinic to discuss their eligibility to receive a RAT. Please note: not all staff will be eligible to receive a RAT and may need to access a PCR instead. Staff are asked to respect the advice they receive from the designated clinician at TPCH Staff Testing Clinic regarding their RAT eligibility. Remember, these staff are just following the guidelines in place at this current time, so please show respect at all times.

Close contacts

Staff who are identified as close contacts of a COVID-19 positive person may be able to access a RAT from our staff only collection sites:

• Brighton Health Campus wellness centre, Monday to Friday, 10am – 2pm
• Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital outside Pulse Café, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.15pm

If you meet the close contact criteria, you will need to show your ID and complete registration.

Cancellation of face-to-face all staff orientation

Due to the current COVID-19 response, face-to-face All Staff Orientation has been cancelled until further notice. Subsequently, a Web-based Orientation session has been activated for registration and assigning and is now available.

The new Web-based Orientation session is available via TMS’s learning link – Online Orientation

How to register new starters

• Managers and/or proxys can register new starters through TMS
• The above link can also be forwarded to new starters to register directly
• Instruction sheets are available on the main page before staff log into their TMS personal page

Need TMS Support?

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For more information or queries about TPCH staff orientation please contact Steve Sutherland on ext. 5071 or email: Steven.Sutherland@health.qld.gov.au

COVID-19 Support Hotline

COVID-19 Leave

Updated leave options for Queensland Health staff impacted by COVID-19 are now available. Please refer to the following flow charts:

Employee options for leave due to COVID-19
Leave options for employees with COVID-19 infection

Need support?

For any queries relating to COVID-19, staff are asked to escalate to their line manager. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

My quote for today:
‘Endurance is patience concentrated’ – Thomas Carlyle

Tami Photinos
Executive Director