Tami Photinos Executive Director The Prince Charles Hospital
Welcome to another busy week as we continue our response to the current COVID-19 situation.
As mentioned in the Metro North Incident Controller’s weekend messages, we are seeing a steady increase in COVID-19 hospital admissions across Metro North including TPCH, and these admissions are likely to grow in the next two to three weeks before a predicted peak on 27 January.
As cases increase within our community, it is essential that staff undertake a PCR or RAT test as soon as possible after symptoms begin. Acting fast will help reduce the risk of other staff members getting infected if you test positive.
For those staff who are currently unwell with COVID-19, we wish you a speedy recovery and are here to support your safe return to work.
Remaining flexible
With COVID-19 care becoming core business within our hospitals, the structure of our services and workforce must be aligned to support this. This means we need to remain agile and flexible as an organisation to ensure we can effectively support the increasing number of patients who require COVID-19 related care and support. This current temporary stage may require a different way or working which means that staff may be asked to assist with different roles and responsibilities if and when required. To support this new environment, we are establishing a new process to centralise and manage redeployment opportunities and flexible working arrangement requests. Details of this process will be shared shortly.
Transition of Ward 1E
This week, we will undertake preparations to open Ward 1E as an additional clinical area to care for COVID-19 patients. Other measures we are utilising to support current demands on our services are the COVID-19 Virtual Ward, Hospital in the Home (HITH) and working with our private facility counterparts as needed.
New Staff Psychology Open Door sessions
TPCH Staff Psychology Service, in collaboration with Metro North’s Culture and Wellbeing team is launching a new group support program for staff. The Staff Psychology Open Door is a virtual session available to all TPCH staff every Thursday 2.30pm – 3.15pm with the first session commencing Thursday 20 January. The purpose is to provide a space for staff to talk through their feelings and experiences, as well as explore strategies to support with coping with the current COVID-19 situation. The session will be offered via Teams. Join Psychology Open Door session.
For the Staff Psychology hotline please call 3647 9673 or email: MNStaffPsychology@health.qld.gov.au
New Staff Psychology Open Door sessions
TPCH Staff Psychology Service, in collaboration with Metro North’s Culture and Wellbeing team is launching a new group support program for staff. The Staff Psychology Open Door is a virtual session available to all TPCH staff every Thursday 2.30pm – 3.15pm with the first session commencing Thursday 20 January. The purpose is to provide a space for staff to talk through their feelings and experiences, as well as explore strategies to support with coping with the current COVID-19 situation. The session will be offered via Teams with the meeting link to be provided on Monday.
For the Staff Psychology hotline please call 3647 9673 or email: MNStaffPsychology@health.qld.gov.au
Other wellbeing services available are:
Flexible work support
With the current demands on our services, we are receiving an increasing number of requests for staff to undertake flexible working arrangements, as well look at opportunities for redeployment. To help streamline these requests, we are currently establishing a new process to centralise and manage them. Details will be provided shortly.
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
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.
Reminder – Fever Clinics / COVID Testing service
Public Fever Clinic – 8.30am to 4pm, 7 days
Staff Only Testing Clinic – 7am to 2pm, 7 days.
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
My quote for today
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success” – Henry Ford
Tami Photinos
Executive Director