Today, Metro North transitioned to Tier 4 in its COVID-19 Response Plan. Please read today’s Metro North Incident Controller message for details on what this change means for our services and workforce.

The escalation of Metro North’s pandemic response reflects the increasing number of COVID-19 cases within our community, and I appreciate this is new territory for all of us as health care workers.

We are in a stage where we must be fluid and flexible as an organisation, so we can meet the changing demands on our services. Be assured that we are as ready as we can be, and have the necessary structures, systems and people in place to drive and support the various changes that need to be made.

I’d like to give a special shout out to all of those TPCH staff who are currently furloughed due to illness or being a close contact. For those staff who are unwell with COVID-19, we wish you a good recovery and look forward to having you back with us soon. Another big shout out to our Infection Control Team who are do an excellent job in supporting these staff through their process of returning to work.

Fit testing

TPCH Fit Testers are continuing to work through high priority staff. This includes new starters, staff entering a nominated work environment; and staff who have been fit tested to a single mask that may become unavailable due to supply issues. An assessment is currently being conducted to determine priority staff across the organisation.

Please be reassured we are working with managers to ensure fit testing occurs in a timely manner.

Metro North is constantly monitoring the availability and allocation of PPE to ensure adequate supply across all facilities.

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 Staff Psychology Open Door session.

For the Staff Psychology hotline please call 3647 9673 or email: MNStaffPsychology@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

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

Switchboard support

To help reduce the large volume of calls being received by our Switchboard operators at this time, staff are asked to use the desktop Directory to find out phone numbers rather than calling Switch.  Staff whose Desktop Directory isn’t on their desktop can download TPCH Web Directory. Instructions on how to do this are below.

How to download TPCH Web Directory

Other News

Smart Referrals Workflow Solution

Metro North Health is introducing a new electronic referrals system called Smart Referrals Workflow Solution which will go live on Monday 14 March 2022 replacing eReferrals (CCi Portal).

This is an essential system for the hospital, so outpatient and clinical staff who are involved in referral management and electronic categorisation are asked to prioritise training to ensure the health service can safely transition to the new solution when it goes live.

All training is conducted online. Staff can register by visiting the Smart Referrals Workflow solution resources page and click on the ‘Book Training Here’ button.

Should you have any questions about the system or training please contact our Smart Referrals Workflow solution team via email at MNHHS-SmartReferrals@health.qld.gov.au.

My quote for today

“Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems” – Gever Tulley

Tami Photinos
Executive Director