Most of you would be aware that Metro North remains in Tier 3 of its COVID-19 due to the number of staff away, either with COVID-19 or as close contacts. We have a number of areas at TPCH impacted because of staff absences, and I’d like to thank everyone for doing their part to ensure we can continue to provide great care to our patients while keeping everyone safe.

Please continue reading the daily Metro North Incident Controller messages for the latest updates and information on Metro North’s COVID-19 response.

Executive visit

This week, I had the opportunity to visit our Operating Theatres’ new sterile stock rooms which were completed late last year. These purpose-built rooms have been designed to help streamline the storage and management of sterile stock and reusable medical devices in compliance with Australian standards.
This is a great upgrade for our operating theatres and I commend the staff on their efforts in adapting their practices to improve the department’s day-to-day operations. While visiting theatres, I also had the opportunity to say goodbye to Clinical Nurse Consultant, Joan Talbot who is retiring after 16 years of working in the department. Joan is a well-liked and respected member of the Theatre team, known for her professionalism, sense of humour and kindness. Best of luck Joan, you will be missed.

Transition of Clinical Support Services

From today, Friday 1 April, Clinical Support Services including Security, Food Services, Cleaning and Porterage, and Medical Imaging will transition back under the governance of TPCH. These services have been highly integrated into the hospital for many years, and this transition reflects those operational links.

Patient Support Services (Security, Food Services, Cleaning and Porterage) will report into Karen Leighton, Director of Corporate Services TPCH, and Medical Imaging will report into Tami Photinos, Executive Director TPCH, and Dr Donna O’Sullivan, Director of Medical Services TPCH for the interim period.

We appreciate the valuable the work done by these teams and would like to recognise their transition with a free all staff breakfast next Wednesday 6 April, 7.30am – 8.30am in the outdoor area of the Café of the Common Good. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

TPCH Governance Implementation Change Plan announcement

Yesterday, we announced TPCH’s Governance Implementation Change Plan to staff. The Plan incorporates the Executive Governance Review, Nursing leadership and functions, Administration, Medical Imaging and Patient Support Services.

The Implementation Change Plan and all relevant documents are now available on TPCH QHEPS page at: TPCH Governance Review 2021 | The Prince Charles Hospital (health.qld.gov.au)

I’d like to thank the many staff who attended the Teams announcement and provided initial feedback about the proposed governance structures and changes. For those of you who were unable to attend the announcement, a link to the recording of the session will be on TPCH Governance Review QHEPS page.

All staff are invited to review and provide feedback on the Implementation Change Plan during the two-week consultation period which is open now until Monday 14 April 2022. All feedback and queries can be emailed to Katie Tully at: TPCH_Governance_Project@health.qld.gov.au.

Staff Profile

This week, we will profile Administrative Officer-Medical Records, Victor Blancaver

Having worked as an Administrative Officer for Medical Records for around a decade, Victor is responsible for coordinating and retrieving medical records in preparation for a patient’s outpatient clinic or admission, as well as collating, processing and distributing mail to all departments on TPCH campus. The job requires a high level of customer service, responsiveness, and ability to manage competing priorities, skills which serve Victor well in his other work as an SES volunteer.

Recently assisting in south-east Queensland’s flood response as a Senior Field Officer responding to thousands of calls for help, Victor has been providing much needed support to the community after extreme weather events for 15 years. He has been deployed to different locations throughout the State following various storm, flood and cyclone events to provide emergency assistance through activities such as temporary tarping and fixing of roofs, water proofing damaged homes and sandbagging. For Victor, the reward of being an SES volunteer comes from the relief he can help bring to others who have been devastated by extreme weather events.

When not at work or volunteering, Victor enjoys boating and fishing, and also helps out at his local church with cleaning and repairs.

New Polo Shirts

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services and TPCH are proud to announce the release of the new TPCH Elaine Chambers-Hegarty staff polo shirts for TPCH staff. These beautiful shirts are for sale to staff via The Cafe for The Common Good from today. Check them out below!

Shout out

This week’s shout out goes to the Gastroenterology, Administration, Anaesthetic, and Patient Support Services teams following a recent email I received from a staff member about these teams’ brilliant performances and collaboration on a very challenging day. I would like to share part of the email with you, as I it reminds us of the great people we have working at TPCH, and the efforts made by many to provide excellent patient care no matter what the circumstance.

I wanted to ask if you would convey my feelings of pride, hope and inspiration today to see the efforts that the whole department went to overcome the difficulties that today threw at us. This wasn’t about one individual – I saw a team come together, support each other and who should rightfully go home today feeling very proud and happy that they delivered excellent healthcare.

• The Administration staff – were relatively new and inexperienced but stepped up to the mark!
• The Nurses – again so many so junior and new, were all situationally aware and adapted to roles that facilitated prompt, polite and caring healthcare delivery to all in-patients and out-patients. The senior nurses showed excellent leadership, again stepping up to the mark and led by example.
• The Cleaning room staff – what a massive day for them, a sterling effort, another shining example of resourcefulness and hard work.
• The Anaesthetics team and techs – we were privileged to have unflustered, caring supportive and hardworking staff who were totally engaged in delivering despite the difficulties in the day and the predicted late finish – thank you!

I wouldn’t normally write this sort of message based on one day, but I think we all turned a very challenging day into a raging success and these complex collaborative team efforts need to be celebrated.

Today’s quote

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson

Tami Photinos
Executive Director