Tami Photinos, Executive Director, The Prince Charles Hospital
It’s been an increasingly wet week and I hope everyone is staying safe and dry. We know these weather conditions can impact staff travel to work, so please keep this in mind when planning your journey. If you have any concerns about your ability to get to work safely, please speak to your line manager. And remember, if it’s flooded, forget it!
International Nurses Day
Yesterday we celebrated International Nurses Day to acknowledge and honour the contribution of the nurses at TPCH who make a difference to our patients through their commitment, care and compassion every day. We were pleased to welcome the Governo of Queensland, her Excellency, Dr Jeanette Young PSM to our annual Nursing Excellence Awards to help recognise those staff who have excelled in a particular area of nursing. Congratulations to the following award winners:
- Leadership and Management Award – Felicity Pollard, Mental Health
- Clinical Practice Award – Ward 2C
- Education and Research Award – Catherine Ruff, Nurse Educator
- Award for Outstanding Collegial Support – Rose Seddon, Orthopaedic Research & Data Management
- Executive Award for Outstanding Achievement & Leadership – CAM Unit
Felicity Pollard
Rose Sneddon
Catherine Ruff
Ward 2C
CAM Unit
During her visit to TPCH, the Governor gladly welcomed the opportunity to meet and speak with many of our nursing staff following the awards, as well visit our Children’s Ward where she chatted with some of our paediatric nurses, patients and families. We were grateful for the Governor’s time and interest.
The Governor of Queensland (centre), with Director of Nursing, Cherie Franks (2nd right), Nursing Director Critical Care and Surgery, Paula Ve (left) and members of CAM Unit cut the cake for international nurses day
Governor visits the Children’s Ward
Some of you may have seen Metro North’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Alanna Geary in the main Café yesterday, stepping it out on a treadmill to help raise funds for nursing and midwifery education. As a nurse, Alanna felt it was important to highlight how much time nurses spend on their feet each day when caring of patients, so wanted to walk the walk, so to speak. To show her support, Alanna has been walking for several hours on a treadmill each day at each of the Metro North facilities over the last week. Thank you Alanna for your great advocacy and support of our hard working nurses!
Children’s Emergency Department
Executive Walkaround
This week, Director Medical Services, Dr Donna O’Sullivan, Director of Nursing, Cherie Franks and I had the opportunity to visit our Children’s Emergency Department. This busy service does an outstanding job in caring for around 30,000 sick children each year with numbers growing year on year. Well done to this stellar team!
Governance Review update
The consultation period for TPCH’s implementation plan has now ended, and we will now move into the implementation phase. Thank you to all staff who provided feedback which has helped guide this change for our hospital. The final documentation will be posted on our QHEPS site early next week, with details of how the process will progress. I’m sure everyone can appreciate that with such a large change involving recruitment to new positions, the implementation phase will take some time, but I will keep you updated though my weekly messages and TPCH Staff Bulletin.
Staff Profile
Dr Andrew Spiller
This week, we will profile TPCH’s new Acting Director Adult and Children Emergency Services, Dr Andrew Spiller who is undertaking the role for a six month period while formal recruitment to the position occurs. Andrew has specialised in emergency medicine for the last 15 years, working at Greenslopes and Logan hospitals since 2013 following the completion of his emergency training in Brisbane. Prior to this, Andrew worked as a GP and was also a doctor in the Royal Australian Navy for six years following the completion of medical school, which included deploying to the Gulf War and working with divers and submariners in Perth. Interestingly, he also spent a year working in Iceland.
Andrew’s vision for his directorship is to lead the teams in adult and children’s emergency to improve patient care and create an enjoyable and rewarding workplace.
Outside of work, Andrew is a keen hiker and manages to get away a couple of times of year to hike with his family. Last year, he spent two weeks hiking the Larapinta trail near Alice Springs with two of his children – an amazing experience.
NAIDOC and Reconciliation Excellence Awards
Today, we are opening nominations for TPCH’s inaugural NAIDOC and Reconciliation Awards 2022. These Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of TPCH staff and community members, who work to improve the health outcomes of First Nations patients at TPCH, and who contribute to achieving health equity for First Nations patients of our hospital.
More information about the NAIDOC and Reconciliation Awards including details on the the nomination process will be provided on Monday.
HR Vidcast
Shout out
In the spirit of our nursing celebrations this week, this week’s shout out goes to all the nursing staff at TPCH who give to our patients. Each day, nurses support the delivery of high quality patient care, whether it be at the bedside, or through other ways such as leadership and management, education, training, research or navigation. You all make a difference, and should be celebrated for your efforts. Well done nurses!
Today’s quote
‘For the sick, it is important to have the best” – Florence Nightingale
Tami Photinos
Executive Director