It’s good to be back at TPCH after spending a month in at Metro North as Acting Chief Operating Officer. It was an excellent opportunity to work with other facilities to learn about their priorities and challenges, particularly during such a busy period for our health service, but I did miss the team at TPCH!

Like all of Metro North, TPCH is currently experiencing unprecedented demands on its services, due to a combination of challenges including COVID, flu, bed capacity and staff illness.

We are all working in a pressured environment, where we need to be adaptable with how we respond to the challenges of each day. This requires flexibility within our services and workforce to ensure we can keep providing high quality care to our patients during this period. I know that everyone is doing their absolute best to make this happen so thank you.

Winter demands

We’ve had some feedback raised by TPCH staff during yesterday’s Metro North vidcast in relation to masks and the safe placement of COVID patients.

Masks

With the recent conclusion of our concierge service, masks have not been available at main entry points for a number of weeks, resulting in some dissatisfaction among staff. Moving forward, we will ensure there is an adequate supply of masks at the main entrance for those staff who need them.

COVID patient placement

Due to demands, TPCH is currently caring for a significant number COVID patients in single rooms across a range of wards throughout TPCH. In normal circumstances these patients would be cohorted in a dedicated COVID ward. Please be assured that all patients have been placed in accordance with Metro North’s respiratory plan, and with advice from our expert Infectious Diseases consultants.

I appreciate that changes to normal practice may cause some concern to staff, however please understand we are not in a normal situation, and need to prioritise and arrange our resources to ensure all patients receive the best care, whilst protecting the safety of our staff and other patients.

Executive walkarounds

This week I had the opportunity to visit our ICU. Like many areas, our ICU is extremely busy at the moment, caring for some of our sickest patients. Thank you to ICU Director, Dr Jayshree Lavana and team for taking Director of Medical Services, Donna O’Sullivan and myself through the unit during this peak time. It was good to see our great ICU team in action.

Director of Corporate Services, Karen Leighton and I also had the chance to drop into the Cardiac Investigations Unit (CIU) to see its newly refurbished reception area, as well as the Adult Emergency Department’s upgraded staff tea room.  You can check out the new look CIU reception below.

NAIDOC Week

A reminder that this week is NAIDOC Week, when we celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I was fortunate enough to participate in a flag raising ceremony with some members of TPCH’s Aboriginal and Torres Islander Health team, and other staff from across TPCH at the beginning of the week. Unfortunately due to the change to Tier 3, we had to cancel all other planned activities except for our NAIDOC Week ward decoration competition which has been extended until Friday 22 July. To register your area, please email: CulturalCapabilityOfficerTPCH@health.qld.gov.au by this date.

TPCH Governance Review Implementation Update

As part of the implementation of the Governance Review, TPCH is currently undertaking recruitment for the three Director of Operations positions for:

• Heart and Lung
• Surgical and Critical and Care
• Internal Medicine, Emergency, Paediatrics, Medical Imaging and Access.

The hospital is also undertaking recruitment for senior nursing leadership positions.

Staff Profile

This week, we will profile TPCH’s new Director of Occupational Therapy, Amber Jones.

Amber brings a wealth of experience to her new position, having spent most of her career working as an Occupational Therapy team leader at RBWH. She has also worked as Director of Occupational Therapy for Caboolture Hospital and as an Allied Health Workforce Development Officer.

Amber is looking forward to working with her great team of occupational therapists, clinical assistants, leisure therapist, and child life therapist, to deliver high quality care to patients, while supporting each member to achieve their individual career goals.

She believes outstanding outcomes are achieved through effective partnership with consumers, and engaging clinicians to develop system wide improvements. She values open communication and fostering a supportive team environment so people enjoy coming to work each day!

When not working, Amber enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as running and playing netball. Welcome Amber!

Fire Safety reminder

Due to an increase in fire related near miss events, staff are reminded about the RACE Fire Safety procedure below.

RACE Procedure – Remove, Alert, Confine, Extinguish

Remove all from immediate area of Danger.
Alert others, Dial 666 & activate Manual Call Point.
Confine fire, Close doors and windows.
Extinguish fire if safe, if not alone and trained.

For any queries contact Danny MacGregor Fire Safety Coordinator on (07) 3139 5228.

Today’s quote

“No great achievement is possible without persistent work” – Bertrand Russell

Tami Photinos
Executive Director