This week we celebrate an important milestone with the 10^th anniversary of our Children’s Service. While I have only been at TPCH for a small part of the service’s operation, I have witnessed the Children’s Services team perform well beyond expectation when it comes to supporting our patients and their families.

In its first year of operation, the Children’s Emergency Department (ED) saw approximately 18,000 patients. Ten years on, it is seeing double this and is the second busiest children’s ED in southeast Queensland. Both the Children’s Ward and Children’s Outpatients Department have also both experienced significant growth in the number of patients they care for and all teams should be commended for their brilliant commitment and efforts.

The achievements of the entire Children’s Service over the last decade have been impressive, and are testament to the commitment, skills and compassion of a special team of people who are passionate about providing the best care to children each day.

You can read about these achievements below in yesterday’s special message from Dr David Wood, Clinical Director Children’s Emergency Department, and Dr Ben Beckwith, A/Clinical Director Paediatric Services.

Special message – TPCH Children’s Service 10th anniversary.

I also invite you to watch the special Children’s Service 10th anniversary video.

It was timely that as part of this week’s celebrations, we recognised National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day yesterday. Staff of the Children’s Service promoted the day by distributing information about First Nations health and culture to families, as well as some fun colouring packs to patients.

Executive Update

I am pleased to announce that Perry Judd has been successfully appointed to the position of Director of Allied Health TPCH. Perry has performed the role of Deputy Director and Acting Director of Physiotherapy at RBWH for the past six years, during which time he has developed and operationally managed several multidisciplinary Allied Health services. Perry has worked in a wide variety of clinical, project management and leadership roles across hospital and community settings in Australia and overseas, and has also completed post graduate studies in Health Services Management and Health Innovation. Please join me in congratulating Perry on his appointment.

Next week, we will announce the successful candidates for the three new Director of Operations positions at TPCH following the finalisation of our recruitment process.

Also, I will be continuing as the Acting Chief Operating Officer for Metro North until Wednesday 10 August, while managing some of my responsibilities as TPCH Executive Director. I look forward to being fully back on deck at TPCH from next Thursday, after the Ekka public holiday!

Staff Profile

In light of tomorrow being TPCH Children’s Service 10^th anniversary, today we will profile TPCH’s new Child Life Therapist, Meenu Wadwa.

Having worked as a Hospital Play Specialist for the last 14 years in New Zealand, accompanied by over a decade of teaching in both junior and senior schools, Meenu brings extensive experience in supporting and helping children of all ages.

In her new role which commenced last month, Meenu works with children, young people, and families, using play-based interventions and therapeutic strategies to minimise children’s anxiety and stress when they come to hospital. These include distraction therapy and toys, drawings and other stimulus to help familiarise children with procedures and take their fear of the unknown away. She is passionate about upholding the emotional safety of children in hospital and using play to help them feel supported and safe during their stay.

When not at work, Meenu likes being in nature, going on walks and being on the beach. Welcome Meenu!

Farewell

This week, we sadly farewelled longstanding Director of Physiotherapy, Nikki Bellet. Nikki commenced work at TPCH in 1983 as a rotational physiotherapist before her appointment to the Assistant Director role in the cardiac, cardiothoracic surgery and critical care areas six years later. In 2007, she became Director of Physiotherapy.

Some of Nikki’s key clinical highlights including developing physiotherapy treatment methods for transplant and heart failure patients through visits to interstate hospitals and collaboration with overseas centres. She was actively involved in the China Links program in the 1980s, being one of several physiotherapy and medical staff to provide lectures in China and Mongolia to build capacity of Chinese cardiac surgery programs.

In 1999, Nikki co-initiated TPCH’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase 2 program and in 2009, she supported the development of ACU’s new physiotherapy course.

Nikki’s leadership also extended beyond the physiotherapy profession. In 2004, she became co-chair of the LIFE (Lifestyle Initiatives for Everyone) committee, a Public Health Initiatives group for the District responsible for initiatives including the 10,000 Steps Program, campus walking groups, healthy canteen options, and a range of other staff and patient health initiatives.

Nikki is admired for her passion for excellent patient care and the physiotherapy profession, her supportive leadership and her loyalty to TPCH and its patients. We thank Nikki for her many contributions to TPCH and we wish her a happy and healthy retirement!

COVID-19 update – Boosters

Registering your booster

TPCH staff who require assistance in registering their third or fourth COVID vaccinations can attend the vaccine registration kiosk in the Safe Space, ground floor until 3pm today.

COVID vaccinations are NOT available at this kiosk.

Staff can also register their COVID vaccination doses online by:

1. Download a COVID digital certificate from your myGov account
2. Go to the COVID-19 Vaccination Hub
3. Choose the +Booster Vaccination option
4. Add your booster details
5. Upload or drag and drop your certificate
6. Save

Staff COVID vaccine boosters

As mentioned in yesterday’s Metro North Incident Controller message, Metro North is running a four-day booster blitz across Metro North from 16-19 August, to support staff to have their COVID third or fourth doses. More details will be provided when locations and times are confirmed.

In the meantime, vaccinations are widely available in the community through pharmacies and GPs.

Shout out

This week’s shout out goes to our Infection Control Team for their outstanding efforts in supporting TPCH staff who are COVID-19 positive or a close contact. This team checks in with staff members when they are first notified of them testing positive, again on day seven, and then daily day if a staff member is still unwell following this.

From my own recent experience of having COVID-19, I know how valuable the support provided by this fabulous team is to staff impacted by COVID. Well done!!

Today’s quote

“Team spirit is knowing and living the belief that what a group of people can accomplish together is much larger, far greater, and will exceed that which an individual can accomplish alone.” – Diane Arias

Tami Photinos
Executive Director