This week I would like to highlight the importance of celebrating cultural diversity in our workplace and community. This is particularly relevant as we approach the holiday season where we see people and families from many different backgrounds and cultures coming together to celebrate in their own special ways.

My focus on this topic follows on from my attendance with some of the other Executive team members earlier this week at a special TPCH Multicultural Listen Forum, collaboratively organised by Metro North Multicultural Health and Metro North Consumer and Community Engagement. The aim of the forum, which I co-hosted with Metro North’s Chief Allied Health Practitioner, Mark Butterworth, was to begin discussions around how we can start creating a more culturally sensitive and appropriate health care environment for our patients. During the forum, we heard from people from various cultural backgrounds and learned about their experiences and challenges in accessing health services in Australia. The session was quite an eye opener.

Some of the stories we heard were quite confronting including one from Sudanese refugee, Ayik (Daniel) Chut Deng who migrated to Australia with the help of his sister, after spending many years as a boy soldier. Ayik, who is now the father of two children spoke about the trauma caused by his experiences in his homeland and how he was managed through a traditional health care model, which didn’t consider or cater for his cultural background. What Ayik brought home to us was the important role that understanding a patient’s individual cultural needs and background plays in delivering high quality care.

Coming from a migrant family myself, I appreciate cultural difference and the need to really understand and embrace it. What I know is that one size doesn’t fit all! It’s about caring for the individual. For us here at TPCH, this means starting to look at how we can create more culturally flexible, responsive and knowledgeable health services that accommodate and respect the unique cultural and social needs of each person we care for.

To begin this process, we will start looking at the Metro North Multicultural Action Plan 2021-2023 to determine key priority action areas moving forward. I will keep you updated as this important body of work progresses. Some photos from the forum:

Executive Update

Executive Update

This week, TPCH had its monthly performance meeting which was attended by members of TPCH and Metro North Executive Leadership teams. During this meeting we discussed our current performances, and received some positive feedback on how TPCH has been able to increase our activity and see more patients who have been waiting for treatment, following the significant reduction of activity during COVID-19. This outcome is the result of everyone working together to ensure our patients can continue to receive safe and timely care. Well done!

This week, TPCH was also represented at Metro North’s inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander showcase, hosted by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team. These showcases will be held every six months, as part of the Metro North Health Equity Strategy, highlighting different activities that meet the health equity KPAs. During the showcase, Prof Peter Hopkins, Executive Director Heart and Lung Clinical Stream for Metro North, spoke about partnerships with Urban Respiratory Outreach Care (UROC) and the Institute of Urban of Indigenous Health (IUIH). We look forward to the opportunity for TPCH to present more initiatives in the new year.

This week, we welcomed Bretine Curtis to the Director Corporate Services role. This permanent appointment follows on from the recent reclassification of the role and the completion of an appropriate recruitment and suitability assessment process. Bretine, who has approximately 30 years’ experience in Queensland Government, has worked across a number of agencies including Queensland Health, in corporate roles and clinically as a Social Worker. She has held various senior leadership roles in Queensland Health, Department of Communities, and Housing and Digital Economy. Bretine is experienced in delivering high-quality outcomes in the areas of data collection, information management, performance reporting, administrative services, nursing education, evaluation and research, consumers and carer engagement, state-wide benchmarking and Mental Health Act administration and delegation. Her previous role was as the Director of Service Development and Performance at West Moreton Health.

We would like to acknowledge and thank Karen Leighton for her dedication, and invaluable contributions to TPCH while in the Director Corporate Services role. Karen will continue as the Director of Operations – Heart and Lung for the next 10 months. Welcome Bretine.

Voluntary Assisted Dying in QLD

With Voluntary Assisted Dying in Queensland (QVAD) commencing on 1 January 2023, all staff need to be prepared if and when a patient or family member requests information about QVAD  For our non-clinical workforce, it is a real possibility they could be asked questions at any time. For example, questions could be asked when patients or family are interacting with our Switchboard team, when they talk with our Ward Receptionists, or even when being transported between departments by our Operational staff. It’s important to know how to respond to our patients and their family members when it comes to QVAD.

Possible questions could be: 

“I’m dying and I want to know about voluntary assisted dying.”
“I wish they’d just let me have voluntary assisted dying.”  
“Do you know how I can get information about voluntary assisted dying?”

If a patient was to ask about QVAD it is important to notify the team leader of the area.  An appropriate response to the patient could be:
“I’m sorry you’re suffering. It sounds like it’s a really hard time for you.  Would you like me to ask one of your care team to come and speak with you?”  

If a family was to ask about QVAD it is important to notify the team leader of the area and an appropriate response to the family member could be:
“I’m sorry, VAD can only be requested by the person. More general information about VAD is available on the Queensland Health website.  Your loved one (patient) could ask their treating team for further information.”

If a query was to occur via phone or email, an appropriate response could be:
You are welcome to contact the Metro North VAD Support Service directly so they can provide you with information and appropriately direct you along the pathways. Their contact details are MetroNorth_VAD@health.qld.gov.au 

We all have a responsibility when it comes to supporting our patients to understand QVAD.  Staff are encouraged to access the Voluntary Assisted Dying Education Module on iLearn and should also keep an eye out for more information over the coming weeks about what QVAD means for you Homepage – Voluntary Assisted Dying Education Module for Healthcare Workers

Fast facts

This week, we will profile the Cardiothoracic Pharmacy Service team who were recognised for clinical excellence at our recent TPCH Staff Excellence Awards.

Did you know?:  

• The Cardiothoracic Pharmacy Team consists of two pharmacists and one pharmacy assistant.
• On average the team reviews/advises on therapy for between 50-60 patients per day
• The service facilitates the discharge and education of 100 patients every month.
• Patients of this service can be discharged on an average of 12 medications, where on an average of 6 medications are changed or new
• In the last 12 months, the team educated 260 patients in the appropriate, safe use of warfarin

The team’s creation of easy to digest medication information handouts has improved patient confidence in managing their own medications at home.

Staff Profile

This week we will profile Team Leader Speech Pathology – Rehabilitation and Subacute Services, Ann Finnimore.

In this role, Ann leads a team of speech pathologists and a clinical assistant, working in the Rehabilitation and Acute Stroke (RAS), Geriatric Evaluation Management (GEM), Cognitive Assessment Management (CAM) and Rehabilitation Day Therapy Units (RDTU). Ann’s clinical work is undertaken in RDTU where she provides ambulatory rehabilitation care as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Accompanying this is a keen research interest in supporting self-managed maintenance of speech for people with Parkinson’s Disease. Ann’s work in this area was recently recognised when she won the Rising Star of Research Award at TPCH’s Staff Excellence Awards.

As an experienced speech pathologist with a diverse background in neuro-rehabilitation, acquired brain injury, vocational rehabilitation and clinical education, Ann enjoys working collaboratively to improve service delivery and models of care for patients. She feels privileged to work in speech and communication, greatly valuing the connection with patients and the opportunity through her research, to learn and hopefully translate knowledge into better health outcomes for patients.

While full-time work and a PhD have accounted for most of Ann’s hours in recent years, her main focus and drive remains her very supportive family. Pilates and swimming also provide a good release from her busy schedule.

Raising a workplace complaint or concern

I would like to take this opportunity to remind staff of the resources we have available to assist you if you need to raise any workplace complaint or concern.

A suite of tools have been developed and are available on : Human resources | Metro North Health HHS –

• Resolving Workplace Concerns:
• Resolving Workplace Concerns : Managers Guide
• Receiving a workplace complaint or grievance: Employee Guide
• Raising a workplace complaint or grievance: Employee Guide

Additionally, a Vidcast was run on this topic in September and the recording is available on: People and Culture Vidcasts | Queensland Health Intranet

If you need to raise any issues, please refer to these resources to assist you in this process.

Christmas Decoration Competition

All TPCH wards, areas and departments are invited to help spread some festive cheer by entering this year’s annual TPCH Christmas Decoration Competition.

Available categories:

• Traditional (including White Christmas)
• Aussie Christmas
• Most Unique

To enter, please complete the Nomination Form below, and email to:MetroNorth-TPCH-Communications@health.qld.gov.au by Friday 16 December.

Judging will take place on Tuesday 20 December. Areas will be contacted with an approximate judging time prior. Prizes will be awarded to category winners and the overall winner. For more information contact TPCH Communications on 3139 4329.

Shout out

This week’s shout out goes to Sue Robertson, Ward Receptionist, ICU who will shortly retire after over three decades of service to Queensland Health. Having worked as the Ward Receptionist in TPCH’s Intensive Care Unit for the last 15 years, Sue is a much valued member of the team, known as the primary source of knowledge and main ‘go-to person’ due to her experience in the unit. She will be dearly missed by the whole ICU team. We thank Sue for her commitment and wish her all the best in her retirement.

Today’s quote

“Diversity is about all of us and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together.” – Jacqueline Woodson

Tami Photinos
Executive Director