This week is National Volunteer Week, when we celebrate the wonderful volunteers who support the important work we do here at TPCH caring for our patients and community. At TPCH, we have over 100 Charlies Angels volunteers, who welcome patients and visitors to the hospital, and provide additional support to staff across many wards and departments.

We also acknowledge the work of other volunteer groups within the hospital including HeartSupp, our pastoral carers, and JPs who contribute to the positive health journey of our patients.

A big thanks to all the volunteers who give their time to help make a difference to our patients here at TPCH. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!

TPCH staff appreciation breakfast

Next Wednesday 24 May, TPCH’s Executive team will be hosting a free staff breakfast to thank all TPCH staff for their hard work, especially during the last few weeks. Like all Metro North facilities, TPCH is currently experiencing extremely high demands on its services, and we know that staff are working hard to manage and respond to these demands to ensure the ongoing delivery of high quality patient care.  This breakfast is a gesture of our appreciation and acknowledgement of your excellent efforts.

Executive update

Last Friday, we held our annual Nursing Excellence Awards as part of International Nurses Day celebrations. Congratulations to the following staff members who were recognised for their contribution to nursing at TPCH.

Leadership and Management
Winner – Jessica Muhling
Runner up – Anna Black

Education and Research
Winner – Linda Passmore

Clinical Practice
Winner – Elizabeth Grove
Runner up – Raymond John Go Melgarego

Outstanding Collegial Support
Winner – Kate Wright
Runner up – Transit Lounge and Contact Tracing Team

Executive Award for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership
Zachary Sheldrick

This week, I visited our Pharmacy Department to meet with staff and learn about their current activities and challenges. It was great to chat with staff and I thank Ross McDougall and the team for taking time out of their busy days to speak with me. A special thanks to Selena Lee for sharing some advanced selfie tips. Always looking to improve my selfie skills!

Also this week, Director Corporate Services, Bretine Curtis spent some time with our busy Switchboard team, learning about the important role they play in supporting the delivery of patient care, connecting patients and families, and being a central hub of information about the hospital.  A very impressive team whose dedicated work behind the scenes ensures that TPCH patients, visitors and staff are always well supported. Keep up the great work team!

Have your Say survey

From today, May 19, the third Have Your Say employee engagement survey will be open so that you can submit feedback on your experience of the workplace.

This survey is confidential, and from the results, we hope to learn how much our staff care about Metro North and TPCH, their facility, service line and their individual work.

We’ll be asking for your opinions and by sharing your experiences, it teaches us how we’ve improved, where we can continue to do better and helps us to celebrate what we are already doing well!

You can have your say from 19 May to 9 June via a link that will be sent to your work email.

The link will also be available on the Metro North QHEPS, e-bulletins, MN Broadcast, and QR codes on posters.

FAST FACTS

This week we will profile our Electrical Department.

Did you know?

• The Electrical Department is part of the Building Engineering and Maintenance Service (BEMS) and consists of 10 staff, including an Electrical Trade Manager, Electricians, Apprentice Electricians and Trade Assistants.
• The team carries out planned, preventative and corrective electrical maintenance on voltage distribution power systems including testing and compliance of body protected and cardiac protected areas.
• Other systems serviced and maintained by the team including TPCH’s emergency power generation infrastructure, building management systems, Nexus evacuation lighting and general lighting systems, nurse call systems, domestic and commercial appliance repairs, patient bed and physiotherapy equipment.
• The team undertakes minor new works, refurbishments and installations, which involves working with the department from initial request, through planning and up to completion.
• Last year, the team completed approximately 3,000 jobs ranging from blown lights, testing and tagging, emergency light testing, through to new installations and refurbishments.
• Staff assist project teams by providing local knowledge and support for larger scale and capital works projects to ensure minimum disruption to hospital operations.
• All team members are trained in Low Voltage Rescue and CPR as part of their electrical licensing, to enable them assist with any incident and perform basic life support.

Staff profile

As it’s National Volunteer Week, we will profile Charlie’s Angel volunteer, Judy Souza.  A Charlies Angel for nine years, Judy currently volunteers at TPCH’s Surgical Procedures Allocation Centre where she organises packs needed for the different procedures including shoulder, knee, hip and heart surgeries.

Having volunteered at some level all her life, Judy’s service to others stems from her childhood, with her mother having been a great advocate for volunteering the services of her and her sister to their elderly neighbours. Judy loves volunteering, especially the sense of satisfaction and joy she gains from doing something worthwhile. Always looking forward to her weekly visit to TPCH, Judy enjoys the many friendships she has made along the way, and feels blessed to be able to volunteer at TPCH. We thank you for your generous service Judy!

Shout out

This week’s shout out goes to the nursing staff of Ward 1A who recently received the following compliment from the wife of a patient.

“Recently my husband had a stint in Ward 1A at Prince Charles.  I want to let you know that you have some exceptional nursing staff on that ward – in particular Molly, Jess and Courtney.

Molly – exceptionally calm and compassionate and knowledgeable. Always answered my questions no matter how simple they were.
Courtney – what a breath of fresh air! Was always able to put a smile on my husband’s face.
Jess – up there with Courtney.

All three nurses were exceptional in the care that they delivered. To my husband and I, they were the shining stars of Ward 1A.”

Well done to these three nurses, and to all the nurses on Ward 1A for their wonderful care and compassion. Great care requires great team work, and this compliment is an example of one of many instances of excellent teamwork that occurs across TPCH every day.

Today’s quote

“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” – Steve Maraboli

Tami.