It’s great to be back at TPCH following my time in at Metro North as Acting Chief Operating Officer. It was an excellent opportunity to gain higher level oversight about the priorities and issues impacting upon our broader health service. I was also fortunate to enjoy a week’s leave in the Hunter Valley before returning to the office this week, so I’m feeling refreshed and ready to get back into continuing the fabulous work we do here at Charlies.

A special thanks to Karlene Willcocks who covered the Executive Director TPCH role in my absence; she did a great job in holding the fort and supporting the team.

Executive update

This week, A/Director Corporate Services, Bianca Neaves and I visited some of our outpatient areas to check in with staff on the progress of the ESM changeover and do a general touch base. Accompanied by Manager Ambulatory and Outpatient Services, Sharyn Trappett, we chatted to staff in Heart Lung, Specialist and Gastroenterology Outpatients who told us they are gradually getting used to the new system. We thank these teams for their positive support of the change.

During the walkaround we also stopped into Cardiothoracic Surgical Outpatients, Transit Lounge and the Patient Flow Unit where we briefly spoke with staff about their issues of the day. It was certainly good to get out and about again!

Have your Say survey

I have been reviewing the feedback received through the Have your Say staff survey, in particular, the specific messages addressed to myself and other members of the Executive Leadership Team. An overriding theme highlighted through these messages is workload, and staff not feeling adequately supported to do their job.

Here are some of ‘Messages in a Bottle’ I received through the survey – we will share some each week.

MESSAGES IN A BOTTLE Increasing numbers of patients and the complexity of patients requires an increase in staffing levels across the board, from doctors, nurses and allied health to improve patient outcomes and decrease length of stay. Staff morale is currently low due to high acuity of patients and increase in workloads. There is increased pressure on staff to do extra shifts to meet the demand which lead to health stress and sickness. There needs to be more access to training and professional development courses in the Education Centre, especially face-to-face courses with an ability to be released from your work area to attend. Thank you for working hard to make this a great place to work and to support staff.

I would like to reassure staff that the Executive team is aware of the challenging environment you work in, and the consistently high demands on all of our services. This has been highlighted through an increase in hospital activity during the last 12 months, which equates to more patients getting the care they need – the positive result of your efforts and commitment.

The Executive team is constantly working behind the scenes, advocating for extra resources for TPCH. During last financial year, we received growth funding to support additional resources across a broad spread of areas throughout the hospital. We attend monthly performance meetings with members of the Metro North Leadership team where we actively promote areas of high performance, as well as services and issues that require attention and more support.

Our efforts for TPCH are backed by experience, with the majority of the Executive team having worked in clinical facing roles during their career, giving them a real understanding of the pressures faced in health care. The same is true for myself. A large proportion of my almost 40-year career in health was spent as a registered nurse working on the floor, on all shifts, during a time when ratios didn’t exist. So as a leadership team, we get it, and are here to make sure that that the team at TPCH are supported in the best possible way, to continue delivering great care to our patients.

TPCH Charlies Week

Our annual TPCH Charlies Week celebrations will run from 23 to 27 October 2023. This week, which aligns with the hospital’s birthday, is an opportunity for staff to come together and celebrate the great work we do here at TPCH. The week offers a variety of fun, educational and recognition activities and events that staff can get involved in which include:

• Staff wellness day
• Hour of Power research showcase
• The Common Good Giving Day
• Staff awards
• Fun activities
• Food.

There’s something for everyone!

To find out how you can get involved, view the program.

Metro North Research Excellence Awards

This weekend is the last chance to put in nominations for Metro North’s Research Excellence Awards.

These awards recognise and celebrate the many ways Metro North staff from all professions lead and contribute to clinical research.

Eight different award categories are available, from those celebrating cutting-edge and world-first projects to recognising those who enable research excellence and researchers collaborating with our consumers.

Please don’t miss this opportunity to make sure that our teams are recognised for their research excellence. Nominate today.

Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program

Metro North Health Social and Emotional Wellbeing Officers, Jesse and Nickita will be visiting TPCH September to provide holistic one-on-one support to Metro North Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers.

This culturally safe, private and respectful service will support and work alongside staff to ensure their needs are identified and supported.

Dates:

Wednesday 6 September, 10am – 3.30pm, Education Centre
Monday 18 September, 10am – 3.30pm, Education Centre

If staff would like to make an appointment at one of the above visits, please email ATSILT_Wellness@health.qld.gov.au or alternatively, drop by on the day and have a yarn with the team while on site.

Infrastructure update

The Kallangur Satellite Hospital remains on track with project completion expected to occur in late September 2023.

As these milestones are reached, it’s important that the project teams and clinical and support staff directly involved in the satellite hospital make time to tour the facility. Familiarising yourselves with the layout and the deliverables of the clinical spaces will help with the future transition of staff and services.

Tours are available every Tuesday from 11.00am – 12.00pm. Bookings via EventBrite are essential, please email Michael Butler for the link.

FAST FACTS

This week, we’ll profile the Finance Services team.

Did you know?

• TPCH Finance Services are responsible for reporting budgetary performance and forecasting in addition to Program cost centre and activity reporting.
• The Finance team consists of 18 staff including a Business Manager, Assistant Business Managers, Business Support officers, and Principal Finance Officers who are situated within programs across TPCH.
• Team members work closely with program areas to build the facility’s $731 million budget which supports TPCH’s workforce of over 3,000 staff.
• They provide advice to all levels of staff across the organise around the management of cost centres to ensure a clear understanding of individual services’ financial positions and obligations.
• Collectively the team runs over 1,000 reports every month relating to payroll, open purchase orders, monthly variance analysis and business case costings.
• The team undertakes monthly budget adjustment and submissions for extra budget allocation to support proposed service growth and improved patient care.

Staff profile

Today we’ll profile Business Practice Improvement Officer, Emergency Department (ED), Andrew Hughes. Andrew, who has spent the majority of his career in emergency nursing, is responsible for the validation and interpretation of data to support the ongoing delivery of good patient care in the ED.

Ensuring the availability of accurate and presentable data is critical for decision making around funding, activity reporting and even future planning around TPCH’s upcoming building expansion project. Andrew is passionate about data accuracy to help improve service delivery and influence change within Metro North’s busiest ED.

Outside of work, Andrew enjoys Formula 1 which often leads to late nights and early mornings.

Shout out

This week’s shout out goes to TPCH’s Administration Management team who are winner of the Have Your Say survey incentive competition for TPCH for their 100% response rate in the survey. As a result of their outstanding efforts, this team has been randomly selected in a draw to win a prize which can be used to towards a team activity of their choice. Well done! Your feedback helps make TPCH an even better place to work.

Today’s quote

“Keep your face towards always the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.” – Walt Whitman

Tami.