As we enter the festive season, I’d like to remind staff to stay safe. Around this time of year, most of us are busier than normal. Our minds are thinking about many things – what we have to organise, where we have to be, who we have to see, and as a consequence we can be distracted. It’s essential we are aware of these demands and how these can impact our lives and the lives of others around us.

As we do our best to finalise remaining tasks before the year’s end, I ask that we each take the time to think about our priorities and pressures, as well as those of others. Please take care of yourselves as you go about your daily activities, both at and outside of work, especially with everyone rushing around during the festive period. Safety is the priority and that’s why a large part of my message today will focus on this issue

Executive update

Your Safety

Heat warning

South East Queensland is projected to have severe heatwave conditions with estimated maximum daytime temperatures of 34 to 36 degrees and night time temperatures above 20 degrees over the next four days. The Bureau of Meteorology expects the period of hot weather will continue into next week with the most severe conditions expected on Friday and Saturday. There is also a chance of severe thunder storms from Friday.

What you can do:

Visit the Queensland Health website for information on heatwave precautions and:

• Remember to stay hydrated by drinking 2-3L of water a day.
• Slip, slop, slap, seek and slide when outside, such as walking to and from your vehicle.
• Watch out for early signs of heat stress.

Staff who work outdoors or travel to support community-based care should keep outside activity to a minimum during the hottest part of the day, drink plenty of water, and be aware of heat related illness symptoms. There is a Heatwave workplace guideline for employees and a First Aid Fact Sheet – for Heat (non-clinical areas) to support staff wellness available on the staff extranet.

Road safety

With so many people walking around on campus including adults and children, it’s vital that staff take the necessary precautions to stay safe.

You are required to:

• adhere to speed limits when driving on internal roads travelling around the campus to avoid any accidents
• when parking your vehicle please don’t park over walkways or other areas which obstruct traffic or pedestrians
• use footpaths when walking to and from your vehicle or just generally around the campus
• not read your mobile phone when walking around the campus, especially near roadways. It’s an accident waiting to happen.

Smoking

In recent weeks, there have been two instances of staff and patients smoking on campus which have resulted in some small fires near hospital buildings. These situations pose a great risk to our patients, staff and visitors as well as our physical hospital infrastructure and are not something to take lightly.

Please be reminded that smoking is not permitted anywhere on the hospital campus or within 5 metres of the hospital boundary. Due to recent incidents, our security staff will be increasing their monitoring of this issue and people found smoking on campus may be issued with an infringement notice. Please also have a thought for the many patients with respiratory conditions who visit TPCH for treatment, whose condition can be exacerbated through smoke.

What you can do:

• Call out behaviours that do not adhere to campus smoking guidelines
• Contact security to let them know if you witness staff, patients or visitors smoking on campus
• Manage your own smoking behaviours as a guide for patients and visitors by not smoking on campus

Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep each other and our hospital safe.

Staff Profile

Because it’s Nurse Practitioner Week, this week we’ll profile Nurse Practitioner Minor Injuries and Illness Clinic Kallangur Satellite Hospital, Kate Dooley. Kate also holds a concurrent role as Telehealth Nurse Practitioner for Retrieval Services Queensland.

Kate’s day-to-day role involves the independent autonomous examination and diagnosis of all patients who present to the clinic, sometimes with the support of another Nurse Practitioner or a GP. She works closely with a small team of very experienced emergency nurses to assist in delivering the best care to patients who access the service.

Having previously worked as a nurse in TPCH’s emergency department, and as a Nurse Practitioner at Caboolture Emergency and Caboolture Minor Injuries and Illness Clinic, Kate is passionate about nurses working to the highest scope in all areas, and making quality change to allow patients to receive efficient and timely care.

Outside of work, Kate loves spending time with her kids outdoors either bike riding, scooting, walking and when on leave, camping.

FAST FACTS:

This week, we’ll profile Metro North Staff Excellence Award nominee – Precious GEMS incorporating Ward 1G and the Geriatric and Rehabilitation Liaison Service (GRLS). I wish all TPCH nominees the best of luck at tonight’s staff excellence awards event.

Did you know?:

• Ward 1G is a 30-bed comprehensive geriatric assessment/ rehab unit supported by a team consisting of geriatricians, registrars, residents, nursing staff and allied health practitioners.
• The ward has a 4-bed Close Observation Unit (COU) to provide additional nursing support to patients experiencing acute delirium and/or confusion as part of their admission.
• Over the last 12 months, the ward has delivered approximately 450 episodes of care, with an average length of stay of 18.5 days.
• 1G services include: functional and cognitive assessment, restorative care assessment, geriatric rehabilitation and assessment, dementia diagnosis and management, home visits to facilitate discharge planning.
• The Geriatric and Rehabilitation Liaison Service (GRLS) is a nurse-led service within TPCH consisting of a Clinical Nurse Consultant and a Clinical Nurse.
• The GRLS has the Advanced Care Practice (ACP) nurse whose role is to support inpatients within TPCH with matters regarding ACP, and provide education and support to all medical, nursing and allied health professionals within TPCH to make ACP part of daily conversations with patients and families.
• TPCH GRLS receives approximately 1,600 referrals per year and is able to move close to 1,100 patients to subacute destinations annually.

Shout out

Congratulations to Hugh Smith, Team Leader Medical Records who is retiring after 15 years of service to TPCH. Hugh was an integral part of the Medical Records team, contributing significantly to the department and always putting the needs of the department and patients first.

Hugh always took the time to orientate new starters, and was the “go to guy.” Along with his Team Leader duties, Hugh was often found looking for missing charts and assisting on the floor or helping others in the department. He was frequently seen with tools in hand fixing shelves, trolleys or anything that needed a quick fix.

Known as a ‘true gentleman, Hugh was always there to lend a helping hand regardless of how busy he was. Thank you Hugh for your many years of service to the patients and staff of TPCH! We wish you all the best in your retirement.

Today’s quote
“On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and begin.” – Gregory S. Williams

Tami.