On Monday, Metro North moved to Tier 3 in its COVID-19 response plan due to lower reported community transmission, fewer hospitalisations, as well as less COVID-19 positive staff or close contacts out of the workplace.

This transition will allow us to resume some planned care, however this needs to be done in a managed way. Our priority is still on ensuring we have adequate staff and resources for our COVID-19 response work such as fever clinics, COVID patient care, and vaccination centres.

We will resume semi-urgent and long wait category 2 planned care, with the preference for virtual appointments where possible. Please read the Tier 3 document for other requirements of this response.

Fit testing

Fit testing continues to be a priority for our hospital. To give more staff the opportunity to get fit tested, we recently undertook an audit of TPCH’s fit testing bookings up until April. This has enabled us to free up a large number of bookings that were no longer needed by staff members and allocate them to those staff still requiring a fit test.

Fit testers are continuing to work through high priority staff which include:

• staff working in high risk areas
• new starters and staff who have not been fit tested
• staff who have been fit tested to a single mask that may be unavailable.

Staff can continue to book online, if they are not identified as priority as per the above criteria. Staff who meet the above criteria are advised to discuss with their line manager, who will then email their details to Bradley.Maunder@health.qld.gov.au Details should include: employee name, availability and contact details so a convenient time can be coordinated.

Fit checking

Please do not forget that a fit check should be completed each time you apply a P2/N95 mask even if you have been fit tested successfully to that mask. A short video reminding you of the fit check process is on the Metro North COVID website.

Masks

A reminder that Tier 3 still requires a high level PPE which means that staff who are direct patient facing roles must wear a P2/N95 mask. We’ve been advised that there are staff working in high risk areas who are not wearing a P2/N95 mask. This is an unacceptable practice and puts our patients and other staff at risk. If you work in a direct patient facing role and decide not to wear a P2//N95 mask for whatever reason, then you are not permitted to continue working in that role.

It is essential that staff understand the importance of wearing appropriate masks, and not become lax in their approach to mask wearing, particularly in the current environment where there is still community transmission and COVID admissions. If you witness a staff member in a direct patient facing role who is not wearing a P2/N95 mask, please report it immediately. If you are having an issue with complying with the current PPE requirements, please speak to your line manager.

RATs

Eligible staff can access RATs through TPCH Staff Testing Clinic in Outpatients B on ground floor,
8am – 12 noon, 7 days a weeks.

Outside these hours, RATs can be accessed through TPCH’s public fever clinic, Chermside Community Health Centre which operates from 8.30am – 4pm, 7 days a week.

Other news

TPCH Upgrades

TPCH is currently undertaking planning for a number of upgrades to improve our facilities for staff.
These include:

Installation of shade sails at the rear of the main Café and near Building 14
Development of plans to refurbish the Adult Emergency Department staff tea room
Exploring options for an outdoor staff eating near the loading dock.

We will keep you updated as plans progress and look forward to providing you with improved amenities as part of our commitment to creating a positive work environment.

Change to extended Café Operating Hours

Please be advised that The Café for The Common Good’s extended trading hours will continue until the end of this week. From today until Friday 11 February, the café will be open until 8.00pm. Following this, it will resume its normal hours of operation which are as follows:

Monday to Friday: 7am – 6pm
Weekends: 8am – 3pm

Thought for today:

As a dog owner, I couldn’t resist the following meme about mask wearing. While this is funny, the message is still serious – please follow the guidelines to help keep everyone safe.

Tami Photinos
Executive Director