{"id":17920,"date":"2023-11-17T11:22:24","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T01:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/?p=17920"},"modified":"2023-12-07T14:29:28","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T04:29:28","slug":"ed-tpch-20231117","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/facility-messages\/ed-tpch-20231117","title":{"rendered":"Message from the Acting Executive Director"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Melanie

Melanie Dubbelde, Acting Executive Director<\/p><\/div>\n

What a big week it has been for TPCH!<\/h4>\n

It was fitting that the week began with World Kindness Day on Monday 13 November, a global day of recognition that serves as a reminder of the positive impact that kindness can have on others. It encourages people to perform intentional acts of kindness and foster a culture of compassion and generosity.<\/p>\n

At TPCH, we perform acts of kindness day through our commitment to providing patients with a high-quality and compassionate care experience, as well as supporting and caring for our fellow colleagues. Creating a compassionate and collegial work environment becomes particularly important when we are challenged like we have been at TPCH this week.<\/p>\n

Accreditation<\/h3>\n

This week, TPCH underwent a week-long accreditation which reviewed the performance of our hospital and services against the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.<\/p>\n

We welcomed a team of nine assessors to the hospital, who have been respectful and helpful guests to our facility, showing wonderful insights and compassion to all our staff.<\/p>\n

A sincere thanks to all the staff at TPCH who have supported the accreditation process. The assessment team appreciated how engaged staff were with the review and their generosity of time.<\/p>\n

The ACHS team will provide a summary of their week at 2.30-3.00 pm this afternoon. The team will outline how TPCH meets and in some cases exceeds the National Standards, as well as provide suggestions to further improve our services.<\/p>\n

Staff are invited to attend the feedback session in person at the Dr Mark O\u2019Brien Auditorium, Education Centre, or via Teams<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Heart transplant services<\/h3>\n

By now many staff would have seen the recent media\u00a0and parliamentary coverage about fungal infections that is impacting the heart transplant program.<\/p>\n

We acknowledge this situation may be causing staff some concern, and we know that a number of staff have been approached by patients and visitors about whether the hospital is safe. If you are approached by a patient or visitor who has concerns, please reassure them the hospital is safe to come to.\u00a0 It is also important to emphasise the heart transplant and lung transplant programs are fully operational.<\/p>\n

We are undertaking extra precautions to keep our transplant patients and other immuno-compromised patients safe when visiting the hospital. We have a specialist\u00a0team consisting of transplant and infectious diseases staff working to ensure that any potential source of fungal infection is identified and removed.<\/p>\n

\"KallangurAs you are aware\u00a0there are significant building works occurring at the hospital in preparation for a new multi-storey car park. This has resulted in additional dust levels and the increased potential to stir up various organisms in the soil. The hospital is aware of the association between building works and fungal infections in transplant patients. As a precaution, we ask that all patients with a compromised immune system wear a P2\/N95 mask when attending the hospital, clinics, procedures, collection of medications, and\/or the gym, if they are comfortable to do so. These masks will provide greater levels of protection.<\/p>\n

The Metro North Executive and The Prince Charles Hospital Executive teams acknowledge the immense amount of work that is happening behind the scenes by our clinical and operational teams to manage this issue. It is a very challenging period, especially for our heart transplant patients, supporters and staff. We are working closely with the team to ensure it can continue to provide the world class care it has been delivering for the last 23 years.<\/p>\n

I thank everyone for their efforts and support as we continue to work through this issue.<\/p>\n

FAST FACTS<\/h3>\n
\"TPCH

Peroperative Nursing team<\/p><\/div>\n

This week is Perioperative Nurses Week so we will profile our Perioperative Nursing team.<\/p>\n

Did you know?<\/strong><\/p>\n