{"id":20874,"date":"2024-05-17T12:36:14","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T02:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/?p=20874"},"modified":"2024-05-23T11:16:33","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T01:16:33","slug":"ed-ckw-20240517","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/facility-messages\/ed-ckw-20240517","title":{"rendered":"Message from the Executive Director"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Karlene

Karlene Willcocks, Executive Director<\/p><\/div>\n

We have had a week of celebration this week at CKW as we showed gratitude and respect to the largest groups of our health professionals \u2013 our midwives and nurses – while, as always, International Day of the Midwife was May 5\u00a0and International Nurses Day was May 12.<\/h4>\n

These days this year fell on Sundays, so we had our formal celebrations over the last week, including visits to see our staff (and deliver yummy goodies) across the Caboolture site, the Caboolture Satellite Hospital, Kilcoy Hospital and Woodford Corrections Health.<\/p>\n

We also had our nursing and midwifery excellence awards on Wednesday \u2013 a separate message has gone out with those winners but what an amazing group.<\/p>\n

It was also great to have Alanna Geary back at Caboolture, both doing rounds and at the awards as Metro North’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.\u00a0I\u2019m sure it was great for the team to have time with her as she is a truly loved leader here after her time covering.<\/p>\n

It was a wonderful opportunity to say thank you our nurses and midwives \u2013 true healthcare heroes who give so much both professionally, personally, physically and emotionally to the community and patients we care for.<\/p>\n

I am a proud nurse, who understands not only the privilege of the role I hold and the experiences I have shared with patients but also the emotional and physical toll this takes on us.<\/p>\n

To all our nurses and midwives, I say thank you and congratulations on what you achieve each day!<\/p>\n

This week, also while remaining busy, saw us step down from Tier 3 after a long nine days.<\/p>\n

This certainly does not mean we are not busy, just that the demand had settled to a more reasonable and manageable level and that we were able to accommodate our patients a little more easily.<\/p>\n

Thank you to everyone over this last two weeks for ensuring that our patients were kept safe and that we provided the best care possible during this high demand.<\/p>\n

I know that this high demand and workload has affected all parts of our facilities and many of you are feeling tired and run down. Please think about what you need to do to re-energise and how you might rest and rejuvenate? Have you booked your next break? Is it a cruise, a beach holiday or a run\/walk in the bush?<\/p>\n

Here at CKW we have a tagline or motto which is Caring Together. <\/strong>We want to be known as the most caring hospital there is, providing kind and compassionate care, no matter what.<\/p>\n

To do this, it means it is my job, it is your job, it is everyone\u2019s job to provide kind and compassionate care to each patient, their loved ones (and each other), particularly when they may well be feeling vulnerable and unsure in an environment that is frankly scary if you are unfamiliar and often overwhelming even for those of us who are familiar.<\/p>\n

Compassion and kindness<\/strong> are free<\/strong> and gifts available to all of us to use, please be mindful of how you use the most valuable gifts.<\/p>\n

\n

IDAHOBIT Day – today!<\/h3>\n

(International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination).<\/p>\n

At\u00a0Metro North and CKW, we are committed to being an inclusive workplace that provides accessible healthcare for all members of our community.<\/p>\n

IDAHOBIT DAY fosters a culture of acceptance, where individuals feel comfortable being their authentic selves without fear of discrimination.<\/p>\n

This is especially crucial for us in healthcare,\u00a0where trust and openness is essential to provide compassionate and effective care.<\/p>\n

IDAHOBIT also promotes awareness of the unique health disparities faced by LGBTIQA+ individuals. From routine check-ups to specialised treatments, it is absolutely essential that we and our services are sensitive and appropriate to support and address the needs of LGBTIQA+ patients.<\/p>\n

I was privileged to attend the Pride in Metro North launch in March this year where it \u00a0was \u00a0great to see the support from all the MN Executive teams for our LGBTIQA+ staff so they can bring their whole self to work. At CKW, we are establishing a local Pride in Metro North group to ensure we continually improve our workplace and our services to better meet the needs of our LGBTIQA+ staff and consumers.<\/p>\n

If you are keen to be involved, as a member of the LGBTIQA+ community or an ally, I invite you to email ckw-engage@health.qld.gov.au<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Out and About this week<\/h3>\n

This week has been a busy week. Sam Schefe and I started a week of celebration on Friday with a visit to Caboolture Satellite Hospital where we spent time with the Minor Illness and Injuries team.<\/p>\n

We delivered cookies, had a cuppa and most importantly a yarn and a laugh with the team.<\/p>\n

We talked about the hard days, the celebrations of the big days and, most importantly, the culture and how quickly little things or behaviours can make things change for the negative.<\/p>\n

This was followed by a visit to Woodford on yesterday where we got to chat with the team and enjoy a piece of an amazing cake.<\/p>\n

It is both unusual for us to get photos at Woodford or share food due to the security requirements but yesterday we were lucky to share both.<\/p>\n

The cake was amazing and made by Paul Kemp\u2019s clearly very talented wife. The photo was kindly taken for us by one of the Queensland Correctional staff \u2013 with many thanks and true observation of the respect the teams have for each other.<\/p>\n

I am always thrilled to visit Woodford \u2013 this team works in challenging conditions \u2013 the space is tiny to achieve what they do. It is a window-less space they work in but amongst all of that they are so passionate and focused on improving health and lives of their community both now and into the future.<\/p>\n

We also went to Kilcoy \u2013 the site I always say is my healing space \u2013 it is a beautiful and calm site.<\/p>\n

As Aleesha, Sam and I chatted, they commented on the fact they were not sure what I had meant but on visiting they got it.<\/p>\n

To explain \u2013 I find it, for me, like walking onto an empty beach or a calm forest on a windless day. When I arrive, there is a sense of calm and you look out to a beautiful scenery as you enter.<\/p>\n

Then you talk to the staff and they all love their jobs… they will certainly talk about the challenges but then they talk about the team, community and that they enjoy their workplace.<\/p>\n

Maybe due to the environment and the more remote setting, they are also all like I remember health heroes – very flexible and solution focused, problem solving to achieve outcomes… whether it is a facilities issue, stock issue, patient issue or staff issue, they come together to resolve it.<\/p>\n

I actually had the joy of visiting Kilcoy twice this week \u2013 I wish I had taken a photo on Tuesday as I drove in under the mountains that were coated with fog.<\/p>\n

Tuesday was my opportunity to finally meet the Kilcoy Auxillary and, WOW, what an amazing, passionate and focused group they are.<\/p>\n

This group of amazing women have donated a huge amount of equipment to the hospital ranging from clinical equipment to whitewear.<\/p>\n

They also often provide gifts to our patients on special days such as Easter or Mother’s Day. This week’s meeting they were in full planning mode for the Kilcoy Fete, which I will showcase later in my message.<\/p>\n

\n

\"HaveHave Your Say survey<\/h3>\n

The Have Your Say survey was undertaken in June and July last year \u2013 this survey gives all our staff the opportunity to share your feedback with us, so we can truly understand our culture and respond accordingly, to make this a truly great place to work.<\/p>\n

Our directorate results show that we are in a culture of Reaction with 32 per cent engagement.<\/p>\n

Over the past few months, we have been working on the formal action plan for the Caboolture, Kilcoy and Woodford directorate and we will invite you to share your feedback on this in coming weeks.<\/p>\n

By now, you all should have seen and should be working on your area\/team action plans. If you have not yet seen your team results, please ask.<\/p>\n

In coming into my role my absolute focus is on:<\/p>\n