![\"Message](\"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/03\/exec-e-banners-COVID-19-Shaun-Drummond.jpg\" "\\"Message")
<\/span><\/div>20 April 2020 \u2013 COVID-19 (coronavirus)<\/strong><\/p>\n Dear Colleagues,<\/p>\n Today\u2019s a big day for many of you, with school resuming in a new way. Children are very adaptable, but I know it may be a stressful transition for your families. Remember that many people will be having similar experiences, so reach out to your colleagues and line manager, share your tips and be kind to each other. We\u2019re all in this together.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the week in review:<\/p>\n Preparedness initiatives last week: <\/strong><\/p>\n Our activity for the past week\u202f <\/strong><\/p>\n Looking after our people\u202f<\/strong><\/p>\n Our new Chief Wellness Officer Bruce Sullivan participated in a vidcast with staff on Friday to talk about his approach and our priorities for taking care of our people. The main point Bruce raised is that kindness goes a long way. Even on a bad day, a kind gesture can make a huge difference to how people feel \u2013 not only patients but also with our colleagues. We will continue to implement the strategy for staff wellbeing during COVID-19.<\/p>\n Frontline staff flu vaccinations are continuing this week. Next week we will be offering vaccinations to other staff across the HHS. If you have already received your vaccine outside of work, please let your manager know so we can update your record.<\/p>\n Preparedness initiatives in the coming week\u202f <\/strong><\/p>\n Maximising our resources <\/strong><\/p>\n We have a working group currently focusing on maturing and refining all personal protective equipment (PPE) resources, education and training.<\/p>\n There is a wide range of resources and sessions (such as vidcasts and directorate and unit education sessions) available to help you refresh, re-train and answer your questions. We will have a vidcast tomorrow with some of our infection control nurses on PPE.<\/p>\n As a result of the low community infections in Queensland, planning to expand elective surgeries is underway with our increase expected as early as next week. It is also expected that we will start to see a return to some normal clinical activities. On this basis the working from home arrangement initiated as a result of COVID will cease from Friday, 1 May 2020. I appreciate that there may be some genuine need for these arrangements to continue and I would encourage you to speak with your line manager to consider these needs as part of the normal WFH arrangements policy and guidelines.<\/p>\n Regards,<\/p>\n Shaun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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