Gillian Nasato, A/Executive Director

As we have all come to experience things are changing all of the time and it is tricky to stay up to date with new directions. Our response to COVID, our approach to managing influenza as well as deal with the huge demand on our inpatient bed stock continues to keep us extremely busy.

There have been some changes recently at a Metro North and state-wide level in relation to COVID restrictions. This does impact on us at RBWH so please check my dot points below to ensure you are across the latest information.

As of yesterday, the Queensland Chief Health Officer has revoked the Hospital Visitor Entry Direction. This means:

• Visitors to hospitals are no longer required to use the Check-In Queensland app or to show proof of vaccination. Restrictions on the number of visitors allowed per patient have also been removed.
• Restrictions for some hospital visitors still apply. Signage to communicate these restrictions has been placed at entry points throughout RBWH.
• All entrances to RBWH are now open to patients and visitors
• Our Concierge Service has now transitioned back to our original intention of a ‘meet and greet and wayfinding’ service for patients and visitors.
• Masks are still required to be worn by visitors and we are doing our best to keep a small supply of masks available at all entrances. Please assist visitors to access a mask as needed.
• We are managing patients with Flu and planning is underway now to ensure that we can respond should the numbers increase as predicted.
• Please get your flu shot and encourage your team mates and family to be vaccinated

Today, Metro North moved to Tier 2 in our COVID response plan. This means we are now able to increase planned care across RBWH. I ask that you work with your service line leads on how to best approach and manage this direction noting that we must ensure that we have the staff and bed stock to support the care for those patients.

Our capacity to manage those who require an inpatient admission has been well and truly stretched. We are all working to support flow and rely heavily on everyone participating in how we can support our patients to receive care in the right place with the right supports and in a timely manner. Yes it is difficult but collectively we must find solutions to flowing people into and out of our hospital in the safest and most appropriate way possible.

Thanks to everyone for continuing to turn up each day with a willingness to keep caring for the people who access our hospital and each other. It means so much to our community to have RBWH behind them when needed and makes me a proud leader at this difficult time.

Cheers

Gillian Nasato
Acting Executive Director
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital