We have now had over a week to get used to being in a Tier 1 COVID-19 and Influenza response. It’s a definite change from the months of Tier 3!

While I can imagine for some it is a nice relief from spending countless hours in high level PPE and having to abide by important but rapidly changing health directions, for others it feels a little like the barriers have been removed and they are not sure what lane to drive in because what was ‘normal’ is no longer the case.

It feels a little different and uncomfortable and might take a bit to get used to. All of these are normal responses and are well documented across the globe.

Indeed, in their ‘Better Health’ publication, the NHS states that ‘even positive change can lead to anxiety, and it can take time to readjust to the things we have not done in a while’.

All of this is very important to understand and acknowledge as we start to integrate the treatment of COVID-19 into our usual business practices. Patience and compassion with one another is paramount as everyone gets used to this new season in our delivery of care, in the context of COVID-19 in the community.

One good example of this is the ramp down and closure of our EOC response to COVID-19 and the integration of many aspects of their function into our daily practice. I’m sure many of you have been very grateful for the work and advice that Connie, Jess and the team have provided to you all over the past couple of years. I know that many of you have had a chance to be part of the team as well.

I would like to acknowledge the strength and resilience of this team and their dedication to ensuring the delivery of safe and quality care for both staff and the community. I thank Connie as well for her leadership and endless hard work. Connie and I have been posting signs at all hours of the day and night when restrictions have changed! Her dedication is a wonderful demonstration of our strength as a CKW team and the commitment we have to each other and the community we serve.

Over the coming weeks and months, we will work together to ensure everyone is comfortable with how we recover and get on with providing vital care to our community whether that is for COVID-19 or otherwise.

This means that our performance in other aspects of our care delivery will become a focus again and we will have the exciting opportunity to relook at our care systems and processes and refine them to suit our new environment. All of this will assist us in achieving our ambitions of moving into the new Clinical Services Building next year and providing contemporary and exceptional care.

Leadership Team Update

There are a few changes in your leadership team over the coming month that I would like to ensure are communicated clearly to you all.

Sadly, Dr Simon Bugden’s 12-month temporary contract as Director of Operations will be ending at the end of this month. I would like to thank Simon for his contribution and leadership with such passion and energy over the past 12 months. He has served this community with dedication and passion.

Metro North EOC Incident Controller Louise O’Riordan will start in the Director of Operations role on Monday 26 September. Louise has done a wonderful job leading Metro North’s COVID-19 response, having previously held several leadership roles at Redcliffe Hospital, including acting Executive Director. She was also acting CKW Executive Director in late-June.

Louise will be in the role for six months, which will give us time to formally establish the role and undertake a permanent recruitment process. I look forward to Louise joining the CKW team soon.

On another note, applications for the CKW Director and Deputy Director of Medical Services have now closed. I’m looking forward to shortlisting and interviews so we can have some permanency again in these key roles, particularly as we expand into the new clinical services building.

Mandatory training update

Starting next Monday (19 September), courses in Basic Life Support and Patient Handling will run Monday to Thursday from 1.30pm – 2.30pm and 3pm – 4pm at the Caboolture Hospital Education Centre.

This will help you stay up to date before the transition to the new building starts next year.

Book in now through TMS. Basic Life Support is available here and Patient Handling is here.

Recognise, Respond, Refer

Metro North Health is again working towards While Ribbon Workplace Accreditation to help support the prevention of domestic and family violence.

A reminder that all staff are required to complete the mandatory online training module – Recognise, Respond, Refer – by next Sunday (18 September). It is available on TMS.

It’s also a great opportunity to check the status of your other training modules and get started on others that may be overdue!

Staff Shout-Outs!

Each month, I receive an email with the ‘Staff Shout Outs’ submitted for Caboolture, Kilcoy and Woodford staff. It’s a real highlight reading about how staff are living the Metro North Values every day.

I’m working on ways we can share these more broadly each month and acknowledge great work. In the meantime, here are a few great Shout Outs sent to me recently:

• Bianca Howard (Ward 4A) – Bianca has always been an amazingly supportive co-worker. As CNCF, she went above and beyond to ensure the team had upskilled and maintained competencies. As a TI, she is always helping staff and is clinically available to assist staff with nursing tasks. She is always happy and cheerful and a pleasure to work with.

• Carly DeBono (Discharge Planner) – Carly has tackled her new role with great enthusiasm. She is learning the new role well, whilst dealing with numerous hiccups within the ward along the way. She is confident and positive and always has a happy demeanour. With little guidance, she is excelling.

You can find more details and nominate someone for a Staff Shoutout here.

What a compliment!

The Ward 3B team received this wonderful compliment recently:

“The care was outstanding the staff did everything possible to help us. They were always productive and efficient. Very kind to our feelings and needs.”

Finally,

I received the most heart warming picture (right) this week.

The RBWH Surgical Team gifted our Surgical Team with a beautiful morning tea hamper.

They just wanted to make sure we knew they were thinking of us and supported us.

How wonderful is that!

I’m sure the team will enjoy the goodies.

Take Care,

Angie.