As you would all be aware, we are being affected by further severe weather – and this is expected to continue over the coming days, at least into early next week. Whilst the thunderstorms and rain are heavy today, it is expected to ease in our area over the coming days.
In our busy clinical work, I acknowledge that some clinical support and administrative functions can be delayed.
Far from being a ‘day off’, Anzac Day is a specific time that I am able to reflect on my own Military Service (25 years in the permanent Navy and now the part-time/reserve force for the past 7 years) and join the nation in reflecting on Australians that have served for and alongside our nation and remembering those that have made the ultimate sacrifice.
STAND UP – INTENSE RAINFALL EVENT
Today we bring you a combined flood update and COVID-19 update. There is a lot of important information in today’s message so please take time to go through the below.
A few weeks ago I wrote about the move away from the pandemic response we have been well practiced at towards a more business as usual approach. I also mentioned that for some it will be a great relief and for others it may feel uncomfortable for a while.
It is now less than eight months until we reach construction completion of the new Clinical Services Building (CSB)! We have so much to look forward to and many aspirations to achieve.
Our charity partner, The Common Good, will host its inaugural Caboolture Hospital Giving Day on Wednesday 30 November.
It has been a really big week across the Directorate. It has been 12 months since the independent external review into surgical services at Caboolture Hospital was conducted by eminent South Australian surgeon, Dr Jim Sweeney.
This week has been a week of global reflection over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. We have heard the voices and opinions of monarchists, republicans, our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, feminists, butlers and heads of state.
R U OK? Starting a conversation when you spot the signs that someone you care about might be struggling with life is important every day, every week, every month, every year.
We recently identified an urgent need to temporarily extend capacity of the current Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department (ED).
Working in effective teams improves clinical outcomes, increases professional satisfaction and provides crucial peer support (James, 2021).
To ensure we are ready to open the new Clinical Services Building next year, construction work needs to happen throughout the kitchen area of the Common Good Café.
The pressures that we have been facing from external sources are not to be underestimated. I recognise that this - on top of all that you have been doing every day during a pandemic and with increased demand - is not to be taken lightly and very much recognised by myself and your leaders
Here's some great news! At 7am tomorrow morning (Wednesday 17 August), Metro North Health will move to a Tier 2 response in our COVID-19 and Influenza Response Plan.
I’m sure you have heard me say before that we need to look after ourselves and care for each other to ensure we can continue to provide high-quality care to patients.
Did you catch the Metro North vidcast yesterday with Incident Controller Louise O’Riordan and Acting Chief Digital Health Officer Dr Jason Brown? It included some very encouraging news.
I truly value all your hard work. Weeks like this are a good reminder of the strength of the CKW team. You have all shown this in the cross-collaborations and rapid responses in so many directions.
Working in healthcare can be very challenging and very rewarding. Each and every one of us at CKW contributes to delivery of excellent patient and family centered care for our community.
It’s been a familiar story. Patient demand for health services across all areas of the Caboolture, Kilcoy and Woodford directorate continues to rise, combined with many staff furloughed due to illness.
My favourite quote from Lord of the Rings is “There may be a day when the hearts of men and women may fail … but today is not that day … for today we fight!”
COVID is surging again, at the same time as winter flu season. This surge is estimated to last for weeks to a few months. So we need to change gear again … this time it’s back to COVID Tier 3.
Let’s celebrate NAIDOC Week. Be encouraged to call into the central courtyard this Thursday between 11am and 3pm. At 11am, there will be a traditional Welcome to Country with Aunty Jacque Kina, following by Torres Strait Islander dance group performances and a drop-in art workshop.
After night, the sunrise will come. After winter, spring will arrive. We will get through this season. Right now we are recruiting 50 new staff to help us. In 7 ½ weeks, we will have 12 more bed spaces.
This week we bid farewell to Caboolture Hospital Coordinator Sue Stork, who is transitioning to retirement after a remarkable 46-year nursing career.
While Angie Dobbrick continues as Acting Executive Director at TPCH and Dr Simon Bugden takes some planned leave, I am acting Executive Director for the CKW Directorate this week (to Friday 24 June).
What a week! Thanks for all of your valiant work in caring for our community. More staff are being recruited and more space is being created. Our CKW is growing and receiving more resources. Now is the season for us to try new ways of doing things, to stop doing things which patients don’t value and to focus on what really makes a difference.
Caring for people and helping them get better … it’s what we do. Doing this at the moment is very challenging for many teams. We have spent most of the past week on Tier 3 (old Code Yellow) due to high community demand.
We’re all committed to providing the best possible care for our patients and the community and so I would like to thank you for all of the work you have done this week.
Once again we are faced with an extraordinary weather event! I know, if it’s not COVID it seems to be water. It is always during these critical times that I am humbled by the teamwork and commitment you all have to the community and each other. We shouldn’t underestimate the power and strength in this culture and you should all be very proud of your efforts. Thank you!
The community continues to have confidence in surgical services available at Caboolture Hospital.
In a bid to meet Queensland’s growing demand for trade apprentices, students from Caboolture State High School have toured behind the hoarding of Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment project recently.
Caboolture Hospital patients are accessing outpatient services in the community during the hospital’s expansion.
Caboolture Hospital now has a temporary new Emergency Department Fast Track area.
From Washington DC to Caboolture ED, Consultant Doug has had quite the career that lead him to our shores.
First time mum, Jessie, had ‘a moment’ when she heard her premature baby, Nehemiah, breastfeed by listening to his swallowing sounds via headphones at Caboolture Hospital recently.
Caboolture Hospital Operational Services Officer Lauren Saunderson enjoys helping staff, patients and visitors.
Kilcoy Hospital will be on one of the first Metro North Health facilities to introduce a solar energy system to deliver renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.
It was a very heartfelt farewell to Cook Supervisor Kath Ellem who retired recently after 45 years working at Kilcoy Hospital.
After working in a haberdashery store in Caboolture and getting to meet different people each day, Julie-Anne Tattnell knew that she was destined for a career that involved helping people.
Hands-on training delivered at Caboolture Hospital has helped St Columban’s College student Matthew Siver win the North Coast Region School Based Trainee of the Year award.
Men’s health was the key focus of an event at Dayboro recently, which included a presentation from Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospitals Advance Care Planner Desre Arnold.
A huge thank you to the Caboolture Men's Shed for donating $2,700 from their recent golf day to The Common Good Caboolture Hospital Children's Appeal.
The Common Good awarded its inaugural Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospitals and Woodford Corrections Health (CKW) Research Grants during a ceremony at Caboolture Hospital recently.
More news from Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospitals and Woodford Corrections Health Service.
We are growing bigger and expanding. Who is moving to a new place soon?
Let the countdown begin – it’s just 11 months until forecast construction completion.
The Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Project (CHRP) is just one way that Metro North Health is helping to close the gap of health inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Most women never forget the day they give birth to a new baby, but Rebekah White has a more dramatic recollection than most from the arrival of her second child, Malachi, at Caboolture Hospital.