The Metro North Board met at the Nundah Community Health Centre at Nundah on 27 September. It was wonderful to resume our commitment to meet in different locations across the region.

The Board met last week in the Australian Unity Boardroom in the wonderfully refurbished Edith Cavell Building on the Herston campus.

This month’s report is a little later than usual as I have had the opportunity to visit the hospital and health facilities on Norfolk Island. As you may be aware, from 1 January this year, Metro North has assumed responsibility to provide support for the Norfolk Island Hospital and Residential Aged Care Service (NIHRACS).

In my role as Board Chair at Metro North, there are some opportunities which are best described as inspiring. One such occasion was the Deadly Start Orientation last Wednesday.

This week is National Reconciliation Week. The 2022 theme is “Be Brave. Make Change.” According to Reconciliation Australia, the theme “is a challenge to all Australians— individuals, families, communities, organisations and government—to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians”.

The Metro North Board met on Tuesday 26 April. As I have indicated many times, the recovery after we are over the scourge of COVID will require all hospitals and health services to investigate new ways of doing things, new models of care and effectively utilising the new technologies.

I write this from my isolation at home as a result of my wife, Kaye, testing positive to COVID-19. This dreaded virus continues to create havoc across Metro North and the broader health system. I know that our personal inconvenience is minimal in comparison to the pressure on those of you providing frontline services, with large numbers absent either because they have contracted the virus or are in isolation because a family member or loved one has.

The Minister for Health and Ambulance Services has informed Board Chairs of the statewide hospital and health board appointments. All appointments have been published in the Queensland Government Gazette and commence on 1 April 2022.

The Metro North Board meeting on 22/2/22 was the first meeting at which Jackie Hanson attended as the substantive Chief Executive. Congratulations again, Jackie.

Appointment of Jackie Hanson as Chief Executive, Metro North Health