Executive Messages 2021 (Archive)
December 2021
Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Adj Prof Jackie Hanson
17 December 2021We are just eight days away from Christmas, and as I reflect back on 2021 – wow, we have achieved some exciting things. From the opening of our first digital ...Read more >Message from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer: Adj Prof Alanna Geary
17 December 2021Here we are the end of 2021 and this will be my last message to you all before the end of the year. While the year has been a huge ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Research: Professor Dan Chambers
17 December 2021I am extremely pleased to announce our Metro North Clinician Research Fellows for 2022.Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Adj Prof Jackie Hanson
10 December 2021For those of you who weren’t able to join us at the Staff Excellence Awards last week, I’d like to share with you a thank you video made to celebrate ...Read more >Message from the Chief Allied Health Practitioner: Mark Butterworth
3 December 2021Metro North continues our commitment to staff wellbeing through many initiatives and resources.Read more >Message from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer: Adj Prof Alanna Geary
3 December 2021December is here and I suspect everyone is getting ready for the festive season, however that looks for you. We all celebrate this time of the year differently and for ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Adj Prof Jackie Hanson
3 December 2021Congratulations to our finalists for our Staff Excellence Awards. I look forward to celebrating with everyone tonight.Read more >
November 2021
Message from the Board Chair
26 November 2021We all have a role to play in making our hospital and health services accessible, free from racism and discrimination, culturally safe and responsive. Queensland has until 2031 to Close the ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Adj Prof Jackie Hanson
26 November 2021This week our Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) won two awards at the Premier’s Awards for Excellence. They were the winners of the Infrastructure and Manufacturing category and also ...Read more >Message from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer: Adj Prof Alanna Geary
26 November 2021The Metro North Nursing and Midwifery ‘Dance Off’ was such a success in 2020 that it is now time again for us put on our dancing shoes and spread cheer, ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Adj Prof Jackie Hanson
19 November 2021This week we launched a Business Case for Significant Change which proposes decentralising the Clinical Support Services directorate and returning governance of these functions to the facility/ clinical directorates they’re ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Services: Liz Whiting
19 November 2021Many of you will know that there has been a broader campaign across Metro North to ‘Make the Switch’ around the use of medications, consumables and testing which will help ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Assets and Infrastructure: Kate Copeland
19 November 2021Last week was National Recycling Week (8-14 November) and Metro North celebrated with a Recycling Showcase and Forum held online and at the RBWH Education Centre.Read more >Message from the Board Chair
11 November 2021Today’s Remembrance Day commemoration is an opportunity to reflect on the actions of those who gave their lives to change the course of history.Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Adj Prof Jackie Hanson
5 November 2021Individual tickets and tables are now on sale for the Metro North Staff Excellence Awards gala dinner.Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk: Michele Gardner
5 November 2021Metro North Health and the University of Queensland School of Pharmacy have partnered to appoint a Professor of Safe and Effective Medication Research.Read more >Message from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer: Adj Prof Alanna Geary
5 November 2021There is much happening in our health service presently. Clearly COVID-19 is looming, and I continue to encourage you to encourage your family friends to get vaccinated.Read more >Message from the Chief Finance & Corporate Officer: Melissa Carter
5 November 2021As I’ve been preparing to finish up with Metro North, I’ve been reflecting on my time here over the past four years.Read more >Message from the Chief Allied Health Practitioner: Mark Butterworth
5 November 2021Metro North continues our commitment to staff wellbeing through many initiatives and resources.Read more >
October 2021
Message from the Chief Medical Officer: Dr Elizabeth Rushbrook
28 October 2021Changes to the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 mean that all medication prescribers must register now for QScript. QScript is a clinical tool providing real-time monitored medicines prescription information for ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk: Michele Gardner
28 October 2021Thank you to everyone who attended the 2021 Safety and Quality Forum on Friday 22 October.Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Adj Prof Jackie Hanson
28 October 2021Next week is Mel Carter’s last week with Metro North. Alister Whitta will be the temporary Chief Finance and Corporate Officer while recruitment is underway. Alister is coming to us ...Read more >Message from the Chief Finance & Corporate Officer: Melissa Carter
22 October 2021It was a pleasure to attend the Corporate Symposium this week and see so many people enjoying the day. The symposium provided an overview of some of Metro North’s bodies ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Research: Professor Dan Chambers
22 October 2021Metro North is committed to funding research that triggers collaboration with our academic partners. These strategic links, and the data generated from the projects, are acknowledged as an important component ...Read more >Message from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer: Adj Prof Alanna Geary
22 October 2021I hope the past couple of weeks since my last message have been positive for you all. We are very aware of how busy everyone is but with summer coming ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Adj Prof Jackie Hanson
22 October 2021It’s been a big week for events. TPCH has been celebrating its annual Charlie’s Week with events every day including a music quiz, treasure hunt, race around the helipad, and ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk: Michele Gardner
15 October 2021As of Wednesday 13 October, our colleagues within Clinical Skills Development Service have facilitated more than 17,853 fit tests for frontline workers, including Metro North staff, Queensland Police Service, and ...Read more >Message from the Chief Allied Health Practitioner: Mark Butterworth
15 October 2021Yesterday was Allied Health Professional’s Day which is celebrated annually on the 14th October. It is a relatively new international event that was started in 2018 by two clinicians in ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
15 October 2021This week I spent a day at Redcliffe Hospital meeting with staff and visiting different areas across the hospital. Thank you all for making me feel welcome and showing me ...Read more >Message from the Chief Finance & Corporate Officer: Melissa Carter
8 October 2021A quick update on our management team. Cameron Abbott, our General Manager of Health Funding and Data Insights, is finishing up with Metro North today to take up an opportunity ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
8 October 2021This morning our Incident Controller Louise O’Riordan and I held a vidcast about Metro North’s refreshed COVID planning. Our current tiered response plans are available on our staff COVID extranet. ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk: Michele Gardner
8 October 2021Fit testing sessions are occurring over this weekend and continuing next week. The fit testing sessions are advertised on the extranet fit testing schedule and will be increased over the ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Services: Liz Whiting
8 October 2021Connecting Your Care project: Healthcare Excellence and Innovation will be commencing planning on a large body of work relating to non-admitted patient activity, under the Connecting Your Care initiative on ...Read more >Message from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer: Adj Prof Alanna Geary
8 October 2021It has been a few weeks since I have written a communication to you and I apologise. The weeks just fly by and Fridays seem to come around awfully quickly! ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
5 October 2021As at this morning, 19590 staff across Metro North have uploaded evidence of COVID-19 vaccination. Thank you everyone who has taken the time to do this.Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
1 October 2021With so much activity surrounding the pandemic response, it’s easy to overlook some of the other achievements happening across the organisation. Recently we’ve celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Queensland ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk: Michele Gardner
1 October 2021I would like to invite you to the 2021 Metro North Health Safety and Quality Forum. The forum is an annual event for Metro North Health staf and consumers aimed ...Read more >
September 2021
Message from the Executive Director Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk: Michele Gardner
24 September 2021Over the last few weeks, we have had a good uptake of fit testing sessions and we continue to provide more mask options for staff in these times of demand.Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
24 September 2021This week Metro North has stood up a new community COVID-19 vaccination hub at Pinkenba. We are also holding pop up vaccination clinics at Suncorp Stadium today and Saturday for ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Research: Professor Dan Chambers
24 September 2021The NHMRC have released a provisional timetable for their grant rounds in 2022 (dates may be subject to change) which can be used for planning purposes.Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
20 September 2021I’d like to thank Simon Bugden for acting as Executive Director Caboolture, Kilcoy and Woodford for the past few weeks while Angie Dobbrick has been on a well-deserved family holiday. ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
17 September 2021This week there’s been a lot of work around mandatory COVID vaccinations. All Metro North staff must provide evidence of your first dose of COVID vaccination by 30 September and ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk: Michele Gardner
17 September 2021Thank you to Metro North staff have attended a fit testing session over the last six months. As a business continuity plan, we are able to give mask options for staff. ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Health Service Strategy & Planning: Colleen Jen
17 September 2021The Health Service Strategy and Planning Unit (HSSPU) coordinates the development of operational plans for Metro North Business Units, Directorates and Clinical Streams and related reporting each year on behalf ...Read more >Message from the Chief Finance & Corporate Officer: Melissa Carter
17 September 2021Our Metro North Corporate Symposium will be held on Wednesday 20 October. It’s an opportunity for staff in non-clinical roles and corporate roles to come together for professional development and ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
14 September 2021I’d like to thank Simon Bugden for acting as Executive Director Caboolture, Kilcoy and Woodford for the past few weeks while Angie Dobbrick has been on a well-deserved family holiday. ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
13 September 2021Over the weekend, the Director-General announced that vaccinations will become mandatory for all Queensland Health employees working in locations where care is provided to patients and consumers.Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
10 September 2021Our Staff Excellence Awards are now open and the nominations are coming in thick and fast!Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk: Michele Gardner
10 September 2021An update on vaccinations, fit testing and safety and quality.Read more >Message from the Chief Allied Health Practitioner: Mark Butterworth
10 September 2021It’s hard to avoid seeing or hearing about the huge impact that news reporting surrounding COVID-19 and other world issues is having on ourselves and on those around us. R ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
3 September 2021Our Staff Excellence Awards are now open and the nominations are coming in thick and fast!Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Services: Liz Whiting
3 September 2021I am pleased to announce the Knowledge Translation, Innovation and Implementation hub project planning, led by our team in Healthcare Excellence and Innovation (HEI) is progressing well.Read more >Message from the Executive Director Assets and Infrastructure: Kate Copeland
3 September 2021A short and sweet message today to share with you two Metro North Health projects that took out the top prize in the recent Master Builders Housing and Constructions Awards. ...Read more >Message from the Chief Allied Health Practitioner: Mark Butterworth
3 September 2021In the time before COVID I happened upon a very well-dressed woman, sitting on an upturned milk crate, sobbing in a byway at one of our hospitals. With this scene ...Read more >Message from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer: Adj Prof Alanna Geary
3 September 2021What a busy few weeks we’ve had at Metro North Health! It sometime seems like we are on a never-ending roller coaster and it’s never going to stop and let ...Read more >
August 2021
Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
31 August 2021Yesterday Queensland Health released its findings from an investigation into the COVID-19 cases related to The Prince Charles Hospital earlier this year.Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
27 August 2021More than 50 per cent of the eligible population in Metro North has received their COVID vaccination. Much of this work has happened in our clinics across Metro North – ...Read more >Message from the Chief Finance & Corporate Officer: Melissa Carter
27 August 2021Our annual Corporate Symposium is an opportunity for staff in corporate roles across Metro North to come together to connect.Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Operating Officer: David Rosengren
27 August 2021Some of you may be aware that Professor Brett Emmerson has decided to retire after 25 years with Metro North and RBWH. As Executive Director Metro North Mental Health, Brett ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Research: Professor Dan Chambers
27 August 2021I am delighted, humbled and excited to address you as Executive Director of Research for Metro North. Research in all its forms – discovery, innovation, translation, implementation, and evaluation – ...Read more >Message from the Chief Allied Health Practitioner: Mark Butterworth
27 August 2021I am more committed than ever to the importance of high quality research to enhance our patient care and outcomes. The AH32: A vision for Allied Health 2032 reflects this ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
20 August 2021This week I’ve had the opportunity to meet with staff at Brighton Health Campus and at our Kippa Ring vaccination clinic. I was very disappointed to hear that the staff ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk: Michele Gardner
13 August 2021An update on vaccinations, fit testing and safety and quality.Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Operating Officer: David Rosengren
13 August 2021Today is Debbie McNamara’s last day as Executive Director of the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS). Debbie has been with Metro North since 2017 when she came on board ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
13 August 2021This week we have continued to see the numbers grow in the Indooroopilly COVID cluster. Fortunately, the new cases this week were already in quarantine, so community transmission hasn’t continued. ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Health Service Strategy & Planning: Colleen Jen
13 August 2021Improving the health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remains a priority for Metro North Health. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team will be ...Read more >Message from the Chief Allied Health Practitioner: Mark Butterworth
6 August 2021You only need to notice the news reporting around COVID-19 to become aware of the huge impact being felt in our community in the psychological wellbeing space.Read more >Message from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer: Adj Prof Alanna Geary
6 August 2021Thank you to every single nurse and midwife in Metro North who has absolutely gone above and beyond to meet the challenges that have confronted us.Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
6 August 2021A week is a very long time in the pandemic. This week has seen dozens of our staff go into home quarantine and isolation due to the Indooroopilly COVID cluster. ...Read more >
July 2021
Message from the Executive Director Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk: Michele Gardner
30 July 2021On 25 February 2021, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) introduced new definitions and regulatory requirements for a category of Personalised Medical Devices (PMDs) currently known as custom-made medical devices which ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
30 July 2021In my first week as Acting CE, I have had conversations with several people who are concerned that there will be significant changes to our vision and direction following Shaun ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Health Service Strategy & Planning: Colleen Jen
30 July 2021Metro North Health is developing a Metro North Outpatient Services Plan 2021-2024. This Plan is an opportunity to explore new ways to improve processes and access to outpatient care ...Read more >Message from the Chief Operating Officer: Jackie Hanson
23 July 2021Today marks our current CEO’s last day with Metro North. I want to give a huge farewell to Shaun. I’ve worked alongside Shaun and the Metro North team for the ...Read more >Message from the Chief Allied Health Practitioner: Mark Butterworth
23 July 2021As well as my Allied Health leadership role, I enjoy looking after a range of staff supports. Having some executive sponsor roles fits perfectly and helps me expand my work ...Read more >Message from the Chief Executive: Shaun Drummond
23 July 2021Today is my last day as the Chief Executive here at Metro North Health. It is a great privilege to be part of the team here in the health service. ...Read more >Message from the Chief Executive: Shaun Drummond
16 July 2021Today the Board Chair announced that Jackie Hanson will be the Acting CE after I finish up next week which is excellent news for Metro North.Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Governance, Safety, Quality and Risk: Michele Gardner
16 July 2021Thank you to those staff who have been involved with fit testing across Metro North facilities, as well as staff for taking responsibility and getting fit tested, keeping yourselves and ...Read more >Message from the Executive Director Clinical Services: Liz Whiting
16 July 2021I am very pleased to announce that Dr Daniel Chambers will be commencing as the new Metro North Executive Director Research from Monday. Dan brings to the role more than ...Read more >Message from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer: Adj Prof Alanna Geary
16 July 2021This week has been a little more controlled than previous weeks and I know that many of us are hopeful that this continues. I am, however, very cognisant of the ...Read more >Message from the Chief Operating Officer: Jackie Hanson
9 July 2021NAIDOC week is wrapping up this weekend. Due to the restrictions, we have held another virtual NAIDOC celebration this year with a series of videos hosted on the Better Together ...Read more >Message from the Chief Executive: Shaun Drummond
9 July 2021It’s been an extremely busy winter so far, on top of an already busy year. Next Sunday (18 July), we’ll hold a Movie by The Mill event. Due to the ...Read more >Message from the Acting Chief Executive: Jackie Hanson
5 July 2021Given everything that’s happening with COVID-19 at The Prince Charles Hospital, Dr Alex Chaudhuri will return full time to his role as Director Infectious Diseases TPCH. I’d like to thank ...Read more >Message from the Chief Executive: Shaun Drummond
2 July 2021Last week I was saddened to hear about the passing of a member of our Metro North family, Hayley Middleton. Hayley worked for Metro North for many years before we ...Read more >Message from the Chief Executive and Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Leadership Team
1 July 2021With National NAIDOC Week upcoming (4-11 July) and the lockdown and restrictions currently in place within our local community, it is highly prudent that all local NAIDOC face-to-face events be ...Read more >
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