Dear colleagues,
I’m pleased to share our COVID-19 vaccination program commenced at STARS on Monday, averaging 200 vaccines administered daily to those in Phase 1a. We’re on track to administer our 1000th COVID-19 vaccine late today. This is an enormous milestone for Metro North and for the broader Queensland community. Well done to all involved who have been working long days in preparation for this activity.
Planning is underway for Phase 1b vaccinations. Once details are available on who exactly is in Phase 1b, and how you can make a booking, we will be sure to let you know. We are working to have as many staff vaccinated as soon as possible.
This week I attended the Herston Infectious Diseases Institute (HeIDI) forum. HeIDI is another example of Metro North leading the way in connecting clinicians and researchers to address existing and emerging health issues.
In addition to the activity at STARS in our vaccine hub, we have also seen many services come online at STARS. STARS plays an important role in reducing wait lists for elective procedures. STARS will deliver an additional 12,000 gastroenterology procedures and 14,000 surgical procedures each year.
By mid-2021, STARS will have seven operating theatres functioning, two more from now. Additional services will continue to come online over the next 12 months.
This week has seen continued surge in demand across all of our facilities. We continue to look at strategies to assist with patient flow during unprecedent demand for services.
Your hard work during this time is appreciated and does not go unnoticed. For many of you, you will have worked hard to continue to deliver excellent care to our patients. Please know there are a range of resources to help you if you need them. Check out the wellbeing page on QHEPS to see what options are available.
On a bright note, Monday marks International Women’s Day, a global day to celebrate the achievements of women while marking a call to action to accelerate gender parity. This year’s theme is #ChooseToChallenge – with a call to action to call out gender bias and inequality. Let’s all ‘Choose to Challenge’ on Monday and each day in the workplace.
Across Metro North we are committed to celebrating our female workforce and providing equal opportunity. Across Metro North women make up 74% of our total workforce, including 87 per cent of our nursing workforce, 80 per cent in managerial and clerical positions, and 77 per cent in health practitioners and professionals. At a Metro North level, women make up two-thirds of our senior executive team.
So Happy International Women’s Day to all the women across Metro North for Monday!
Wishing you all a great weekend.
Kind regards,
Jackie Hanson
Acting Chief Executive
Metro North Hospital and Health Service