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 tough week and the strong patient demand due to COVID-19 and other winter respiratory illnesses is expected to continue for the next four to six weeks before we are expected to see some relief.

That’s why, from Monday (25 July), Metro North Health is enacting several changes to ensure we can prioritise our frontline COVID-19 response.

This includes all non-critical meetings and education being cancelled during this surge period. I have been working with your leaders to ensure these directions are enacted and I’m sure they have been working with many of you to tailor this to the local needs.

Please read the daily Metro North Health Incident Controller message to remain up to date during this busy time and utilise the Virtual ED and community health services for patients who don’t need care in an acute hospital setting, so we have beds available for patients who really do.

We will also be standing up regular managers Incident Management Team (IMT) meetings as we have previously done.

Remember, we need to look after ourselves before we can care for others. Please support your colleagues and remember there are several resources available for staff who need further assistance. A good place to start is talking with a CKW Care4You Peer Responder.

I’m always impressed by the compassionate care that we deliver for patients. Let’s keep that teamwork going.

Massive thank you to Allied Health!

A massive thank you to our Allied Health team, who have successfully moved 33 outpatient clinics to their new home at the Caboolture Super Clinic for the next 12 months.

The move off-site provides much needed space for our temporary Emergency Department expansion.

The Super Clinic’s aim is to provide comprehensive and collaborate health care for the community, so moving some of our services there is a good fit for everyone.

A special shout out to our administration team who really went above and beyond to make this move such as success.

They manually contacted 300 patients and turned around 60 clinical templates in just 48 hours. Under normal circumstances, one template change usually takes about six weeks! A truly extraordinary effort!

Welcome Tracy!

A very warm welcome to Tracy Grant as our new Manager of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health for Caboolture, Kilcoy and Woodford.

Tracy  brings a wealth of experience working in Queensland Health to establish, grow and improve health services within hospitals and in the community.

I am excited to work with Tracy to improve the care we provide and make CKW a really great place for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues to work.

Please say ‘Hello’ to Tracy and make her feel welcome!

Donate Life Week

A reminder that Donate Life Week (24-31 July) is a real opportunity to focus our attention on this important area of health.

Donation Specialist Barb Williams will be available at an information stall in the Caboolture Hospital central corridor on Tuesday and Wednesday (26+27 July).

What a compliment!

Something different this week. Rather than a patient compliment, I wanted to share some of the ‘Staff Shout Outs’ that recognise great work by colleagues. Here are a few from almost two dozen ‘shout outs’ sent by CKW staff last month:

Dr Sam Spenceley is always approachable, cheerful and professional. His bedside manner and empathy are second to none, I’m so proud to be able to work alongside a brilliant up and coming doctor.

Nicole Anderson is acting NUM of Outpatients. I find her extremely supportive, approachable and understanding. I enjoy coming to work knowing there is such an exceptional person as our manager.

Pharmacy intern Zoe Robinson – amazing work so far in your intern year Zoe! You are a terrific addition to the CKW pharmacy team and your hard work is greatly appreciated.

Finally,

Congratulations to Caboolture Hospital administration officer Anneliese Whitehouse, who will take centre stage with her sisters at the Gympie Music Muster next month!

Vixens of Fall will perform alongside Australian country music royalty including Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley and John Williamson!

Take Care,

Angie.