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.

We have listened to outpourings of love, sadness, topics such as duty, service and family have been discussed, and there has been centuries old traditions that we have witnessed unfold.

I have been reflecting on all the events and listening to the thoughts and opinions, and I have concluded that, regardless of anyone’s thoughts and opinions, right or wrong, the underlying fundamentals of life are true ‘that change is inevitable.’

My own beloved grandmother, who passed two months ago, was exactly the same age as the Queen. She and my grandfather had a very similar length of marriage, 73 years and, like the Queen, she saw enormous change throughout her life.

We see change every day, gosh, the past two years have seen enormous change, beyond what we may ever have imagined. Each and every one of you has been part of that!

I was reminded yesterday that it is now 8 months before we reach practical completion of the new Clinical Services Building (CSB). Eight months!

So many ambitions, so much to look forward to ….  so much change.

It will be how we draw on our strengths – our sense of community, our commitment to each other and the community we serve, our commitment to training and education, and our commitment to always achieving great things, that will see us through the change and realising our ambitions into the new CSB.

These comments may sound very Caboolture Hospital-focused, but the CSB will have an effect on all our locations and services.

Albert Einstein once said: “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”

So, as you all engage in conversations, workshops, team meetings about the CSB, new models of care, staffing and the like, I challenge you to think about how you can change your thinking, how we can step out of the box and encourage each other to achieve great things for our community and each other!

White Ribbon Accreditation

Metro North is again working towards White Ribbon Workplace accreditation to help support the prevention of family and domestic violence.

Caboolture Hospital held a soft launch this week with a stand in the central corridor (next to the central courtyard) this week.

Several CKW executives, myself and staff gathered for a photo this week to show our support, which will also form part of the Metro North accreditation process.

Temporary staff car park changes

Unitywater contractors have been working recently near the north-eastern corner of the temporary staff car park for the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme.

From Tuesday (20 September) to Monday 10 October, a total of 29 car parking spaces in the temporary staff car park will be closed for the installation of water pipes. There will also be some minor changes to traffic flow in that area.

Most of the work is being done during the school holidays when parking demand is usually less. However, finding a car parking space on-site is never easy and may become more difficult during these works.

Kitchen refurbishment and changes to the Wellness Centre

The Caboolture Hospital kitchen refurbishment project is progressing well, with 50 per cent of the refurbishment now complete. Food Services staff are now using the new dishwasher and pot washer, which has been a very welcome improvement.

From Wednesday 21 September 2022, the dry store will return to the kitchen and the temporary kitchen plating line will relocate to the Wellness Centre until December 2022. This is to allow the new plating line to be constructed in the kitchen.

Staff can continue to use the Wellness Centre during this time, but we ask that you please give priority access to Food Services staff during peak plating times.

I encourage you all to take advantage of alternative locations during meal breaks, including the Allied Health playground area, the main courtyard and the chapel courtyard.

The kitchen refurbishment project is essential to ensure we have the capacity to meet both patient dietary needs and the higher demand for Food Services as our hospital expands following the redevelopment project.

Thank you all for your ongoing patience and flexibility with these changes.

New Child Protection training now live

Metro North Health has just launched a revised online child protection training program called Supporting all Families Everyday (SaFE) V2, which is mandatory for all staff to complete.

The updated SaFE V2 training program, which replaces the original SaFE training, provides staff with the vital tools to recognise risk factors for abuse and neglect, as well as respond appropriately to any suspicions that a child is in need of protection.

SaFE V2 acknowledges that child protection is everybody’s responsibility and we each play a part in contributing to a child safe organisation.

Staff are required to complete one of the program’s three modules – non-clinical, clinical and clinical (high risk child protection areas) according to their role and place of employment.

All modules incorporate cultural capability and trauma informed care practices and are comparable to original training in terms of completion time.

SaFE V2 is now available on TMS, so I encourage you to log in and complete this important training as soon as you can.

What a compliment!

Here’s a remarkable compliment on the care received by a patient in the Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department and Ward 4A recently:

“From the very start, my triage nurse Gabby had the utmost empathy.  She was the most caring, genuine nurse I have ever had. She went above and beyond.

“From there I was transferred to ED and was taken care of by Nurse Nat. She had a gentle, kind way about her and I felt that she actually cared about me. Dr Lucy, who explained my lumbar puncture, to Dr Adam who performed the procedure, had the most amazing bedside manner. So kind and gentle.

“Then all of the nurses who took care of me in ward 4A for my duration. I was astounded by the level of care I received. I did not encounter one single nasty/grumpy nurse. Nursing student Katie was so lovely and she will be an asset to your team when she finishes her schooling at the end of the year.

“I was also really impressed with the care my ward mates received. Nurse Jasmine was absolutely lovely and Nurse Jan was terrific, too. The was a lovely Fijian/Australian nurse (who I did say to that I would never remember her name because it was so unusual!). She did a fantastic job, also.

“The thing I noticed the most from triage to ED to my ward, was the way all the staff talked to each other. The mutual respect and kindness weren’t lost on me. I have never in my entire life had such a positive experience during a hospital stay. I was very, very ill when I arrived. I never once felt that I was a bother and I never felt the staff thought I was wasting their time.”

Annual Leave

I will be taking a week’s leave from Monday (19 September), returning next Monday (26 September).

CHRP Project Director Fiona Brewin-Brown will be fulfilling the role of Executive Director during this time. I thank Fiona for taking on the role and I know you will all welcome and support her.

Director of Nursing and Midwifery Ben Ballard is also taking leave from Monday (19 September) to Monday 10 October. Metro North Heart and Lung Stream Nursing Director Sue Bullock will be acting Nursing and Midwifery Director during this time.

Sue has already been part of our great team this year, having acted in Ben’s role and Director of Operations already. Welcome back, Sue!

Finally,

The Caboolture Hospital Indigenous Touch Football Competition is on tomorrow at St Columban’s College. It will be a fun day for the whole family.

Good luck to all the teams and thank you to Rachel Bailey and everyone who helped organise this wonderful event again this year.

Take care,

Angie