A few weeks ago I wrote about the move away from the pandemic response we have been well practiced at towards a more business as usual approach. I also mentioned that for some it will be a great relief and for others it may feel uncomfortable for a while.

I just wanted to check in and say what a great job you are all doing at taking it all in your stride a strength of ours at CKW! I also want to mention that these times of transition are also a great time to check plans and refresh our goals to ensure we’re ready for many new challenges and opportunities ahead.

Metro North Health’s MN32 document is an aspirational roadmap. It was first published in 2017, refreshed in 2020 and is being refreshed again this year to confirm our priorities and timelines.

With Caboolture West alone expected to deliver about 70,000 new residents over the next 40 years, and the ever-growing population throughout the Wamuran- Kilcoy corridor, we must plan ahead for expected growth, changes in technology and our population’s healthcare needs. At CKW we are in a unique position in Metro North to have three distinct sites all with common elements and all with their own unique challenges as well. It is important that we articulate these and advocate for them to be captured as part of Metro North planning.

For more information, watch the recent MN32 update vidcast with Jackie Hanson and Kate Copeland (from Thursday 6 October). More details and a refresh video are also available.

Let’s make sure Metro North can continue to be the biggest and importantly the best health service in Australia and let’s make sure that enables us to achieve our aspirations of serving our community here at CKW!

You are all the experts because you live and breathe service to our community everyday so please provide your thoughts and feedback to my email to ensure we capture a range of options and energise our big picture thinking.

CHRP Open Day for CKW staff

A reminder that you are invited to the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Staff Open Day later this month.

This is a great opportunity to get a ‘sneak peek’ of the construction progress and tour Levels 1 and 2 of the Clinical Services building. This includes the new main entry, the Emergency Department and the Intensive Care Unit.

The Open Day will be held from 10am – 2pm on Saturday 29 October for CKW staff only. Sorry – no family and friends at this stage – their opportunity will come soon.

To attend, click on this online registration link by Wednesday 26 October. For more details, email Caboolture_Projects@health.qld.gov.au

Operational Commissioning Change Clinic

The Operational Commissioning Team is hosting two ‘Change Clinic’ drop-in sessions next week. It’s a great opportunity to watch virtual reality tours of the new buildings, engage in a Q+A to raise any concerns – and much more. The sessions will be held on:

• Wednesday 19 October in Executive Meeting Room 1 from 12pm to 2pm
• Wednesday 26 October in Seminar Room 3 from 7am to 1pm.

For further details, send an email.

CHRP Commissioning Channel

It was great to have Jan Martin talking about the CHRP Commissioning Channel at the CKW All Staff Forum this week. It is a great resource and available online.

Advance Care Planning popular during Seniors Expo

Caboolture and Kilcoy hospitals’ Advance Care Planner, Desre Arnold, was popular at the Longman Seniors Expo held at Caboolture and Bribie Island this week.

Desré works directly with patients to ensure their health care values and wishes are documented in a way that they can be carried out if they are ever not capable of speaking for themselves.

She was on hand at the two expos alongside more than 80 other exhibitors to explain the importance of advance care planning, handing out 150 information packs to interested seniors during the two events.

For more details on Advance Care Planning, email cabh-ACP@health.qld.gov.au or phone 5316 5946.

Welcome Archana

Welcome Archana Mishra as acting CKW Manger Planning and Performance for the next six months, while Adam Kent is seconded to STARS. Great to have you on board and I look forward to working with you, Archana.

Also, welcome back to CKW Director of Nursing and Midwifery Ben Ballard. Thank you to Sue Bullock for acting in the role during his leave.

Temporary Staff Car Park works to continue

Recently, I talked about Unitywater closing 29 car parking spaces in the temporary staff car park for the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme project.

The drilling contractor has experienced some delays and the likely return of the car park spaces is now Monday 24 October.

I greatly appreciate your patience while these important works continue longer than expected.

What a compliment!

Here’s a great compliment received recently about our Emergency Department and Ward 3A teams:

“The staff who cared for me – from Emergency throughout my stay in Ward 3A – were all wonderful.

Jaala in Emergency was excellent. Rachel and Russell were both very professional and friendly, nothing was too much trouble.”

Christmas theme

A reminder that the theme for our popular annual Christmas decorations competition this year is ‘A Very Community Christmas’.

I am really looking forward to seeing the decorations going up from early December. Not just yet!

Finally,

It was great to welcome Chief Executive Jackie Hanson and Chief Operating Officer Jane Hancock to Caboolture Hospital this week for the inaugural ‘Listening Post’ event.

There was a great turnout – including consumers Carolyn and Jurina, The Common Good Volunteer Coordinator Karen Raspopin and volunteers Jan and Lauren.

I’m looking forward to hosting my own ‘Brief The Boss’ events as well. More to come!

Happy Allied Health Day and thank you for all of your hard work and commitment.

Take care,

Angie