South West Hospital and Health Service Getting ready for Harmony Week 2020 from Cunnamulla were (clockwise from left) Tina Jackson, Deirdre Williams, Kylie McKellar, Jonathan Mullins, Rachel Hammond Please note: This photo was taken before implementation of social distancing measures. PULSE MARCH 2020 EDITION From the Board Chair Jim McGowan AM 5 From the Chief Executive, Linda Patat 6 OUR COMMUNITIES All in this together - COVID-19 7 Roma CAN supports the local community in the fight against COVID-19 10 Flood waters won’t stop us 11 Everybody belongs, Harmony Week celebrated across the South West 12 Close the Gap, our health, our voice, our choice 13 HOPE supports Adrian Vowles Cup 14 Voices of the lived experience part of mental health forum 15 Taking a stand against domestic violence 16 Elder Annie Collins celebrates a special milestone 17 Shaving success in Mitchell 17 Teaching our kids about good hygiene 18 Students learn about healthy lunch boxes at Injune State School 18 OUR TEAMS Stay Connected across the South West 19 Let’s get physical, be active, be healthy 20 Quilpie staff loving the South West 21 Don’t forget to get the ‘flu’ shot 22 Sustainable development goals 24 Protecting and promoting Human Rights 25 Preceptor program triumphs in the South West 26 Practical Obstetric Multi Professional Training (PROMPT) workshop goes virtual 27 OUR SERVICES Paving the way for the next generation of rural health professionals 28 A focus on our ‘Frail Older Persons’ 29 South West Cardiac Services going from strength to strength 30 WQ Pathways Live! 30 SOUTH WEST SPIRIT AWARD 31 ROMA HOSPITAL BUILD UPDATE 32 We would like to pay our respects to the traditional owners of the lands across the South West. We would also like to pay our respects to the current and future Elders who will inherit the responsibility of keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture alive, and creating a better life for the generations to follow. We believe the future happiness and wellbeing of all Australians and their future generations will be enhanced by valuing and taking pride in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – the oldest living culture of humanity. SOUTH WEST QUEENSLAND TRADITIONAL OWNERS: Augathella – Bidjara (Bid-jara) Mungindi – Kamilaroi (Car-milla-roy) Bollon – Kooma (Coo-ma) Quilpie – Bunthamarra (Bun-tha-mar-ra) and Wangkumara (Wong-ka-mara) Charleville – Bidjara (Bid-jara) Roma – Mandandanji (Mand-an-dand-gee) Cunnamulla – Kunya (Koun-yah) with other interests St George – Kooma (Coo-ma) with Kamilaroi, Dirranbandi – Kooma (Coo-ma) Mandandanji, Bigambul and Gungarri interests Injune – Kongabula (Kong-ga-bull-a) Surat – Mandandanji (Mand-an-dand-gee) Mitchell – Gunggari (Gon-gari) Thargomindah – Kullila (Coo-lee-lar) Morven – Bidjara (Bid-jara) Wallumbilla – Mandandanji (Mand-an-dand-gee) OUR VALUES QUALITY COMPASSION ACCOUNTABILITY ENGAGEMENT ADAPTABILITY This newsletter is produced by the South West Hospital and Health Service (South West HHS). All feedback and contributions are welcome to [email protected]. All published material has been approved by the Health Service Chief Executive. 3 South West Hospital and Health Service FROM THE BOARD CHAIR, JIM MCGOWAN AM Thank you sincerely for the preparation that you have all been involved in to limit the impact of the COVID-19 virus in the communities of South West Queensland. The dedication and commitment that you have shown in the fight against this unprecedented crisis has been outstanding and inspirational. None of us have ever experienced such a threat to our health and the disruption to our lives, both economically and socially. Believe in yourself. In fact, its impact across the world was never ever been “ envisaged. Jobs have been lost in the hundreds of thousands; You are braver than you pubs and clubs are closed; no sport; cinemas, theatres, think, more talented than libraries, galleries and museums are closed, no artistic performances and travel severely restricted. Social distancing you know, and capable of and home isolation are new concepts. We have lost many of the more than you imagine.” things which have defined life in the twenty-first century. However, as you are in the frontline, you are making personal - Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the and professional sacrifices, for which we will be forever in your Heart (published in 2016) debt. I know that you are putting yourselves at risk. The work that you have done to inform local businesses is both admirable and critically important to containing the coronavirus. However as much as life is currently being disrupted, it will be insignificant compared to the disruption and health consequences when the infection reaches our communities. I know that you are well prepared, but it will test us all. This is a stressful time for everyone, particularly as we have no idea of when the crisis will end. Mental health issues are inevitable, and it is important that we look for signs of distress in the workplace and the community. The communities are genuinely appreciative of the role that you are doing and will continue to do in response to COVID-19. Stay safe; look after yourselves and your work colleagues. Jim McGowan AM 4 4 SouthSouth West West Hospital Hospital and and Health Health Service Service FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LINDA PATAT As I sit to write this section for our equipment – including the sequences for monthly Pulse, I reflect on how much putting on and removing, and the use of our lives have changed since I last sat signage. Hand hygiene remains vital, and down to do so. The impacts we have observing and monitoring compliance experienced over the last weeks have with hand hygiene at this times remains a been significant to comprehend. Our primary focus. people have responded to floods and We have a strong sense of common now the worldwide coronavirus pandemic direction and working together both – it certainly has been a very different WHERE’S across all of our services, and also start to a year we will remember. LINDA with our external partner services – BEEN? As Jim has said, this has delivered the particularly QAS, QPS, private GPs, challenge of a lifetime to all communities Councils, LDMGs, DDMGs, Aboriginal and to our health system. We are grateful Medical Services, RFDS, and WQPHN. for the incredible healthcare workers Our Community Advisory Network who I watch across the globe who have members have also been a wonderful We had many correct answers this stepped up to help care for people under point of contact and assistance to ensure month for the January Pulse ‘where’s immense pressure. Seeing their faces we keep our communities informed and Linda been’ – perhaps it was because with welts from the hours of wearing work together to resolve issues quickly, Linda hasn’t stopped talking about it facemasks really does rest heavy on us as they arise. since her return? Linda was in New York all who have worked, or are working, and LA (Venice Beach) … just to name In closing, I would like to sincerely thank on the front line. Understanding the a few places! The first correct answer everyone who has rallied behind our northern hemisphere pattern and how it received was from Deb Alick, Project cause to ensure the communities of will translate to the southern hemisphere Officer, Charleville. the South West stay safe and healthy. has been a case of intense monitoring Your emails and texts and messages of Guess where Linda was in March? and modelling from many levels. We’ve support and kindness have been very learned a lot more about this virus—and important to me, and I hope in return the more we learn, the more we have you are also feeling supported and cared been able to prepare and adjust to what for as part of our South West work- the risks ahead of us may be. family. Thank you for your dedication, More locally, we continue to press professionalism and care. forward deliberately with our preparation Stay in touch, stay connected work to ensure we are as best placed as … we will come out the we can be. The state has doubled ICU other side of this together, capacity and tripled ED capacity and when the time comes. strengthened retrieval and patient flow capacity for when our response plans Yours in service need to intersect. L I know this time has been deeply personal for everyone. Whilst our leaders, clinicians and staff at work have concerns about their patients, clients and communities - we are also at the same time concerned about your own families at home – our parents, children, friends and loved ones. Having our staff well informed and trained for their response is critically important. All staff will have viewed the COVID-19 training video, and know how to put on personal protective 5 The Pulse MarchApril 2020 2020 ALL IN THIS TOGETHER - COVID-19 Coronavirus is impacting the lives of every single Practising good hand and cough hygiene and social person in our community in some way. The last few distancing, are the best defence against coronavirus. weeks have seen enormous and unprecedented Our communities are our number one priority and South change to life as we know it with the declaration by West Hospital and Health Service is investing all the the World Health Organisation of the coronavirus time required to ensure that vital work is undertaken to (COVID-19) pandemic in March 2020. The situation protect and keep our communities safe. Our preparedness to respond to COVID-19 is well progressed with plans is evolving rapidly each day with National and State continually being refined and tested. Documented plans policies introduced to slow and contain the spread of have been developed that cover protection and ways the COVID-19 to save lives and protect livelihoods.