South West Hospital and Health Service PULSE APRIL 2020 EDITION From the Board Chair, Jim McGowan AM 4 From the Chief Executive, Linda Patat 5 OUR COMMUNITIES Responding to COVID-19 – Thank you for all helping slow the spread 6 SWHHS fleet cars are COVID ready! 7 Keeping healthy and active during COVID-19 8 Positive message for staff in St George 9 New app to help keep Australians safe 10 We are ALL the patient experience – Patient Experience Week 2020 11 Telehealth brings joy to one of our youngest patients 12 Cardiac rehab helping kick goals in the community 13 Wally loves a ‘yarn’ again thanks to Bree 13 Let’s see what the SWHHS Healthy Communities team love to do 14 Student placements go virtual for SWHHS 16 OUR TEAMS Two Community Care staff graduate 17 South West welcomes new Exercise Physiologist 18 Jenny says farewell to South West 18 International Workers’ Memorial Day commemorated 19 OUR SERVICES Quality care for people with mental health issues 19 Maternity goes virtual for COVID-19 20 Surat General Practice successfully renews national accreditation 21 Student accommodation in Roma gets the green light 22 APRIL #SWSPIRIT AWARD WINNER 23IS… NEW ROMA HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT24 Commissioning update 24 Construction progress 24 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 The contribution that you have all made to keeping the South West free of the dreaded COVID-19 virus has been outstanding. I commend all of you for your commitment to your communities. The change in focus as you moved to a community health prevention approach happened seamlessly. You have acted unselfishly and compassionately. The feedback from your communities has been very positive and that those people truly value the efforts of the “people on the frontline”. You can be Just don’t give up trying what justifiably very proud of yourselves and your colleagues. “ you really want to do. Where It has been a very difficult time for you, professionally and there is love and inspiration, for the community at large, socially and economically. I am hesitant to use the word “unprecedented”, but I cannot think I don’t think that you can of another suitable word to describe where we are at. However, go wrong.” it also reinforces what we know. We are very fortunate to live in the best country in the world. Compare the way in which our Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) Governments at all levels and of all political persuasions and our great health systems have responded compared to those in Jazz immortal the USA, UK and Europe. In times of adversity, innovations flourish. This is true of our current circumstances. Innovations and practices which have been discussed over long periods have been operationalised as part of our response to COVID-19. Innovative clinical models have included the expanded use of telehealth, including for primary care, “hospital in the home” approaches and greater access to community health services. Our response has necessitated greater cooperation across the entire system You are what you repeatedly and indeed nationally. This should encourage a longer-term “ commitment to this approach. When we emerge from this crisis, do. Excellence is not an we must build on these and not retreat from them. Similarly, event; it is a habit.” there are lessons from the deficiencies which have been exposed. These have largely been at the system level and the Aristotle (384-322BC) PPE issue is a classic illustration. Greek philosopher Like many, I am desperate for an end to the restrictions with which we have all had to live. To that I would like to add my voice to those advocating for people to download the COVID Safe app. Tracking those who have been in contact with people who have tested positive to the virus is a key responsibility for health workers as part of a broader strategy to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The app should make our obligation to track those who have been in contact with people who have the virus, quicker, simpler and more effective. That is in your interest and in the interests of us all! Jim McGowan AM 4 4 SouthSouth West West Hospital Hospital and and Health Health Service Service FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LINDA PATAT I would like to start by echoing Jim’s Their benefits for patients and their feedback and sentiments in relation to the families, and in rethinking how healthcare contribution you have all made to keep is delivered will assist us to move closer to the South West free from the COVID-19 our strategic goal of delivering a different virus to date. The feedback from our type of healthcare, closer to home and communities and partners about your in the home when it is safe to do so; and efforts and your skill and willingness to care that is personalised and accessible recognition and gratitude), contribution go above and beyond at this time has when needed. and leadership actions (achieving one’s been outstanding. I thank you for living I would like to take this opportunity full potential). I would encourage you to our purpose and ensuring we continue to continue to encourage all staff to take a look if you haven’t seen it – it is a to deliver health services that our download the LifeWorks app, and to reach great resource and reminder for us all to communities trust and value. out to the many avenues we have been continue to lead compassionately, and lift As the world starts to think about promoting should you feel you would the human experience of our staff as well returning to a new normal, we remain like a little more support, or are just as those in our care. focused on the adjusting precautions interested in accessing what practical and Until next time, stay in touch, stay we have in place to ensure our at risk helpful resources are available to you. connected, and above all, continue to care community members, and our staff, For those who may have missed these compassionately – both for yourself and continue to remain safe. links or resources, they are all available for those around you. on our internal website under my staff As I write this section, we have just communiques or the staff wellbeing Yours in service seen some restrictions lifted, allowing section of the website. Alternatively, don’t more travel, more activities and larger L hesitate to speak with your Line Manager gatherings. We know that, all going well, who can also help you access anything WHERE’S further restrictions are planned to be you may need. LINDA lifted in June and July. Throughout these changes we will continue to be very There is no doubt we have faced a BEEN? cautious. We will ready ourselves for the significant challenge in the previous potential of outbreaks – and encourage months. We have been able to not only every single community member and staff adapt and adjust rapidly, but we have Well there’s not much change from member to get tested if unwell or have continued our focus on the human where Linda has been in the past symptoms, no matter how minor. experience in real and tangible ways. month. Linda is behind her desk in a Thank you to everyone who celebrated a virtual world and very much missing Whilst our work in preparing for and very different Patient Experience Week. getting out and about catching up responding to COVID-19 has consumed Each year on our annual calendar of with you. our last month, we have also made events, this is a significant one for us. progress in relation to several of our One that reinforces and refreshes our key priorities this time of year. These commitment to truly person-centred care; have included our annual budget build, and reminds us why we were drawn into the preparation of our forward year’s the roles we are in. It was timely during operational plans, and the Roma Hospital that week to also see the Pandemic build. I look forward to sharing our Kindness Movement released by the progress on these items at our upcoming Agency for Clinical Innovation in NSW Senior Leaders Forum, and Virtual Staff Health which is based on the well-known Town Hall Meeting (both which will be undertaken through our new ways of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.