Performance off to a strong startWBHHS has started 2019 strongly, continuing its good performance in emergency and elective surgery.

WBHHS continues to be a leader in elective surgery, with only one of the 437 patients treated during January waiting beyond the clinically-recommended waiting time.

“Our performance in elective surgery has been sustainable since 2014, thanks to the hard work of our theatre teams who have continued to do an outstanding job,” WBHHS Chief Executive Adrian Pennington said.

WBHHS also continues to perform strongly in emergency department waiting times, despite more than 11,000 presentations during January – an 11% increase on the same month last year.

“Our emergency teams have continued to see 100% of the most urgent Category 1 and 86% of Category 2 patients within their recommended triage time,” Adrian said.

“In Category 2 this is particularly impressive, as there has been a significant 16% increase in the number of these patients, who have complex conditions, presenting at our departments.”

MAR 13, 2019www.health.qld.gov.au/widebay /widebayhealth WBHHSMedia@health.qld.gov.au

Hervey Bay Hospital’s new Clinical Decisions Unit (CDU) has opened, providing alternatives to an emergency bed for patients awaiting tests or for those with conditions that require only a short stay before discharge.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said the opening of the state-of-the-art new unit would provide more flexibility for short-stay inpatients and relieve pressure on the emergency department.

When this world-class new facility was designed, it was important that it provided a flexible model of care and helped to relieve pressure on the emergency department,” Minister Miles said.

“I congratulate everyone involved in the new unit, from planning through to opening – it will make a significant difference to patient outcomes for the Fraser Coast community.”

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board Chair Peta Jamieson said the opening of the CDU, which is located on level 1, marked another important step in WBHHS’s most significant infrastructure development since it was established in 2012.

“Building capacity is a key part of our strategic plan, Care Comes First… Through Patients’ Eyes, and the CDU will help ensure we can deliver the right care, at the right time, in the right place to Fraser Coast patients,” Peta said.

“While we now have a new and expanded emergency department in operation, it’s important that we can support the ED by providing further capacity and patient flow options, and freeing up emergency beds for other patients who need urgent acute care.”

WBHHS Chief Executive Adrian Pennington said a key aspect of the CDU was the involvement of emergency department staff and experts in its design.

“This forward-thinking facility will mean that clinicians will be able to take the appropriate time to review patients and consider their pathway for ongoing care – whether that’s back in the community or as an inpatient – without taking up an emergency bed,” Adrian said.

“Our hope is that the ED and CDU will be at the forefront of an ongoing evolution in models of emergency care, and will help rewrite the curriculum for emergency medicine training across Australia.”

New unit to relieve emergency pressure

Dr Emeka Nwufoh, Bernadette Bradshaw and Peter Heath welcome the relocation of Hervey Bay’s Clinical Decisions Unit.

Have a story to share? Email the Media and Communications team.

What’s Inside l International Women’s Day l Bursary for ICU training l Fundraising in the can l Mozzie message has bite l Fraser Coast Dunga Derby team l Prescribing Wisely l 60 seconds with Glenys Foley l Education, Training and Research

WIDE Bay Hospital and Health Service has marked International Women’s Day by celebrating and promoting the achievements of women in a number of ways.

Board Chair Peta Jamieson – who is also a director of the Gladstone Ports Corporation board and runs her own consultancy – was interviewed both by the Bundaberg NewsMail and Fraser Coast Chronicle as part of their features on local women leading the way.

Peta said while she had certainly encountered people throughout her career who had judged others’ views or abilities based on their gender, she was proud to represent an organisation that supported equity and fairness.

“I support lifting everyone up, regardless of gender,” she said.

My view is that diversity is a value to be championed.”

WBHHS also released a short video slideshow (see selected pictures below), promoting this year’s International Women’s Day theme of #BalanceforBetter, which aims to encourage a better gender balance at work

and at home. The video highlighted WBHHS’s strong record in promoting and supporting women, including the fact that women fill five out of eight Executive roles, five out of nine Board roles, and occupy 47% of our junior doctor training roles.

WBHHS also sent a table of 10 leaders and emerging leaders from both clinical and non-clinical roles to attend the sixth annual Women in Leadership Queensland Summit on March 26–27.

Memorial bursary to support professional developmentThe Dr Sunil Singh Memorial Bursary has been presented to Bundaberg Hospital registrar Dr Nathan James.

The bursary was created to honour the late Dr Singh, who served as the clinical director of the Bundaberg Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

Each year the $5000 bursary will be awarded to a PHO or registrar working at Bundaberg Hospital to help with their professional development in a field related to critical care.

The bursary can be used to cover tuition, research, conferences, text books and other fees in relation to education and training in the field.

Currently working as a Registrar in the Department of Anaesthetics, Dr James previously worked in the ICU as a PHO.

He is planning to use the bursary to fund his participation in a perioperative short course, an ultrasound in anaesthetic course and to attend the Never Alone CICM Conference in Darwin.

Balance for better

Board Chair Peta Jamieson

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BUNDABERG Hospital staff, visitors and the broader community will now be able to support the Bundaberg Health Services Foundation by simply recycling bottles and cans.

The initiative was first promoted by local student Brielle Czapracki, 8, who is the daughter of a Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service staff member, when she started collecting cans and bottles for the Foundation.

“Containers for Change has seen people embrace recycling throughout Queensland and it’s fantastic to support the program with collection points around Bundaberg Hospital,” Wide Bay Hospital and Board Chair Peta Jamieson said.

Bundaberg Hospital will directly benefit from the funds raised from these bottles and cans, as the BHSF will use the money to purchase medical equipment.”

Foundation Manager Anne McWhirter praised the initiative as a wonderful way to support the Foundation’s fundraising efforts.

“It’s great that Brielle had the initiative and enthusiasm to start collecting and for local hospital staff to get behind the idea, which enabled her vision to become a reality,” Anne said.

“We hope staff, patients, visitors and the general community will get behind the cause.”

Bins will be distributed at the dining room, ICU, executive offices, theatre staff room, Medical Ward level 3, PARAS, Allied Health, HR, Cancer Care and outside the Thirst Aid Café.

Foundation volunteers will empty the bins and collect the items once a week to take to

a local recycling depot. Anyone cashing their cans and bottles in at a local recycling depot can support the Foundation by quoting the designated number C10054973.

For more information, call the Foundation on 4150 2863.

Mozzie message has some biteTHE Wide Bay Public Health Unit is reminding people to take active steps to avoid mosquito bites, after recent trapping identified Ross River Virus in mosquitoes collected from parts of the Fraser Coast.

Wide Bay Public Health Physician Dr Margaret Young said Ross River virus was one of the most common causes of mosquito-borne diseases in Wide Bay.

“While we have discovered these mosquitoes with Ross River, year-to-date notifications for

humans with both Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses remain low, with five and one case each respectively,” Dr Young said.

“However, the favourable breeding conditions, together with the confirmed presence of virus in mosquitoes, indicates that the community should take measures to avoid mosquito bites.”

Dr Young said there were a number of precautionary steps people could take to discourage mosquitoes around their home and to protect themselves from bites.

“People can discourage mosquitoes around the home by removing stationary water they may breed in – whether that’s buckets, pot

plant bases, tyres or a poorly maintained fish pond, swimming pool or water tank,” she said.

“You can also avoid or reduce the likelihood of a bite by wearing loose, light-coloured and long-sleeved clothing; applying insect repellent on exposed areas; having insect spray available when needed and ensuring insect screens on doors and windows are in good condition.”

Ross River Virus, as well as Barmah Forest Virus, will cause aching joints and pains, lethargy and headaches. Anyone with symptoms that last more than a day or two should see their doctor.

For further information, click here.

Containers for change at Bundaberg

Brielle Czapracki collects containers with Bundaberg Hospital staff and volunteers.

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THREE Hervey Bay Hospital employees from quite different backgrounds are teaming up to take on this year’s Dunga Derby challenge, in an effort to raise money for the Fraser Coast community.

ICU Nurse Unit Manager Christine Jennings, telecommunications officer Priscilla Dullaway and admin officer Gail Ciavarella are joining up with another friend to form an all-female team for the four-day car rally from August 1–4.

The “Birds of Prey” team may have drawn inspiration from the DC Comics villainesses, with their car Poison Ivy – but their intentions would make any comic-book hero proud.

“We come from various backgrounds, but we share a passion for fundraising and community involvement, and the Dunga Derby is an event we have aspired to do for quite some time,” Priscilla said.

“Participating in the event means we will share the experience of raising much-needed funds and giving back to the community we live in.

The money raised from Dunga goes towards helping families on the Fraser Coast who have been affected by extreme medical conditions or other unfortunate circumstances.

“Working for Queensland Health has exposed us to families just like these and we have witnessed some of the trauma involved from such hardships. We want to do our part to help make things a little easier for those who need our support.”

Endometriosis awarenessIt’s Worldwide EndoMarch!

You may be asking what EndoMarch is. Well, it’s a global campaign aimed at raising awareness of endometriosis and was previously known as the Million Women March for Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a common disease in which the tissue that is similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it in other parts of the body.

Common symptoms include pelvic pain that puts life on hold around or during a woman’s period. It can also damage fertility.

Endometriosis is a disease that affects one in 10 women, which is approximately 200 million women and girls worldwide.

With an average diagnosis delay of 7–10 years, many young women and girls face a

long and stressful journey from symptoms to diagnosis.

Team Australia’s goal for the 2019 campaign is to raise funds towards developing education programs and raising funds for endometriosis research. Our Q Clinic team in Bundaberg has also got behind the cause with a promotional display at the Margaret Rose Centre.

To find out more about what’s happening around Australia, or about endometriosis, go to www.endomarch.org/

Staff rally for Fraser Coast families

Gail Ciavarella, Priscilla Dullaway and Christine Jennings prepare to take part in this year’s Dunga Derby.

The team is currently working on getting Poison Ivy ready for the car rally, seeking sponsors and donations, and organising fundraising events, including a trivia night and movie event.

Donations can be made via the cash donation tins at the Hervey Bay Hospital cafeteria and coffee shop, or online directly

to www.rallyforacause.org.au/dunga-derby/teams/birds-of-prey

If you’re interested in sponsoring the team or donating prizes, contact teambirdsofprey@hotmail.com.

You can also follow the team on Facebook and Instagram by searching for “Dunga Derby Birds of Prey”.

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A NEW “Prescribe Wisely” project team is working to optimise the use of certain medications and stroke management, as part of WBHHS’s broader Choosing Wisely initiative.

Over the coming weeks, project lead Jacqueline Kewley and the team will focus on:

• Gentamicin use as part of the broader Antimicrobial Stewardship program

• Oxycodone prescribing in orthopaedic and surgical wards

• Introducing tenecteplase for acute ischaemic stroke thrombolyis.

The Choosing Wisely campaign aims to challenge the notion that “more is always better” when it comes to testing and treatment.

Reducing inappropriate and unnecessary antimicrobial use will help us as clinicians to improve patient outcomes and may also reduce the adverse consequences of antimicrobial use, such as antibiotic resistance and toxicity,” Jacqueline said.

Focusing on post-operative oxycodone prescribing is part of the first wave of Opioid Stewardship across Wide Bay’s orthopaedic and surgical departments.

The rate of opioid prescriptions is steadily increasing in Australia, where almost a third of hospitals are regularly sending patients home with opioids as a “just in case”

measure to manage pain. This rise in opioid prescriptions is accompanied by a rise in opioid dependency and addiction.

Tenecteplase – the third medication focus of Prescribe Wisely – is already being used successfully in WBHHS’s rural facilities in acute ischaemic stroke thrombolysis, and the project team hoped to build on that success by identifying its appropriate place in Fraser Coast and Bundaberg Emergency Departments.

For more information about WBHHS’s Prescribe Wisely project, contact Jacqueline on Jacqueline.Kewley@health.qld.gov.au or on 0436 618 634.

For more information about Choosing Wisely, visit www.choosingwisely.org.au

Fresh new look for nursesWBHHS’s nurses are taking on a fresh new look, as new nursing scrubs uniforms are now being ordered and rolled out across the region.

The new uniforms started out in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay’s medical and surgical wards, and have since been made available

to nurses in other wards and facilities.

Uniforms for Nurse Units Managers, rural Directors of Nursing and After-Hours Nurse Managers are also now available, either through Sauers Clothing Supplies on the Fraser Coast, or Inn Style Mensland for Bundaberg and rurals.

Fitting times are by appointment at Hervey Bay’s clean linen room and Maryborough’s operational services room (call 4325 6886 or 4122 8228 respectively), while at Bundaberg

they are held each Tuesday from 10am–12pm and Thursday from 12.30–2.30pm. Appointments outside these times are not available.

All renal units and rural facilities can now start ordering the new range. Please remember to regularly check at your respective hospitals to see if your order has arrived.

Order forms are available on QHEPS > Forms > Alphabetical listing > U

Choosing prescriptions wisely

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What’s OnMARCH1–31 Melanoma Awareness Month1–31 Epilepsy Awareness Month1–31 EndoMarch9–13 Headache Awareness Week10–16 World Glaucoma Week11–17 Brain Awareness Week13–17 World’s Greatest Shave (leukemia)13–20 Coeliac Awareness Week14 World Kidney Day15 Red Nose Day15 National Day of Actiona against

Bullying and Violence20 International Day of Happiness20 World Oral Health Day21 Harmony Day26 Purple Day for Epilepsy

Your role? Medical Laboratory Scientist.

How long have you been with WBHHS? Eleven years (but I have lived in the Wide Bay for 37 years).

How do you describe what you do? I’m part of a team that provides a 24-hour service to the hospital and the wider community, running blood tests and other clinically relevant tests that aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. We also provide often lifesaving blood products in times of emergency. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

What’s best about your job? There is variety and never a dull moment. You come to work each day/evening/night never knowing what the shift will bring. Also, I can contribute to being a part of a lifesaving team of people, which includes all employees of the Hospital and Health Service.

When you’re not at work, you are… A wife, mother, grandmother and Pastor. I enjoy keeping fit and healthy and I love being out in my garden.

What do you enjoy about living in Wide Bay? I love the family-oriented community and the proximity to so much natural beauty with beautiful beaches and waterways, as well as parks and gardens. Lots of community and family friendly activities available.

Tell us a fun fact about you. I competed in the world age group triathlon championships in London in 2013.

What was the last movie you saw? A Star is Born.

Tea or coffee? Cat or dog? Maroons or Blues? Tea; Dogs; and Maroons.

eVolve newsletterWant to know how digital technologies and innovations are being rolled out across WBHHS? eHealth Queensland’s a bi-monthly e-newsletter, Evolve, showcases just this.

To get across and contribute to the latest news and encourage others to do the same, you can simply:

1. Subscribe here

2. Share the link with your Queensland Health counterparts

You can also email any story ideas or suggestions to ehealth-comms@health.qld.gov.au

Running tests and triathlons

Glenys Foley, Medical Laboratory Scientist

Glenys Foley

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nds with ... Joke of the daySome wisecracks for the benefit of the surgery teams this week…

Q. What was the name of the patient who couldn’t eat prior to surgery?

A. Neil Bymouth

Q. What did one orthopaedic surgeon say to the other on arriving at work?

A. It’s going tibia great day.

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Contact WBHHS Education, Training and ResearchPhone: Hervey Bay – 4325 6104 Maryborough – 4122 8315 Bundaberg – 4150 2228 Email: WBHHS-ETR-Services@

health.qld.gov.au

To access registration forms, training information or resources, go to the Education, Training and Research page on QHEPS

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Training CalendarneoResus First Response MBH 13 Mar

OVP: Basic Personal Safety MBH 14 MarNegative Pressure Wound Therapy with VAC

HBH 15 Mar

Continence BBH 19 MarEmergency Control Organisation (Warden)

HBH 19 Mar

PRAISE General Work Health and Safety Fundamentals

HBH 19 Mar

Advanced Life Support BBH 20 MarPatient Handling Ward Unit Trainer MBH 20 MarTransition Support Program BBH 20 MarFamily Partnerships Foundation BBH 21 MarFamily Partnerships Foundation BBH 22 MarFamily Partnerships Foundation BBH 28 MarFamily Partnerships Foundation BBH 29 MarPROMPT (Practical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training)

BBH 21 Mar

Triple R Training: Delivering Person Centred Care to People with Dementia

MBH 21 Mar

PROMPT (Practical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training)

HBH 22 Mar

Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration (COMPASS)

BBH 22 Mar

Operational Services Training Refreshers

MBH 25 Mar

OVP: Team Restrictive Practices MBH 25 MarDementia Essentials MBH 26 MarDementia Essentials MBH 27 MarDementia Essentials MBH 28 MarOVP: Basic Personal Safety BBH 26 MarAdvanced Life Support HBH 27 MarOVP: Team Restrictive Practices BBH 27 MarCentral Venous Access Devices Champion

CCB 28 Mar

Advanced Life Support HBH 29 MarneoResus Advanced BBH 29 Mar

BBH–Bundaberg Hospital; BMP–Biggenden Multipurpose Health Service; CCB–Cancer Care Bundaberg; CMP = Childers Multipurpose Health Service; GGH = Gin Gin Hospital; GH–Gayndah Hospital; HBH–Hervey Bay Hospital; MBH–Maryborough Hospital; MOH–Monto Hospital; MMP–Mundubbera Multipurpose Health Service.

Find out more by logging into TrainStation

Bare below the elbowsWBHHS’s Infection Control team is promoting a “Bare Below the Elbows” and Hand Hygiene initiative across the region throughout March, with a view to raising awareness and further reducing healthcare-associated infections.

The initiative will also:

• Promote the requirement for hands and wrists to be free of any items such as bracelets and wristwatches, and for individuals to wear short sleeves

• Remind staff of the importance of correct and timely hand hygiene, based on the World Health Organisation’s Five Moments of Hand Hygiene

• Aim to increase WBHHS’s Hand Hygiene audit average compliance across the region to 85%

• Promote the resources available on WBHHS’s Infection Control QHEPS hub.

Staff will be encouraged to promote activities to support effective hand hygiene techniques and promote the awareness of the

Queensland Health’s Bare Below the Elbows initiative. Staff can respond in different and creative ways to promote these activities.

Example may include small in-service talks at unit meetings, using the resources available on the infection control QHEPS site, and using the Glitter Bug Kits, which will be making their way around the region’s hospitals and units.

The Bare Below the Elbows poster (pictured) can also be printed off, laminated and displayed in appropriate locations.

At the end of the month, staff are encouraged to pose for photographs while holding the poster to demonstrate their support.

Photos can be submitted to WideBay-InfectionControl@health.qld.gov.au and may also be considered for inclusion in an upcoming Wide Bay Wave edition.

A prize will be given to the unit with the best photograph.

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YES• bare lower arms• short sleeves• short, clean nails• hand hygiene

NO• rings with stones• wrist watches• wrist jewellery• long sleeves• nail polish• nail enhancements

Bare Below the Elbows ZONE

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