The WIDE BAY Wave

The future is now

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service

December 2013

Inside this issue...

Meet the man in WBHHS (South) hot seat: P6

By Mat Nott

WIDE Bay Hospital and Health Board has launched a community consultation project on an unprecedented scale to give locals the chance to shape the future of the public health system.

Health advocacy groups, club movements, service organisations and media partnered in the ambitious Your Hospital Your Say campaign that will canvas Wide Bay residents from November 8 – December 6 about the direction of their health service.

The campaign centres on a strategic plan consultation document which sets out the health challenges people of the region face and a

vision for how the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service plans to respond across the next five years.

“Our disease prevalence and levels of disadvantage highlighted in the consultation document are a concern for our community.” WBHH Board Chair Dominic Devine.

“For example, research tells us our rates of asthma, mood disorders and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are among the highest in Australia,” Mr Devine said.

The consultation document was developed in a structured consultation process

with community leaders, clinicians, WBHHS staff and the Board.

“What the Your Hospital Your Say consultation process is all about is giving the public the chance to add to the health service’s understanding of our health problems and what solutions are envisaged.”

“If strong trends emerge from the community or our staff we will acknowledge this in planning for the future.”

The consultation document and questionnaire are available online at: www.health.qld.gov.au/widebay

Anatomy of Your Hospital Your Say. How the Board and the WBHHS pulled it all together: Page 3.

Get the latest on all QHEPS safety: P14

How beef cattle helped Monto grow a country hospital: P11

WBHH Board Chair Dominic Devine and WBHHS CE Adrian Pennington host a public meeting in Hervey Bay. Picture courtesy of Fraser Coast Chronicle & Alistair Brightman.

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The WIDE BAY Wave

THE floods earlier this year that forced the evacuation of the Bundaberg Base Hospital and caused disruption across the region are a powerful reminder to prepare for the storm season.

It is important for the heads of each area and facility to ensure that each environment has its emergency plans in place.

As well as checking your work area, remember to prepare for emergencies at home as well.

Staff are reminded to check if their contact details provided to their line manager are up to date.

Visit the Get Ready Queensland website at http://getready.qld.gov.au for more information.With storms on the way, early preparation will help keep you safe.

THIS is the first edition of The Wide Bay Wave. This magazine will focus on health happenings across the Wide Bay.

Over time it will become one of the most important ways we have to communicate with each other.

Each month, all staff will have access to a copy and opinion leaders in the community and primary health sector will receive copies in either digital or hard copy formats.

We want to keep our staff informed and we want the community to know what we are doing.

As a Board we have a desire to be transparent and honest in our dealings and to engage with people.

In a way, the launch of The Wide Bay Wave carries forward the spirit of

engagement that inspired the Your Hospital Your Say campaign.

No other health service has ever undertaken such a comprehensive community consultation process.

In this edition, plenty has been written about what we tried to achieve as a Board and a health service with the Your Hospital Your Say campaign.

We took months to plan and develop a draft strategic plan but as a Board we realised it could never be complete without asking the public what they wanted.

This is what the Your Hospital Your Say campaign was about - giving the community the chance to help us plan for the future.

When we began the Your Hospital Your Say campaign, I gave a guarantee that the Board would listen to your suggestions.

I can say with certainty that the feedback from staff and the public will ensure the final Strategic Plan is different from the consultation document.

The Board and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service executive have listened and we will act.

On behalf of the Board I would like to thank everybody who contributed their effort and insight.

I would also like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Dominic Devine

INDEX4: Chief Executive and COOs

North and South report

5: All the winners from the Nurses Oration

7: Maryborough Hospital attracts big crowds during Open Day

8: Wide Bay mayors have their say on health

10: Startling results revealed for Fraser Coast breast surgery

11: Rural Rounds harvests all the news from the regional towns

Be prepared at home and work for the storm season

Community input to drive change

3Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service - Dec 2013

THE Your Hospital Your Say campaign asked Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service staff and the public for feedback about the future direction of health service delivery.

Early in 2013, Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board held three meetings between senior health service executives, clinicians, Board members and community leaders.

A Strategic Plan Consultation Document 2013-2017 emerged from these conferences. Staff and the public reviewed this through the Your Hospital Your Say campaign.

On October 31, the consultation document and accompanying survey went live on SharePoint – a digital platform available internally to staff.

On November 8, a media campaign combined TV, radio and print/digital coverage launched the consultation document across the Wide Bay.

The consultation document and survey went live on the rejuvenated WBHHS external website – www.health.qld.gov.au/widebay – on this date.

Respondents were able to contribute survey comments online or via hard copies of the survey which appeared in the newspapers.

Hard copies of the consultation document went to community leaders and health professionals.

Campaign posters went to health facilities and many community institutions.

The second phase of this consultation process was an old fashioned roadshow.

Michelle Howerd and Tor-quaisia Robe-Broome with copies of the Strategic Plan Consultation Document.

Healthybyte Healthybyte HealthybyteIN 2012–2013 in the WBHHS, 67,391 people were admitted to WBHHS hospitals, 120,760 people presented to emergency departments, and 4584 elective surgery procedures were done.

WBHHS has started the financial year in a balanced position. New strategies reduced a $45m June 2011 deficit to $8m by June 2012 and wiped it out by the start of the current reporting period.

THE evacuation of Bundaberg Base Hospital during the 2013 floods has been recognised by disaster management experts as one of the most professional ever undertaken in Australia.

Anatomy of a campaign

A team lead by the chief executive Adrian Pennington and Chair Dominic Devine hosted public meetings in Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Childers.

A second team lead by WBHHS Chief Operating Officer (North) Debbie Carroll and WBHHS Director of Nursing Rural Services Sara Shaughnessy went to the eight regional facilities in two hectic days.

The final phase promoted the campaign through databases of institutions such as the RSL movement and the Hervey Bay Boat Club, service organisations such as Rotary and bodies such as the CANs, CCCs and auxiliaries.

“I think consultation is good,” said Michelle Howerd – senior project officer

with the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.

Ms Howerd and Tor-quaisia Robe-Broome attended the Hervey Bay community consultation meeting at the Mantra Resort along with about 40 locals.

“It captures the voices of people at a community level,” Ms Howerd said.

“Health is a whole of society issue but I’d like to see more of a regional breakdown on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.”

For the consultation document and survey go to www.health.qld.gov.au/widebay or for staff via Sharepoint until COB 6 December 2013.

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The WIDE BAY Wave

Chief Executive’s ReportIT is great to see the launch of The Wide Bay Wave. A magazine for staff and the community is another way to communicate our successes.

In this first message I would like to share some of the achievements of the past year. Firstly, we clawed back a $45m deficit to balance the books.

We delivered 6% more patient activity than expected and reduced waiting list sizes by over 40%.

Endoscopy waiting times twelve months ago were two and a half years long. Today, the wait is four weeks. It is a remarkable achievement in the battle against cancer.

We have increased the number of medical staff by 40 with every post being filled in our rural facilities.

The Hospital in the Home team, patient transporters and specialist centres are developments that have contributed to providing a more focused and quality service.

Our emergency and mental health teams continue to rate among Queensland’s best. These are just some examples of what we have done together.

I wish for us to create the best health service in regional Queensland.

We have some unique demographic challenges and we are now planning to meet them.

The new strategic plan to be launched in 2014 will set out our commitments to the community and provide the tools to measure our achievements against them.

We are heading in the right direction. I wish to take this opportunity to thank all staff within the WBHHS. What you have achieved and continue to achieve makes me proud to be your Chief Executive.

CE Adrian Pennington

THE inaugural edition of the Wide Bay Wave comes toward the end of a year in which we have all experienced significant change in our organisation. It is change that sharpens our focus on the delivery of acute services and brings a fresh commitment to the highest quality patient care.

This year we have delivered an endoscopy blitz which has significantly cut waiting times. In the WBHHS (South) more than 1200 patients have been treated in five months. It is an amazing feat from our hard working theatre staff.

In addition, compared to this time in 2012 we have increased the number of patients seen in the specialist outpatients department in Hervey bay and Maryborough by 20%.

In some speciality areas we have doubled the amount of patients being seen.

A Clinical Decision Unit has opened in Hervey Bay Hospital. It has five beds and a chair. The unit treats 200 patients a month and has reduced patient waiting times in ED.

We have created a Hospital in the Home program which now has 12 beds across Hervey Bay and Maryborough.

The HITH service has enabled patients to be treated in their own homes in a “virtual ward”.

This is more convenient and clinically appropriate for the patient and has improved patient flow at the Hervey Bay Hospital.

You should be proud of these efforts and our other successes.

See Stephen’s profile: Page 6

2013 BEGAN with the dumping of 500mm of rain, floods, six mini-cyclones and the evacuation of Bundaberg Hospital.

Rural facilities were cut off.

It demonstrated our emergency preparedness and the ability of our team to effectively manage disasters.

Once we recovered from the floods, we embarked on the most significant change many of us have experienced while working in Queensland Health.

Congratulations to the Surgical Stream as they have managed to meet NEST part 1 and 2 targets for the month of October 2013.

The specialist outpatient department has managed to reduce the waiting lists from 4429 to 1433, an outstanding result. A total of 37,461 patients were seen for an outpatient appointment in 2012/13. This includes 10,315 New, 26 067 Review and 1079 Telehealth patients.

Great teamwork and planning ensured patients were booked and treated in time. It was great to see all green on the traffic light reports.

In closing, I would like to express my thanks to the entire team for their amazing efforts throughout the year.

Despite the challenges we have faced throughout the year, the Bundaberg and Rural teams aimed to deliver safe, quality care and services to our patients.

I would also like to recognise the WBHHS nursing team as they continually rise to every challenge and opportunity.

COO-ee SouthCOO-ee North

WBHHS COO (North) Debbie Carroll

WBHHS COO (South) Stephen Bell

5Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service - Dec 2013

THE Nursing Oration held in Bundaberg on 2 November, 2013, was a special occasion to acknowledge excellence in nursing across a number of categories and to reward outstanding achievement. The judging panel had a difficult job, due to the quality and number of nominees. Congratulations to all of those nominated as it reflects these staff members are held in high regard by their peers and nurse leaders. A common theme in the nominations was that the candidate often went above and beyond for their patients or team members.

The winners of the individual and team categories were:

Mundubbera nursing team recognised at the Nurse Oration for positive contribution to the community and work in the 2013 floods: (L–R) Aileen Evans CNC, Glenda Leifels EEN and Fiona Tuituri EEN.

Nurse of the Year Jan McClure - After Hours Nurse Manager Bundaberg Promoting Life Long Learning John Gamlin - Educator Bundaberg Runner-up Graduate Nurse of the Year Charline Gadsby Bundaberg Graduate Nurse of the Year Sheree Laverick - DEM Bundaberg Innovation in Nursing Monica Mooney PAC Bundaberg

Preceptorship Shirley Williams Monto

Caring and Compassionate Barbara O’Connor DEM Bundaberg

Rural Mundubbera Nursing Team

Community Linda Johnston - Monto

Enrolled Nurse Diane Philips - Rehab Bundaberg

Team Award Rehab Nursing Team

Excellence in nursing awards

Chief Operating Officer (North) and Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services Debbie Carroll with Nurse of the Year Jan McClure. Jan is after hours nurse manager at Bundaberg Base Hospital.

6

The WIDE BAY Wave

Stephen Bell, WBHHS (South) chief operating officer (acting), an innovator at work.

Stephen BellTHE WBHHS Employee Healthy Lifestyle program is coming and will call on staff to challenge their choices.

Staff wellness programs are more than calls to eat right, stop smoking and make healthy lifestyle choices.

The Employee Healthy Lifestyle program will lead to a healthier and happier workplace and improve the culture of communication and information sharing.

Get involved and become a member of the Healthy Lifestyle working group by emailing: WBY-Safety@health.qld.gov.au

PLANNING for the construction of oral and cancer care buildings worth almost $35m in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay are well progressed with detailed design development underway for both projects.

The process is now entering construction document phase. This is the final phase of design. This should be completed by early 2014.

It is expected that tenders for both the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay projects will be called early in 2014 with tenders to close about one month later.

The aim is to start onsite construction mid-April, 2014. Current planning points to a 2015 completion in Hervey Bay and Maryborough.

IT’S been a big 18 months for Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service acting Chief Operating Officer Stephen Bell.

He moved to Hervey Bay from the Sunshine Coast HHS to take on the role of Director of Community and Allied Health Services WBHHS (South) in June 2012.

By July, 2013 he was appointed to the acting COO role capping an18 year career with the Department of Health.

Not content with accountability for the management of health service delivery in Maryborough and Hervey Bay hospitals

as well as community health, he also finalised plans to purchase a family home in Hervey Bay.

His wife Desiree is a local school teacher and they live with their two sons Jack, 6, and Eric, 7.

As a registered psychologist with extensive experience in acute mental health services, Stephen is not without insight into the deeper workings of the mind.

Asked to describe himself using two adjectives, he offered up: committed and motivated.

Our healthy lifestyles

Cancer and oral build progresses

For whom the Bell tolls

7Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service - Dec 2013

WIDE Bay Hospital and Health Service staff and volunteers recently took on the role of tour guides to show interested locals through historic sections of Maryborough Hospital

The hospital threw open its doors as part of the annual Maryborough Open Day.

This is an annual celebration during which owners and operators of buildings of heritage significance, private and public, permit people to come inside.

Points of interest were the main hospital entrance and front gates built by 1886 during construction of the hospital.

Other historical features on the tour were the former medical and deputy medical superintendent’s accommodation (1928).

F block, originally constructed in 1926 as nurses quarters, was officially opened in 1928.

V-Block and it operating theatres was considered to be cutting edge when first

constructed in 1935. The style had been adopted from a famous Berlin hospital.

Board deputy chair Barb Hovard, a Maryborough identity, was on hand to meet and greet visitors who came to revisit history.

One of the tour guides, WBHHS employee Cindy Woodward, said the day was a educational but exhausting.

An estimated 400 people toured the hospital.

Our tour guide sisters enjoyed discussing the rich heritage of the Maryborough Hospital campus during the Maryborough Heritage Open House Day celebrations.From left to right: Carmel Crotty, Tracey Cropp, Sarah Davies, Trish Spreadborough & Cindy Woodward. “Heritage Sisters”

Maryborough Open Day

Cheaper ultrasound services ContributeNEW ultrasound technology is providing more ultrasound services in WBHHS (South) that cost less due to increased Medicare billing.

A seven day ultrasound service for Hervey Bay and Maryborough hospitals will be a first.

The current five day service will increase to seven when new staff commence.

Three new clinical staff will bolster medical imaging hours at the hospital

These staff will have a range of skills in radiography .

THE Wide Bay Wave will be a monthly publication, though the next edition will publish mid-January due to the Christmas break. WBHHS staff with news, or goods to buy and sell in a new, free classifieds section, contact Mathew.Nott@health.qld.gov.au

8

The WIDE BAY Wave

THE Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board is planning for the next five years and the success of this process will mean better health services for people of the North Burnett.

The North Burnett Regional Council governs the townships of Biggenden, Eidsvold, Gayndah, Monto, Mt Perry and Mundubbera which service around twenty five villages and farming catchments. Each of these townships has a public health facility in it.

The WBHH Board’s Your Hospital Your Say campaign had a big focus on hearing what people from the regional and rural centres in the North Burnett had to say about the health service.

WBHHS executives and Board members visited every main town in the North Burnett to conduct public meetings to explain their draft strategic plans.

I can give a commitment as North Burnett Mayor, that as a council we will do all we can to assist the WBHH Board in its endeavours to bring better health services to our region.

There is room for ever-higher levels of co-operation between the North Burnett Regional Council and the WBHHS and Board. I will continue to explore ways to improve results for both organisations.

At the end of the day, we will do whatever we can to put good health services within people’s reach.

THE January 2013 floods in Bundaberg brought to the fore the capabilities and professionalism of the region’s medical staff, services and care providers.

Bundaberg Regional Council garnered some valuable information from the flood event which impacted on many frail elderly and hospitalised patients. Residents of aged care facilities and retirement homes were traumatised.

Local medical practitioners and government staff aligned with the delivery of health, and community services, have played an essential role in identifying and responding to a wide range of people with health issues arising from the disaster.

These professionals are still working in the community to ensure the best possible care is offered to those still traumatised by this emergency event.

Council saw the local hospital evacuated, saw the shortcomings associated with local evacuation centres and saw the great need for a central, fully equipped and functional evacuation centre able to cater to large numbers of displaced persons.

Bundaberg Council is liaising with State and Federal Governments seeking funding to build an Evacuation Centre/ Community Facility to meet community need in an emergency.

I wish one and all the comfort of family and friends for a joyous Christmas and all the best for 2014.

HEALTH and Health services are very important to Fraser Coast residents who are blessed with two major state hospitals and a number of other services.

Council places a very high importance on health services. To ensure that we maintain that focus we have dedicated a Councillor through our portfolio system to liaise with the Queensland Health and the local Board.

This will ensure that we work together to complement the services we each offer.

Council has also developed a number of incentive schemes to attract medical and allied health practitioners to the region.

We succeeded in attracting grant funds to match our own to convert the former Tiaro Shire Council administration centre into a medical centre to service our southern hinterland.

Council has also included the development of a carpark beside the Hervey Bay Hospital in Nissen Street as part of the current roadworks.

The car park will cater for existing clients using services at the hospital as well as clients that will be attracted to the region as services at the centre continue to grow.

The introduction of health boards will improve services. The boards are locals and are in tune with local health needs.

We look forward to our health services growing with us as the Fraser Coast continues to grow.

Mayors talk health...and wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Bundaberg Mayor Mal Forman Fraser Coast Mayor Gerard O’ConnellNorth Burnett Mayor Don Waugh

9Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service - Dec 2013

New mental health service on trackA SPECIALISED mental health service to be built in Bundaberg will provide a recovery-orientated residential and treatment facility for mental health consumers.

Construction on the 20 bed Wide Bay Community Care Unit should begin in late January 2014 with construction due to be completed later that year.

The new service brings with it the prospect of an expanding workforce with

recruitment planned to begin around the time construction finishes.

The Wide Bay Community Care Unit is scheduled to open its doors in early 2015.

This new facility will enable the community to have access to local extended clinical treatment services previously delivered out of the district.

The focus is on consumers who have been disabled by mental illness and have difficulty living independently in the

community but do not require acute inpatient treatment.

The aim is to create a normal residential environment while providing any necessary support.

The facility will be centrally located in the Bundaberg CBD, close to local services, shopping and transport.

As the building progresses, so too will the development of the clinical processes and day-to-day functioning of the facility.

An artist’s impression of the floor plan and external look of the Wide Bay Community Care Unit to be constructed in Bundaberg. If construction goes to plan it should be open and adding to mental health services in the Wide Bay region by early 2015.

David wins state award for hand hygiene workWBHHS (South) Operations Manager David Brown (pictured) is one of five people statewide to have been recognised for infection surveillance and prevention.

David has won the Special Operation Cleaning Force Certificate of Excellence Award after being nominated by the Strategic Operational Services Group.

The group nominated David for outstanding commitment to state-wide

service delivery and Moment 5 hand hygiene principals.

The award is presented by the Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention.

David was also co-chair of a state working group looking at standardisation of cleaning protocols and practices.

“We also work closely with our infection control practitioners,” David said.

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The WIDE BAY Wave

Breast cancer surgery times on target

Challenges and opportunities

WIDE Bay’s rates of disease and its unusual demographics (top heavy in the above 65 years old category) are two of the greatest challenges strategic planning must tackle in the next five years.

FRASER Coast women with breast cancer in need of urgent surgery have among the lowest waiting times in Australia.

In the past 12 months, 82 women underwent breast cancer surgery at Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service facilities in Hervey Bay and Maryborough.

Eighty of these were treated within the clinically recommended waiting time of 30 days. Two women waited 31 days.

WBHHS chief executive Adrian Pennington said timely treatment of cancer saved lives.

“These figures show how committed we are to treating cancer and treating it quickly,’ Mr Pennington said.

“We understand how traumatic surgery is for cancer suffers and we are determined to continue to improve our performance.”

From July 1, 2012 to November 26, 2013, 65 patients were operated on for breast cancer in Hervey Bay and 17 in Maryborough.

In Hervey Bay in that period, 32 women underwent an excision of a breast lesion.

One woman waited 31 days.

The rest of the women underwent that procedure in between three and 31 days.

Four women underwent a re-excision of a breast lesion with all being treated in four to 29 days.

Of 29 women who had a mastectomy, 28 were treated in between two and 31 days.

Only one patient was treated at 31 days.

In Maryborough, of the 12 patients who had a lesion excised from their breast, all were treated in between five and 30 days.

Of the five who underwent a mastectomy, all had their procedure in between seven and 30 days.

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Wide Bay Population

0-45-9

10-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-7980-8485+

051015

QLD Population

Disease prevalence and ageing population are big issues

Early detection of breast cancer is vital to achieve best outcomes.

11Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service - Dec 2013

THE construction of a new community deck at Monto Hospital has been funded largely using the proceeds from the sale of cattle donated by local graziers.

In total, $26,000 in cattle sales flowed to the project as a result of the ingenious Build a Deck with Beef proposal which went before the Hospital Auxiliary in May 2012.

These funds combined with a $35,000 from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund and $6300 raised from raffles, golf days and donations provided the capital to erect the deck.

It was opened on November 30 by Dulcie Williams, Registered Nurse and Midwife, Director of Nursing, OAM, at a

ceremony that recognised the remarkable community effort behind the deck.

The opening coincided with the announcement of the Dulcie Williams Nursing Bursary.

Applications close in January 2014 and the bursary is open to anyone needing assistance to further their education in nursing.

The deck is a community deck built by a newly incorporated, stand-alone community organisation The Monto Hospital Auxiliary.

“The brands and plaques acknowledge some of those who contributed but importantly each nail, floor board and

bracket represents those who bought a $1.00 raffle ticket or even just supported the idea with positive feedback and encouragement,” Director of Nursing Tracey Pattie said.

Beef cattle nail new Monto deck

Rural Rounds

Rural Briefs

Better Telehealth A TELEHEALTH advisory group has been appointed to lead the establishment of a Telehealth capability for hospitals in the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service.

At stake is a share of $82.8m committed over four years in the 2013-14 state budget by the Queensland Government to address challenges of delivering health services in regional and rural areas.

The Blueprint for Better Healthcare in Queensland 2013 has identified Telehealth as a key area of innovation.

“It’s about being able to access specialist outpatients services closer to where you live by being able to go to the hospital and link up with a specialist through Telehealth,” WBHHS Director of Nursing Rural Services, Sara Shaughnessy said.

“It will be something that becomes part of what we do in everyday practice.”

Sara said all health facilities across the Wide Bay had base infrastructure but extra funding was needed to support a comprehensive Telehealth network.

Bundaberg-based Rob Scott was appointed Telehealth co-ordinator in September.

$902k in rural fundingWBHHS has had $902,000 in provisional funding approved by the Policy and Planning Branch under the Government’s Revitalisation of Regional, Rural, and Remote health services 2013-2014

This funding will be used across the eight WBHHS rural facilities.

Projects to draw funding include:

• $20,000 to invest in computer on wheels technology to support wireless Telehealth capacity at Eidsvold Hospital.

• $365k to buy seven portable ultrasound devices for rural health facilities. Eidsvold, Monto, Mundubbera,

Biggenden, Gayndah, Childers and Gin Gin all to get one.

• $322k to fund 2.95 new full time equivalent roles. These roles will be in allied health in rural facilities.

• $107k to establish rural chemotherapy low-risk services to help patients get treatment closer to home and families.

• $50k to fund the establishment of renal self-care haemodialysis rural satellite services. Stage one includes a two chair renal self-management suite based in Childers Multi-Purpose Health Service.

Rural JobsDR Tim Lloyd Morgan and his team have successfully recruited to all clinical posts in the rural facilities across the Wide Bay region.

It is an achievement that builds stronger communities, improves continuity of care for patients and saves the WBHHS an estimated millions of dollars in locum fees.

Tracey Pattie (DON), Glenda Dahtler (Treasurer), Dulcie Willams and Valerie Radel (Fundraising Coordinator) at the opening of the new deck.

12

The WIDE BAY Wave

Media Moments

BOUQUETS to the Bundaberg NewsMail and its new editor Liz Carson for throwing weight behind the launch of the Your Hospital Your Say campaign in November.

An imaginative front page on 9 November captured the essence of the bid by the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board to make Wide Bay residents a part of the strategic planning process.

The NewsMail made sure its readers knew they had the chance to influence health service delivery across the next five years.

Xmas salmon with cranberry soy glaze

Serve with plenty of fresh vegetables for a healthy balanced meal.

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup Cranberry sauce 3 tbsp Dark soy sauce 2 tbsp Fresh ginger600 g Boneless salmon fillets Salt & freshly ground pepper

METHOD:

Heat oven to 200°. Place cranberry sauce, dark soy sauce and grated fresh ginger in a small bowl and stir to combine. Place fresh Salmon fillet portions (skin and bones removed) in an oven pan and season with salt and pepper. Spread the cranberry soy glaze all over the surface of the salmon portions. Roast Salmon for 15 minutes or until golden brown and cooked to your liking.

WEEKEND EDITION, November 9 - 10, 2013Read by 53,000 people each week PRICE: $1.70

Bundaberg 18°C – 30°C

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW KEPNOCK MASTERS STORE A STEP CLOSER: P7

HEALTH CHECKHEALTH CHECKWide Bay Health Service to consult with the communityin order to develop a five-year plan for the region: Page 3

PHOTOS:MAXFLEET/TH

INKSTO

CK

Paper boss says thanks TO Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics and Support Staff, Hervey Bay Hospital.

Having recently been a patient at your incredible hospital after suffering an unprovoked pulmonary embolism (basically a blood clot) whilst travelling to the Sunshine Coast Jazz Festival from Rockhampton, residents on the Fraser Coast are extremely fortunate to have such brilliant staff and medical facilities.

Thank you to the paramedics who picked me up at Matilda’s Maryborough (their staff as well), doctors, nurses and support staff who provided me with such excellent care and looked after me so well. You are all a credit to your profession and if anyone was going to become ill I can certainly recommend Hervey Bay Hospital. This challenge crept up on me so in future I certainly will not be ignoring the symptoms and warning signs of pain behind my legs, over tiredness and even a lump in my chest. Phill Le Petit – General Manager, Capricornia Newspapers Pty Ltd

Bundaberg NewsMail backs Your Hospital Your Say

Image supplied courtesy of Bundaberg NewsMail

Picture and recipe courtesy of APN News and Media

13Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service - Dec 2013

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Proud supporters of the Nurses Oration and Awards

SUSAN Pattel, a star pistol shooter for 10 years, is one of four people selected to represent Australia at the upcoming National Rifle Association championships in Ohio, USA.

A lover of the .22 calibre pistol, Susan travelled to South Australia in September for the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia where she triumphed in open competition against the men.

Every two years, the top four shooters are selected to represent the SSAA at the NRA championships in the USA.

She is currently the fourth ranked shooter in Australia in open competition.

“The .22 is my baby, it’s just perfect, the weight and the feel of it,” Susan said.

Every two years the top four shooters are selected to represent SSAA at the National Rifle Association championships in Ohio at Camp Perry.

For a competitor who does not have time to train, Susan relies on mental discipline

to succeed as shooters are prompted by a sequence of commands over the PA system during competition.

“As the commands come through I just breathe deeply and try to slow my heart rate down,” Susan said.

A common form of competition consists of five shots to 50m and 10 shots in 10

minutes for the slow fire portion.

Depending on what match you are shooting depends on the number of times this is repeated.

Then shooters move into time fire at 25m. This is five shots in 20 seconds and five shots in ten 10 seconds aiming at turning targets.

Star pistol shooter in the sights

Susan Patell, WBHHS (South) Manager Patient Support Services, is shooting off to the USA.

14

The WIDE BAY Wave

A proud supporter of the Nurses Oration and Awards.We assist Queensland Government employees with:

• Salary sacrifice and packaging including home loans and novated motor vehicle leases

• Praescius is happy to offer a free 45min general consultation to Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service staff

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Contact us today to discuss how we can help you achieve your financial goals.4/65 Main St Pialba, Ph 4124 2499 or herveybay@pfinancial.com.au

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THE WBHHS Occupational Health and Safety team has warned to beware of the risk of sprains and strains.

Anybody who performs manual tasks should be risk aware when lifting and carrying loads, holding awkward posture

for long periods, using equipment for handling patients or objects and when repeating movements.

More information (staff only) available at http://qheps.health.qld.gov.au/scwbhsd/html/serv/ohs_home.htm

Sprains and strains on OH&S radar

CONGRATULATIONS to Carol McMullen, appointed the Director of Nursing for the Family Community Service Stream in WBHHS (North)

Congratulations also to Dohna Myler who has been appointed the Nurse Unit Manager of the Family Unit, after the recent retirement of Anne Robinson who lead the establishment of the extended Midwifery service and relocation of the Family Unit.

Welcome back to Michelle Maike, Nurse Unit Manager of Community Child Health, after her travels.

Welcome also to Jane Kleidon, our new Community Child Health Nurse. Goodbye to Sue Ainsworth who has

announced her retirement after 50 years of nursing, her last day being just before Christmas.

The Child Protection team has changed its name to the Child Advocacy Team which better reflects the work it does. The team will move from the Margaret Rose building to Bundaberg Base.

The Child Development team, formerly the Transition to School assessment team, will now be located at the Margaret Rose Building. Linda Keidge and her team continue their excellent work.

Dr Tom McHattie, Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, has been actively recruiting, and it is anticipated that in 2014, all positions will be filled.

Northern comings and goingsNew transport system creates big savingsA NEW transport system linking Hervey Bay and Maryborough hospitals is improving patient care, reducing pressure on ambulances and saving the health service money.

Combined with a similar system set up in Bundaberg in February, the transporters are expected to save the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service more than $1million each year.

This is the difference between providing transport inhouse and the cost of using ambulances to transport patients.

The WBHH Board backed the funding of the customised vehicles and designated drivers.

Using ambulances as transport took ambulances away from their core role and meant there could be delays getting patients out of ambulances and into hospital beds.

The transporters have improved patient flow within the hospitals.

They also permit better use of the services at Maryborough Hospital.

15Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service - Dec 2013

Paul Dare Board Member

Paul spent six years working for Sikorsky Australia (Sikorsky is the manufacturer of the Blackhawk and Sea Hawk helicopters) as the ADF Customer Service Manager and Engineering Manager. In 2007, a change of direction was made and studies undertaken to allow Paul to become a pastor within Queensland Baptists. As a result of this Paul is now pastoring the Mundubbera Baptist Church.

The Wide Bay Hospital and Health BoardTHE new Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board was announced on 17 May 2013. The Chair was announced on 13 June. The members were appointed by the Minister of Health for 12 months, effective from 18 May 2013 to 17 May 2014. The Board meets monthly and has three sub-committees: Audit Committee, Finance Committee, and Safety and Quality Committee.

Members: Mr Dominic Devine – Chair, Mrs Barbara Hovard – Deputy Chair, Mr Gary Kirk, Ms Debbie Carroll, Mr Adrian Daniel, Ms Joy Jensen, Pastor Paul Dare, Mr Christopher Hyne and Mr Robert Evans.

Dominic Devine Chair

During the last 20 years Dominic has served on numerous business, community and industry boards and has been a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 2006. Dominic has always been passionate about being involved in important community issues such as health, education and regional development.

Christopher Hyne Board Member

Christopher is ‘semi-retired’ from an executive position with Hyne Timber. Christopher was born in Maryborough in 1945 and has lived in Ferney (15 km south of Maryborough) since 1980.

Barbara Hovard Deputy Chair and Board Member

Barbara has local and state government experience in the Wide Bay region. She has served as Mayor and councillor on the Maryborough City Council and was previously employed as manager of organisational services at Maryborough Hospital.

Gary Kirk Board Member

Gary has almost 40 years experience in the public education system in Queensland as a school teacher and later as principal until his retirement in 2010. He has contributed to the community for nearly two decades, and for the past two years he has operated a small business in the tourism sector.

Deborah Carroll Board Member

Deborah is the Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services, WBHSS (North) and has worked across a number of health facilities in Queensland. She has undertaken significant postgraduate studies including a Masters of Health Administration and Information Systems and a Graduate Certificate in Health Service Planning.

Robert Evans Board Member

Having served on several boards including Brisbane North Aspley Rugby League, Chair of Queensland Masters Swimming, Wide Bay TAFE and Wide Bay Rugby League Robert has returned to his real interest, the medical field.

Adrian Daniel Board Member

Prior to being appointed to the Board in 2012, Adrian had extensive hospital board, council and business experience in the Wide Bay region. Adrian has served as a member and deputy chairman of the Audit Committee of the Fraser Coast Regional Council and has served on hospital boards and retirement village board for more than 15 years from the mid-1970s.

Joy Jensen Board Member

Joy has the unique distinction of having been the last mayor of the Perry Shire and the first mayor of the North Burnett Regional Council. Her background is in rural industry namely cattle and horses, and rural communities.

The co-operation and community spirit of regional media in the Wide Bay ensured the Your Hospital Your Say campaign reached the widest possible audience. The Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service and Board recognise the valuable contribution our media partners made to the

positive community consultation so important to planning for the future.

The WBHHS & Board thank our media partners