A message from the CEO Acting

Welcome to the May Murdoch Monthly.

Murdoch CEO Appointment

As I have just announced, Murdoch has a new CEO, Ben Irish and he will commence on 17th July. Ben has a nursing background and, up until his appointment to Murdoch, has been the Deputy CEO of the Joondalup Health Campus. He has also worked across Perth Children’s Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, and Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital. I am sure you will all make Ben welcome when he joins the great team here at Murdoch.

SJGHC Reshapes

St John of God Healthcare, like many private health care providers, is facing challenges in returning to pre COVID conditions. Therefore, the organisation has launched a group-wide review to reshape St John of God Health Care, so it can meet the evolving healthcare needs of our communities and return to our pre COVID financial position.

Fortunately, Murdoch is in a relatively good position as we have strong activity and through our earlier recruitment program have the caregiver numbers to ensure our theatres and wards can continue to operate at levels in accordance with our activity demand. However, we must continue to be responsible financial stewards to ensure our ongoing success. Critical to our success will be our ability to manage costs and in particular meet our Clincare targets.

Please be assured that your Executive have and will continue to provide the necessary support to your managers and teams as we work towards achieving our targets. Your wellbeing remains our priority, and we ask that you continue to look after yourselves and your colleagues so that you can continue to deliver excellent care to our patients.

Flu Vaccination Reminder

With winter hot on our heels, just a reminder to everyone to get their free flu vaccination from Infection Control on the Lower Ground Floor, between 7.30am and 3.00pm, Monday to Friday. Clinics are also being held in the caregiver dining room over lunchtime from 11:30am to 1:30pm, a couple of days during the week. Caregivers who work night shift can request an outof-hours appointment by contact the Infection Control team.

You can fill out your online request form on CORA before you attend the clinic to save time. Scan the QR code or head to this link: https://bit.ly/flu-vax-2023.

Update on Redevelopment Projects

Many of you will have noticed that there is construction works currently underway at the Wexford Medical Centre. The work involves the construction of a lift shaft, which will accommodate two lifts. The addition of the two lifts will improve access to visitors to the Wexford Medical Centre, particularly those coming via the Hospital.

Progress is also continuing on the expansion of the Endoscopy Department with the works contract for next stage in the process of being finalised.

In regards to the Emergency Department, tenders for the works associated with the expansion and refurbishment have closed and responses are being assessed.

Meanwhile, we continue to explore options for the refurbishment of the Surgicentre and we hope to be in a position to release further information on this project in the not too distance future.

Thank you to all caregivers for your continual commitment to the care of our patients.

Michael Salter

SJGHC Statement of support for Uluru Statement

St John of God Health Care is proud to accept the invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and participate in the movement for a better future for all Australians.

We gladly take the opportunity to respond to the call for recognition of the First Nations peoples and respectfully acknowledge the ancient, sacred and ongoing connection to the land and unbroken sovereignty that goes back more than 60,000 years.

We acknowledge the injustices created through colonisation, which have had a continuing and far-reaching impact on First Nations people.

This is in keeping with our organisational values of compassion, justice and respect, and our Vision as a Catholic health care provider to provide healing, hope and a greater sense of dignity. We fundamentally believe that every person has a right to participate in the decisions that affect them and that this helps communities to flourish and prosper.

We share the belief that that this will bring benefits to all Australians and a richer nationhood.

In a spirit of reconciliation, hope and solidarity, we join with First Nations people to imagine and strive for a greater future for all and wholeheartedly endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart.