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Program trains next generation of First Nations healthworkers

A special program designed to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples access to education, on-the-job training, and a career in healthcare close to home has begun at Townsville University Hospital.

Story on Page 5

Dear Colleagues

I will begin with a massive shoutout to everyone involved in responding to the confronting and tragic accident near Gumlu on Sunday.

There were significant numbers of patients transferred to the Ayr Health Service, including some seriously injured who were later transferred to TUH while other critically ill patients were transferred directly to TUH.

Given TUH was already at Tier 3 prior to the accident, there was a huge amount of work done to create capacity to receive the injured patients as well, including the creation of a space to receive families who would want to wait to hear news of their loved ones. Our communications team assisted with some messaging to the community about ED capacity and we stood up our incident management team to support our response.

A senior medical officer from Ayr who led their response, Dr Donna Girgenti, summed it up best in her feedback ‘It is one of those events that I will continue to reflect on in positive light as a demonstration of our capabilities in the region. I’m proud to be working alongside a group of compassionate people’. Thanks Donna, I completely agree.

Our health safety and wellness team have rebranded to Wellbeing@THHS, reflecting their expanded focus on supporting the holistic wellbeing of our staff. This month they have also launched the 14-day self-care challenge. It’s full of great information and links to an even wider range of very helpful information. We all are often so busy, especially in the context of caring for others, that it’s pretty easy to neglect our own care. I’m reminded of the adage ‘Physician heal thyself’ and encourage you to check out the challenge on page 15.

Some of you may have seen groups of people from Papua New Guinea being toured through the TUH recently. Rob Akers, whom some of you may remember from his time here as the executive director business services and acting CEO in the very early 2000s, has been working as an advisor to the health system in PNG since that time. Recently he has been in touch and we have facilitated visits and brief presentations to a range of clinical and management staff who are growing their health leadership expertise.

Townsville has a long history with PNG, including the creation of a sister-city relationship first established by our Board Chair when he was mayor. I also know many of our staff have spent considerable time there volunteering their clinical expertise. In that context it has been nice to be able to share a little of our experience and context.

Next week is NAIDOC week and you will see the list of events we are hosting in this NAIDOC edition of the blah blah blah. As I am in Brisbane I will miss the flag-raising ceremony we have planned for Kirwan, although on the plus side I get to attend a NAIDOC event in Brisbane instead. I was asked this week if people could wear NAIDOC shirts all week in support, which I was delighted to agree to. It would be fantastic to see everyone wearing NAIDOC or other First Nations-themed shirts all week (unless of course this presents a health or safety issue).

But it’s not just about wearing a shirt. In my all staff broadcast this week I talked about the importance of us all continuing to grow our knowledge of the history of events like NAIDOC Week as a means of improving our cultural understanding and, ultimately, delivering health services that are more culturally accessible for our First Australians.

Kieran Keyes Health Service Chief Executive

Ayr Health Service staff

Dr Jason Yates with the delegation

Townsville HHS celebrates NAIDOC Week with cultural events and staff awards

Townsville Hospital and Health Service will be standing loud and proud as it supports and participates in events across our region.

NAIDOC Week celebrations are from 7 to 14 July, starting with a flag-raising ceremony at Jezzine Barracks from 8am on Sunday 7 July.

The theme for this year’s NAIDOC Week is ‘Keep the Fires Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud.’

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health executive director Amanda Cooms said this year’s theme echoed the enduring flame of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

“It provides space for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce to reflect, retain and remember our resilience, inherited from our ancestors, and how it continues to shine brightly regardless of adversity,” Amanda said.

“More than 300 of our HHS staff identify as Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander and they’re a vital part of helping to improve healthcare to First Nations Australians.

“The reality is often our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff do not recognise the significant value they contribute to our service and the experience of our consumers.

“We encourage all staff to have conversations, ask questions and progress the initiatives that promote reconciliation, respect, and understanding to ensure a safe and equitable workplace and service for all.

“We are continually working on bolstering our First Nations workforce and a large part of that is ensuring our current team members are engaged, respected and recognised.

“Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce is courageous and resilient. They attend work to support their family and community members to navigate a system not designed for them.

“We often forget our workforce is not immune to the historical and unresolved and ongoing trauma they are supporting every day.

“By embracing the NAIDOC theme of ‘Keep the Fires Burning’, Townsville HHS can actively engage staff, patients and the broader community in celebrating and respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

“These initiatives can contribute to a more inclusive and culturally respectful workplace environment throughout NAIDOC Week and beyond.”

Amanda said Townsville HHS was kicking off its NAIDOC celebrations with a flag-raising ceremony on Monday morning (8 July) at the Kirwan Health Campus.

“We are also recognising the wonderful First Nations people in our organisation across five categories on Wednesday with the 2024 NAIDOC Awards at the Robert Douglas Auditorium,” she said.

“Townsville HHS is also supporting events in Hughenden, Ayr, Townsville and Charters Towers as well as making resources available for staff to hold their own yarning circles within their teams.

“This year’s theme is about celebrating the unyielding spirit of our communities and inviting us all to stand in solidarity to amplify voices that have long been silenced.

“This is something the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health team and Townsville HHS are very proud to stand by and endorse.”

Visit QHEPS to find out more about NAIDOC Week celebrations.

You can also find out more regarding community events at Townsville NAIDOC Week (Official Website) National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Day of CelebrationsTownsville NAIDOC.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health team

Palm Islander doctor inspired to support more First Nations representation in healthcare

Senior medical officer Regina Philip wanted to become a doctor after seeing the impact chronic disease had on her family while growing up.

The Torres Strait Islander doctor was born in Cairns and saw firsthand the issues around healthcare delivery in her community and was motivated to do something about it.

Regina studied medicine in Sydney and has spent the past four years living on Palm Island and providing healthcare to the residents to help close the gap.

“Several significant health issues are affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, including reduced life expectancy, higher burden of chronic disease, less access to healthcare, workforce underrepresentation and higher rates of mental health issues,” she said.

Regina hoped to see more First Nations Australians choose a career in healthcare.

“The lack of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare professionals in the workforce impacts cultural understanding and the delivery of culturally safe care,” Regina said.

“It leads to fewer First Nations Australians engaging in the healthcare system and not getting the care they need.

“A career in health not only offers personal fulfilment but also allows you to make a real difference in the lives of your community.

“My message to any First Nations person thinking about a healthcare career is that it is completely doable and there is a lot of support out there to make it happen.

“Through groups like the Townsville Hospital and Health Service as well as the state and federal governments, there are several programs and initiatives aimed at getting more First Nations people to become doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.”

“Getting more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into a career in health is one of the most meaningful ways to close the healthcare gap.”

Dr Regina Philip

Michael Illin team leader Indigenous hospital liaison, trainees

Daisha Johnson, Jamie Stanley and Jemma Hall, and Aunty

Dorothy Savage Traditional Owner for Bindal

Program inspires healthcare careers for First Nations trainees

The Townsville Hospital and Health Service is the first HHS in the state to support the permanent employment of three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner trainees via the U-me Koola Program.

Translating to ‘Our Rock, Our Power’, the U-Me Koola program is an 18–24 month training opportunity which honours the history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce to advance the provision of clinically and culturally responsive care.

The program is a partnership between the Townsville HHS, the Department of Health’s First Nations Health Office, and the Queensland Ambulance Service.

The three trainee Indigenous health practitioners beginning the U-Me Koola program – Daisha Johnson, Jamie Stanley and Jemma Hall – each shared their gratitude for the opportunity.

“I am so proud to be a part of this program which means we can help our community and break down barriers and cycles through education in First Nations health,” Daisha said.

“I started out working in admin at the Charters Towers Health Service, but I’ve always wanted a career in the medical field with a First Nations focus, so this opportunity came at the perfect time.”

Jamie Stanley said she was excited to be part of the program and have access to training that hadn’t previously been an option for her.

“I’m looking forward to the modules and to grow our skills,” Jamie said.

“It’s an awesome program, and I feel very blessed to have the support of everyone involved in its development.

“I hope that the three of us working towards our careers in this way will inspire younger generations to do the same.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Service Indigenous workforce coordinator Alisha Kyle said the 12 months of planning and coordination to launch the U-me Koola Program was well worth the effort.

“Our trainees have secured full-time permanent employment, have access to tailored education plans, flexible rostering to allow for time to study during work hours, and culturally safe supports,” Alisha said.

“These supports include dedicated First Nations senior educators Latifa Khalu and Matty Mills who will support and facilitate the trainees’ ongoing education and learning.”

“The trainees will work to obtain a Certificate III in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care and a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice, while becoming clinical experts.”

Alisha said Indigenous health practitioners across the HHS played a vital role in both primary and secondary health care settings.

Special guests drive mental health awareness and wellbeing initiatives for doctors

Discussions on mental health, wellbeing, and burnout amongst doctors took centre stage at Townsville University Hospital for the ‘take a break’ event.

Organised by the Townsville Medical Staff Society (TMSS), the event featured guest speakers Dr Geoff Toogood, founder of The Crazysocks4docs Trust Foundation and Dr Tahnee Bridson, founder of Hand-n-Hand Peer Support from Melbourne, for their first official visit to Townsville.

Both organisations strive to support health professionals with a dedicated focus on mental wellbeing.

Crazysocks4docs emerged from cardiologist Dr Geoff Toogood’s personal experience and aims to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health for doctors.

“The idea for Crazysocks4docs came to me when colleagues noticed my mismatched socks at work and instead of asking if I was okay, they took it as a sign of mental deterioration,” Geoff said.

Psychiatry fellow Dr Tahnee Bridson established Hand-n-Hand as a confidential peer support service during the early days of Covid to provide crucial support to healthcare workers.

“The goal of Hand-n-Hand Peer Support is prevention,” Tahnee said.

“We want to offer a safe space before it’s too late.”

Returning to Townsville University Hospital where she completed her medical training, Tahnee expressed her excitement to be back in Townsville collaborating with Geoff and speaking to the doctors in attendance.

The event also featured insights from Dr Janet Bayley, consultant psychiatrist at Townsville University Hospital, and Dr Elise Witters, chair of Doctors in Training Queensland, who shared their personal experiences and strategies.

TMSS president Dr Amanda Seneviratne said the event was important for fostering hospital staff wellbeing.

“The feedback from doctors has been overwhelmingly positive,” Amanda said.

“TMMS hosts a range of events including monthly wellbeing lunches and end-of-term catchups and, of course, guest speaker occasions like this.

“These events create vital connections outside of work, offering doctors a chance to unwind, prevent burnout, and share experiences with peers.”

To learn more about TMSS contact Amanda Seneviratne via email amanda.seneviratne@health.qld.gov.aU

Dr Geoff Toogood, Dr Tahnee Bridson, Dr Amanda Seneviratne

Health service on a mission to create a smoke-free future

Townsville Hospital and Hospital Service has taken the campaign for a tobacco-free future into the heart of the city.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Service (ATODS) health promotion officer Amanda Watson said the awareness raising campaign was just one many initiatives being undertaken throughout the year by the health service.

“Our goal with the banner was to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and encourage smokers to take the first step towards quitting via an easy-to-access QR code,” Amanda said.

“We collaborated with Townsville Hospital and Health Service graphic designer Rebekah Schalcher who did a great job creating an eye-catching pull-up banner that was displayed prominently in the Community Information Centre.”

The banner was seen by thousands of locals while it was on display, providing some alarming facts about tobacco use while encouraging smokers to seek support.

A striking banner promoting World No Tobacco Day was installed on Flinders Street in Townsville as a timely reminder about the health risks associated with smoking.

“The banner highlighted that tobacco is the leading cause of disease and preventable death in Australia, that more than 4.5 trillion cigarette butts litter our environment every year, and it also educated smokers that more than 7,000 chemicals can be found in cigarettes,” Amanda said.

“We received positive feedback from the community, and many people expressed their appreciation for the information provided.

“Even though World No Tobacco Day has passed, our commitment to supporting a smoke-free lifestyle remains strong.”

People who smoke or vape can access free intensive quit support, which includes counselling with 12 weeks supply of nicotine replacement therapy (patches and gum) from Quitline Queensland by phoning 137848.

Get help from Quitline | Quit HQ (initiatives.qld.gov.au)

Amanda Watson

Neurological care closer to home for three-year-old Nate

When Nate Clelland first became unwell, his condition deteriorated quickly.

His family brought him to Townsville University Hospital where it became clear he was suffering from several concerning neurological symptoms.

Thanks to an early diagnosis by paediatric neurologist Dr Trupti Jadhav, Nate was treated for Guillain Barre Syndrome and made a quick recovery within a couple of weeks.

Nate’s mum Jessica Clelland said while it was very scary for her and her husband to navigate this with their little boy, they were so grateful for the timely and prompt care he received.

“We were thankful to learn that Dr Trupti had only in the preceding months joined the hospital as a specialised paediatric neurologist”, she said.

Dr Trupti Jadhav is the first paediatric neurology specialist at TUH.

Trupti said having a local neurology service for children has been long awaited by the north Queensland community.

“My goal is to build a paediatric neurology unit at TUH so all investigations and interventions can be done locally,” she said.

“The burden of travelling to Brisbane and the impact on families cannot be understated.

“There is immense potential for our hospital to grow and expand its resources so that more of our patients can access local care, especially across our rural and remote communities.”

Clinical director of paediatrics Dr Andrew White said the need for local paediatric specialists had become increasingly important as neurological care continued to grow in complexity.

“We are delighted that Dr Trupti could join our team this year, moving from a position at the Melbourne Children’s Hospital,” Andrew said.

“Her arrival means specialist care is available locally and patients like Nate don’t have to be transferred to Brisbane or talk to a specialist on telehealth.

“In the past three years, the Townsville Hospital and Health Service has supported developments in local paediatric specialists in cardiology and respiratory medicine and we are looking to do more in neurology.”

Jessica said the treatment her son received in Townsville was a blessing to her family.

“Nate spent his third birthday in hospital; he has two sisters, and it was special for the girls to be able to visit and see for themselves that Nate was improving and to celebrate his birthday with him,” she said.

“There truly isn’t anything like being able to spend some time at home for a sense of normalcy at a time when your child is unwell and in hospital.”

Nate spent eight days in hospital but required ongoing treatment after he was discharged.

“It’s a huge asset to the families of north Queensland to have a local neurologist, and hopefully we’ll see the paediatric neurology unit grow here in Townsville,” Jessica said.

Dr Trupti Jadhav, Nate Clelland and his parents Alex and Jessica

Take

a fortnight to focus on your self-care

Townsville Hospital and Health Service’s health safety and wellbeing team has laid down the challenge to staff to prioritise themselves and develop daily healthy habits.

The 14-day self-care challenge includes a free downloadable booklet with information, challenges and optional activities.

Psychologist staff wellbeing Gaylene Wynne said the aim was for participants to discover new ways to care for themselves.

“Self-care is everything from physical activity to practising mindfulness or learning more about yourself,” Gaylene said.

“There are lots of handy tips, guides and information in the booklets on how to take a few minutes each day to develop healthy habits that can positively transform your daily routine.

“The booklets also contain optional no-cost activities for people to participate in including gallery exhibition openings, yoga classes, and family fun days.

To help launch the booklet, staff have been encouraged to share photos of their self-care strategies with prizes up for grabs.

“Staff have until 14 July to share their routine and photo with the health safety and wellbeing team for their chance to win water bottles, pens, notebooks and more,” Gaylene said.

“There’s something for everyone in this book and I encourage everyone to have a look through and find some of the really simple steps they can take to developing new ways to care for yourself and integrating self-care into your life.”

The booklet is available for download now on QHEPS.

For more information, email TSV-Health-Safety-Wellness@health.qld.gov.au

Carmen Delaney, Denise Sticklen, Nick Steele and Gaylene Wynne

Loved up legends say farewell after 60 years of caring

After a combined 67 years working in health, Mark and Chris Roomberg are leaving behind a legacy of compassion and expertise in their respective fields of hyperbaric nursing and midwifery as they head into retirement.

Mark and Chris met in Victoria before moving to Townsville in 1999 to work at the former Kirwan Hospital for Women and Children.

Mark began his healthcare career as a hospital orderly before deciding to become a nurse, while Chris started her career 42 years ago as a theatre nurse.

Mark’s friend and long-time colleague Richard Turk said Mark would be sorely missed as a vital member of the hyperbaric unit.

“Mark has played a massive role in the development of the hyperbaric unit, especially in the implementation of policies and training for hyperbaric nurses,” he said.

“The nature of the hyperbaric chamber means that our roster of nurses who are trained to dive often changes last minute. I can’t begin to count the hours that Mark has willingly spent on call just to make sure patients can have their treatments.”

“Mark has completed over 4000 hours of diving, so he definitely deserves a break!”

Mark said he enjoyed the uniqueness of his work environment and the patients who spanned from everyday people to professional divers and soldiers.

“It’s a different spin on nursing when working under different pressures because we have to be aware of small but crucial changes to equipment such as tubes with air needing to be swapped for water,” he said.

“You also really get to know your patients and it’s rewarding to see them improve not just physically, but also mentally in what is often a highly stressful and claustrophobic environment.”

Chris Roomberg was a part of the very first JCU midwifery cohort to train at the Townsville University Hospital when it opened.

Maternity clinic nurse unit manager Gabrielle Parsons said losing Chris’s sense of humour would leave a huge gap in the team.

“Chris has been a valuable member of the women’s and children’s clinic team for many years now,” she said.

“She has always been incredibly supportive of her peers and patients and will be dearly missed by our team as she heads into her new chapter of retirement.”

Chris said supporting families was the highlight of her career.

“I’ve always loved the varied jobs and the unexpected nature of being a midwife, although I am very excited for no more night duty.”

Mark and Chris look forward to catching up with old friends, traveling across Australia and abroad, enjoying time with their children and grandchildren, and their next adventure together.

Mark and Christine Roomberg

Team’s mission to challenge bias

A team based in the Townsville University Hospital emergency department (ED) is breaking down barriers and addressing stigma around patients who are dependent on drugs and alcohol.

The drug and alcohol brief intervention team (DABIT) works to help people with drug, alcohol, or addiction-related issues, and recently presented to ED staff on the importance of being aware of both conscious and unconscious bias.

DABIT clinical nurse consultant Amanda Ah Chee said the presentation addressed the complex topic of stigma and encouraged clinicians to consider their personal biases.

“The message is simple, we don’t need stigma in healthcare,” she said.

“We had a great reaction from the presentation, and it has led to interesting conversations about the unconscious bias each and every one of us has.

“The statistics show that if a person who seeks healthcare for substance use is faced with stigma they won’t engage again for another 18 years and this is an outcome we must avoid.”

Amanda said stigma-free healthcare led to better outcomes for patients and savings across the health sector.

“When you bring stigma or judgement into interactions with drug or alcohol users, they’re not going to be open and honest with you,” she said.

“Clinicians need this information to build a complete medical picture of a patient.

“Building working relationships is essential for mutual trust and share information sharing which can be used to design personalised interventions to support their recovery.”

Amanda said the ED was the primary access pathway for people with drug or alcohol dependence as the group traditionally did not engage with GPs or other services.

“Without a service like ours, the system might not get a chance to engage with these patients at all,” she said.

“We are talking about an extremely vulnerable group of people who often do not have the support, funds or the ability to seek help.

“DABIT connects with these patients and offers education, intervention and harm-reduction information while patients are in the ED to help address their addiction.”

DABIT clinical nurse consultant Nkululeko Sikhosana said all clinicians played a role in removing stigma from healthcare.

“All of us are responsible for building a supportive healthcare system that meets the needs of complex patients and helps guide people away from dependence on drugs and alcohol,” he said.

“The reality is that there is a high prevalence of substance use in our community and while we can’t make people stop using drugs or alcohol, we can encourage and support positive change through harm reduction.”

Back - Amanda Achee and Hemaletha Kamala

Front- Loretta Woodford and Nkululeko Sikhosana

Rachel Jones

Rachel takes Evolve mission to international stage

A unique model of care pioneered to support children in foster care has been showcased on the world stage at an international conference in Japan.

Psychologist Rachel Jones travelled to Japan in April to represent the Townsville Hospital and Health Service evolve therapeutic services team at the International Systemic Family Therapy Congress in Toyama.

Rachel was one of 50 clinicians from across the globe invited to present after she submitted an abstract about the team’s work.

“I was able to present some of the really good results and outcomes we’ve had here and the presentation generated a lot of interest about how we were able to implement the service within the Queensland government system,” she said.

“Evolve is a specialist team that accepts referrals from the Department of Child Safety for children in out-of-home care who have very complex needs.

“Using the systemic family therapy model we get to work with children, their families, and there various supports and stakeholders for 18 months or more which gives us the opportunity to build trust and drive real change for these children.”

The systemic family model is a form of therapy that works to support not just a child but also their family, support networks and stakeholders to enable positive change in their lives.

“These are children with very complex family lives who have difficulties at school, at home in foster care, with their biological families and peer groups,” Rachel said.

“We provide training and support for foster carers, the biological families, and we work with the schools and other stakeholders involved in their lives.

“We see lots of benefit in helping everyone involved in a child’s life, working collaboratively with a unified goal for the child’s wellbeing and growth.”

Rachel said it was inspiring to hear about and learn from other clinicians applying systemic family therapy in different contexts, like private practice or not-forprofit across the world.

“There were lots of people in attendance at the conference, who work within the family therapy model in different contexts,” she said.

“I made lots of connections internationally, and there was the validation from those in attendance that the work we are doing here with children in foster care is seen as valuable in other parts of the world.

“Our model at Evolve is unique and well supported by Child Safety and by Queensland Health as the best practice for this population of children.”

HHS launches new pelvic health screening clinic

The Townsville Hospital and Health Service’s pelvic health screening clinic is helping women manage their pelvic floor-related conditions.

The new model of care involves advanced physiotherapists offering patients access to assessment and conservative management for conditions including incontinence, prolapse, and pelvic pain prior to their appointment with a specialist.

The clinic is a first for north Queensland and has been based on the success of other screening clinics run across southeast Queensland which have seen a 3040 per cent discharge in patients without needing to see a specialist.

Physiotherapist Sarah Myles said it was still early days to judge how successful the initiative was in Townsville but was optimistic about its benefits.

“Women who are referred to the urogynaecology service at the hospital and meet our criteria will be offered an appointment soon after their referral is received, where we will perform a thorough assessment and work with them and the treating team to provide a comprehensive conservative management program according to the individual patient’s needs,” Sarah said.

“Through our clinic, we can provide patient-centred care and work with them to address their pelvic health concerns.

“Some women can wait up to a year to see a specialist, so this conservative treatment in the lead up to seeing a doctor can help relieve some of the symptoms or, in some cases, manage the issue.”

Clinical lead for the urogynaecology service Dr Kurinji Kannan said the service focused on the conservative management of pelvic floor-related conditions.

“Up to one in three women will experience a urinary incontinence issue and one in two will experience a prolapse,” Kurinji said.

“In addition to clinical care, the new service also offers education and support to provide women with the information and resources they need to manage their pelvic floor effectively.

“With a focus on holistic care and patient well-being, this service aims to empower women to regain control of their health and improve their quality of their life.”

Sarah Myles, Kristy Sheehy, Dr Kurinji Kannan and Dr Michelle Vollmerhause

Screening and support services workshop equips staff with vital information

An education program to prompt important conversations between health staff and community members has taken place at the Mount Isa Health Service.

As part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the program utilised the combined knowledge of staff from both the Townsville and North West HHS to increase cancer-screening participation in outer regional and remote areas.

Townsville National Bowel Cancer Screening Program CNC Susan Soermo was joined by Donna Walters from BreastScreen Queensland, and Liz Kennedy from sexual and reproductive health Mount Isa to present on the three national cancer screening programs for bowel, breast, and cervical cancer.

“These communities have high incidence and mortality rates and have a lower bowel-screening participation rate compared to those living in major cities,” Susan said.

“Testing for bowel cancer is important as symptoms may not always be present, and we need to ensure staff are equipped to discuss cancer screening with their patients.”

Senior coordinator health networks Anne-Marie Donovan also informed staff on the support services that Cancer Council Queensland provides for individuals who receive a diagnosis of cancer, and their families.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program promotes bi-yearly cancer screening for those aged from 50-74 years.

From July 1, there were changes to eligibility for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. The eligible screening age has been lowered from 50 years to 45 years.

If you experience blood in your stool, rectal bleeding, abdominal or rectal pain or lumps, consistent changes in bowel habits, bloating or unintended weight loss, visit your GP rather than waiting to screen.

If you have a family history of bowel cancer, discuss this with your GP as part of your health checks.

Susan Soermo, Donna Walters, Liz Kennedy

Police patrols at TUH help curb antisocial behaviour

Townsville University Hospital (TUH) and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) are partnering to deter and prevent anti-social behaviour from some patients and families towards staff at the hospital.

Health service chief executive Kieran Keyes said under the joint arrangement, two officers conducted three-hourly patrols four days a week across the campus including the emergency department, wards, and carparks.

“The QPS officers work with our staff to determine where they might assist or help manage patients who are challenging or escalating,” he said.

“The idea is that these officers have high visibility across the campus acting as deterrents and responding to those regrettable behaviours that impede not only our staff’s ability to do their job but their ability to do it safely.”

Chief Inspector Damien Crosby said the feedback from TUH doctors and nurses had been overwhelmingly positive.

“It seems that just having a police presence is enough to calm down any patients or family members thinking of engaging in unacceptable or antisocial behaviour,” he said.

“It’s not our intention to intimidate or scare people but rather to have them pause and think about their behaviour and its impacts on others in an environment like a hospital, where people come for help.”

Emergency department nurse unit manager Kirsty Dillon the police presence in the ED, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, was invaluable.

“Late at night and into the early hours of the morning over the weekend are traditionally our busiest periods,” she said.

“The police presence is definitely a deterrent to abusive behaviour which is caused mostly by alcohol,” Kirsty said.

“Having them here helps us focus on our jobs caring for patients rather than having to divert time or resources to deescalating or managing poor behaviour,” Kirsty said.

“It’s been a really positive move.”

Constables Chris Fenton and Hannah Taylor from Stuart Station have both signed on to the program.

Patrolling TUH this week, Hannah said the opportunity to work at the hospital was good community engagement.

“It’s a good opportunity to show our faces and make sure everyone’s behaving themselves,” she said.

Chris said he had observed a ‘noticeable reduction in disturbances’ in the two shifts he’d done.

“The staff have been very receptive to us being here,” he said.

Kieran said the QPS presence complemented the work of TUH’s health security officers (HSOs).

“The QPS are here 12 hours a week and are really making a difference; our HSOs are here 24/7 working across the challenges of patient, staff and campus safety, and I can’t overstate the value of their expertise and commitment,” he said.

Emergency department nurse unit manager Kirsty Dillon, Constable Chris Fenton, Constable Hannah Taylor and registered nurse Monique Chetlandat the start of the QPS patrol at TUH

“I had an appointment with the physio and I got a bit lost looking for the building. The beautiful gardener Russell came to my assistance and showed me where to go. Smiles and Ciao

KIRWAN HEALTH CAMPUS

“I really appreciate you all very much for saving my life and leg.

Thanks to everyone that helped on the 4 surgeries. Thank you I’ll never forget.”

TOWNSVILLE UNIVERSITY

HOSPITAL SURGICAL WARD 2

“I would like to compliment the outstanding care of the physio, and occupational therapist Lee for my hand injury. I am very grateful for their expertise and professionalism. Their treatment plan helped me greatly”

ALLIED HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

A Brighter Note...

Honouring Nat Lee: $40,625 Gift to palliative care centre from Springlands Campdraft

Last year, Brighter Lives was honoured to accept a $40,625 donation from the Springlands Campdraft Association, going to the palliative care centre at Townsville University Hospital.

This amazing donation has now funded new outdoor furniture for use by patients and their families in palliative care, as well as artwork to brighten communal spaces.

The association fundraised in memory of Natalie ‘Nat’ Lee, who tragically passed away in May 2022. Nat spent time in the palliative care unit at the end of her sudden illness and was accompanied by her husband John and their three teenage daughters as well as other family.

Nat was part of the organising committee for the Springlands Campdraft Association who were busy organising their first event prior to her illness. In her honour, the team decided their first event would be turned into the Nat Lee Memorial Committee Draft.

Representatives from 15 different campdraft committees competed for a perpetual trophy and a calcutta for the competing teams who raised money. With local businesses and stallion owners all getting behind the fundraiser, the group raised just over $40,000. Nat was a much-loved member of the Springlands community, which was evident in the outpouring of support for this fundraiser in her honour.

Despite the traumatic time for Nat’s husband and his daughters while Nat was in palliative care, John feels the care by staff was amazing and deserves more recognition. The Lee family refused offers of fundraising for his family, and asked that the funds go directly to the unit to improve the comfort and the experience for patients and families.

Thanks to their generous donation, families can spend time outdoors with their loved ones in beautiful and comfortable furniture.

The Palliative Care team with Springlands Campdraft Association representatives

Capital works update

Works currently underway

Project: eHealth Infrastructure Maintenance Program

Work location: Various locations in TUH

Project: Hybrid theatre - $17 million

Work location: TUH Acute building Level 2 Operating Theatres Complex

Project: Outpatients department expansion - $6.1 million

Work location: Clinical Services Support Building Level 1

Project: North Queensland Persistent Pain Management Service (NQPPMS) upgrade - $4 million

Work location: TUH Acute building Level 1 former Endoscopy Services / Medilink building Level 2 current NQPPMS suite

Works on the way

Project: Clinical Forensic Medicine Unit

Work location: ACC Annexure Building

Project: North Queensland Kidney Transplant Sevice

Work location: South Block Level 3 Cold Shell

Project: Ward Midlife Renewal – Surgical and Medical wards

Work location: South Block Ground and Level 1

Got questions?

Project: Kirwan Health Community Campus expansion$40 million

Work location: Kirwan Health Campus

Project: TUH Clinical Equipment Loans Service (CELS)$2.35 million

Work location: TUH Level 2, CSSB

Project: TUH Stage 1 expansion project - $530 million

Work location: helipad and surrounding areas including eastern campus for temporary helipad location

Project: Ingham CT Scanner and ED Refurbishment

Work location: Ingham Health Service

Plans are currently underway to support staff through the changes that will occur in the coming months.

To accommodate so much growth at TUH, some staff will be required to relocate to new office spaces and to support this, we have commenced a Business Case for Significant Change with those teams who will be impacted by works undertaken at TUH.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss any proposed changes, please contact chief operating officer Stephen Eaton via email or THHS-InfrastructureOffice@health.qld.gov.au.

Capital works update

Work progresses on new state-of-the-art operating theatre

Townsville University Hospital’s state-ofthe-art hybrid operating theatre is closer to completion as contractors have moved onto the service’s rough-in and framing stages.

The $17 million project will bring world-class technology to the hospital as the innovative design incorporates medical imaging capabilities into the theatre.

Senior Project Manager Pierre Kessler said construction was on track to finish by early next year.

“This hybrid operating theatre will be a game changer for our region and understandably there’s a lot of interest in the project,” Pierre said.

“We recently had the Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman and local state MPs touring the construction site and getting an update on how work is progressing.

“Incorporating medical imaging capabilities into the theatre will mean we won’t need to relocate patients during surgery for x-rays and other medical imaging procedures for the support of vascular, cardiothoracic, neurosurgery, trauma and emergency services.

“Not needing to move patients mid surgery has the potential to save many valuable minutes during an emergency.

“This theatre will revolutionise the way surgery is performed in the region.”

Pierre said multiple stakeholders were involved in the conceptualisation and design of the theatre.

“This project has been a collaborative effort from the start as we look to build a fit-for-purpose facility which will service the needs of our staff and the community,” he said.

“We have had contributions from multiple stakeholders including nursing staff, surgeons, and the medical imaging department.

“Not only will this new theatre have the potential to save lives during an emergency, it will also have the potential for utilisation across multiple surgical sub-specialities which could help to reduce surgery wait times.”

Townsville University Hospital’s hybrid operating theatre is one of three ground-breaking projects being rolled out as part of the clinical services upgrade.

These initiative projects will also deliver new facilities for the North Queensland Persistent Pain Management Service, and the expansion of the outpatient department – endocrine and diabetes.

Townsville

Shane Jenkin, Tony Mooney, Aaron Harper MP, Kieran Keyes, Shannon Fentiman MP, Les Walker MP, Brett Munro, Pierre Kessler

Recipe of the week

Honey mustard chicken tray bake

supplied by TUH dietitians serves 4 | 15 min prep | 30 min cook

Laugh of the week

Ingredients

• 2 TBSP HONEY

• 1 TBSP MUSTARD

• 1 TBSP WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

• 1 GARLIC CLOVE, CRUSHED

• 2 TBSP OLIVE OIL

• 500G CHICKEN TENDERLOINS

• 600G SWEET POTATO, SLICED 1CM THICK

• 1 RED ONION, SLICED

• 4 FRESH CORN COBETTES

• 250G CHERRY TOMATOES

• 1 BUNCH ASPARAGUS

• 60G FETA CHEESE

Method

1. To make marinade, mix honey, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large shallow dish. Add chicken. Turn to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, place sweet potato and onion in a large roasting pan. Drizzle with remaining ½ tablespoon oil. Toss well, then spread evenly over base of pan. Season with freshly ground pepper. Bake in a preheated 220 °C oven (fan-forced) for 15 minutes.

3. Remove pan from oven. Add marinated chicken pieces and corn, distributing evenly in hot pan. Scatter cherry tomatoes and asparagus over the top and spoon over any remaining marinade.

4. Return pan to same oven. Bake for a further 15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender. Remove from oven.

5. Sprinkle with feta. Season with freshly ground pepper.

Classifieds

FOR SALE

1 x ½ size violin $150 | 1 x ¾ size violin $180 | 1 x full size violin $200 - Each with bow and hard case, and all in very good condition. Please contact 0407746171. (20/6)

Brand new wheelchair, never used $150 (regular retail price $500). Please call Glenn 0400662932 (3/7)

Mazda CX5 2012. 6 Speed Manual. One owner. Good condition. Grey with black interior. Cold air-conditioning. Tow bar. $12,000. Phone Sharyn - 0400228775 (3/7)

FOR RENT

Fully furnished 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, well presented apartment in the city in the hospital’s rental pool. The apartment includes a car park and features secure individual access to building. Please contact 0410 087 756 for more information. (18/6)

One room to rent in townhouse at Castle Hill. Centrally located, 10m walk to Strand. Available from 02/7/24 till October. $190 a week Including bills. No couples. Please Please contact Husain 0401 298 651 for more information. (20/6)

LEASE BREAK: Single bedroom apartment in Hyde Park, suitable for singles or couples. Views of Castlehill with plenty of natural light. Rent: $290/week. Property would be available to move in weekend of 6th July. For further details information contact Amy Jo - 0497 224 881. (20/6)

LEASE BREAK: 4-bedroom house available for 6-month lease. $680 per week unfurnished. Can sell current furniture for cheap if needed. (4/7) Contact mickael.henain@health.qld.gov.au

Email classifieds to tsv-public-affairs@health.qld.gov.au with subject ‘Classifieds’. Do not send classifieds as attachments.

Photos will not be included. Submissions for classifieds should be no longer than 50 word in a plain-text email. Classifieds longer than this will not be included.

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