Chief Executive Update – 19 May 2022
As of today, we have:
- 118 COVID-19 positive inpatients
- 208 employees with COVID-19
- 42 employees in precautionary quarantine
- 90 employees who are primary close contacts and working under public health exemption
In this update, we cover:
- Flying the flag to celebrate inclusiveness
- Congratulations to our 2022 NAMAS winners
- Better together with our volunteers
- Keeping a close eye on COVID-19 numbers
Flying the flag to celebrate inclusiveness
This week at Monash Medical Centre, you may see the Progressive Pride Flag flying for the first time, alongside the Australian and Aboriginal flags.We are flying the flag this week as a show of support for our LGBTI+ community, and in celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
IDAHOBIT is the chosen celebration of the Monash Health LGBTI+ committee. This day of recognition aligns with Monash Health’s Equity and Inclusion Strategy, and our aim to provide a safe, understanding and respectful environment for all.If you’d like to know more about what the flag represents and why it’s an important symbol of inclusion and progression for our LGBTI+ community, please read more.
Congratulations to our 2022 NAMAS winners
Congratulations to Nurse Manager, Janine Maloney, who has been named the 2022 Monash Health Nurse of the Year at last week’s Nursing and Midwifery Awards and Scholarships (NAMAS).
Held on International Nurses Day, NAMAS was a celebration of the remarkable achievements of our nursing teams. Your stories inspired me, and I congratulate you on your good work.
Monash Health has the largest contingent of nurses and midwives in the state. They make us proud every day with the way they deliver outstanding, compassionate care to our patients, residents and clients across our sites, in the community, and in people’s homes.
If you missed the NAMAS celebrations, I encourage you to take a few minutes to watch The Nursing and Midwifery montage video.
On International Nurses Day, we also heard from nurses across Monash Health who told us why they love being nurses. From McCulloch House, to Pakenham Health Centre, and back to the Kingston Centre, the stories are worth sharing again and again.
Better together with our volunteers
This week we also celebrate National Volunteer Week, an annual celebration where we acknowledge the generous contribution, dedication and commitment of our volunteers. We are truly ‘Better Together’, which is this year’s theme and, despite the challenges of volunteering during COVID-19, the strength they have provided the community through their service has never been more important.
We have 220 volunteers who range in age from 19 to their late 80s and from all backgrounds. Some have just started volunteering and others have been with us for decades. We thank each and every one of them and we’re so delighted to have many of them back in important roles.
Board Chair, Dipak Sanghvi, Board member, Aurelia Balpe, and Chief Medical Officer, Associate Professor Anjali Dhulia, several members of the executive team and volunteer team were on hand to thank over 100 of our volunteers at the annual Monash Health volunteer lunch.
As Anjali said, our volunteers have gone above and beyond normal volunteering requirements. They have completed training for and are wearing PPE, they have complied with vaccination requirements and submitted evidence at each request for COVID-19 vaccinations. They are all extraordinary.
If you have five minutes, please read the story about the volunteer team from the Chemo Day Unit at Moorabbin Hospital which encapsulates the commitment of our volunteers and our teams working with them.
Keeping a close eye on COVID-19 numbers
As we approach winter, we are seeing a gradual rise in the number of COVID-19 cases presenting across our Monash Health sites. To manage the increasing demand, we are scaling up our COVID-19 capacity and will recommission W4 at Dandenong Hospital as a full COVID-19 management ward. We are also reviewing our mental health COVID-19 management model approach.
For the latest on our approach to managing the COVID-19 demand and plans for the reopening of theatre capacity and beds next week, please see the presentation from Chief Operating Officer, Martin Keogh in Tuesday’s employee forum.
From 23 May, there are plans to open theatre capacity at Monash Children’s Hospital and Casey Hospital, and additional beds at Casey and Moorabbin Hospitals.
Andrew StrippChief Executive
All managers are requested to share these updates with their teams and discuss at stand-ups and handovers. Please print a copy and display it in communication books and on employee noticeboards.
As advice and information evolve, please consult the latest updates and visit the Department of Health Coronavirus website and the Monash Health COVID-19 website for employees regularly for the latest.