Chief Executive COVID-19 Update: 24 November

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – 24 November 2021

As of today, we have:

• 48 COVID-19 positive inpatients
• 22 employees with COVID-19
• 15 employees in precautionary quarantine

In this update, we cover:

• COVID-19 Update
• People Matter
• Tune in to celebrate our colleagues with 30 years or more of service
• Updates to quarantine and isolation requirements
• Face to face meetings, training and handovers
• Monash Health’s 2021 Annual General Meeting and Open Board Meeting
• Providing evidence of your vaccination status
• STAR Awards

Four weeks ago, on 26 October, 817 people were hospitalised with COVID-19 in Victoria.

Yesterday, there were 303 patients in hospitals across the state, with 44 in ICU and 53 people who were previously sick with COVID-19 (COVID-cleared) who remain in ICU.

There is one main reason for these falling numbers – vaccinations. Reduced hospitalisations are a tangible reflection of a high community vaccination rate and a strong reminder to make a booking for a third dose if six months have passed since your second. 

You can make a booking or walk in at one of our high-volume vaccination centres, including Sandown Racecourse or Cranbourne Turf Club, or one of our employee vaccination clinics at our hospital sites.

If you are looking for more information about third doses, Professor Rhonda Stuart gave an informative presentation at a recent employee forum, which you can watch here.

With COVID-19 modelling suggesting we may see another peak (and a resulting increase in hospitalisation) in late January 2022, we are looking closely at how we maintain our flexibility, building on what we have learnt from our COVID-19 experience so far.

People Matter Employee Survey

I would like to thank everyone who shared their thoughts in this year’s People Matter employee survey.

The survey was undertaken nearly 16 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, and as we were experiencing another lockdown. Still, almost 4,000 of you took the time to share your views on a wide range of topics, including values, job satisfaction, patient safety, discrimination, bullying, diversity and inclusion and wellbeing.

Some areas of strengths include:

• Strong levels of engagement with Monash Health,
• A positive sense of people working well together and great teamwork,
• Workgroups continuing to provide high-quality service, and
• Patient safety remaining a priority.

While our employee survey results have improved in many areas, there are opportunities for improvement.

This year, your feedback tells us that stress levels have increased and the support around psychological safety and wellbeing should remain a priority. You also told us we could improve in preventing occupational violence and aggression (OVA) and providing greater access to employment opportunities.

In response to your feedback, we are putting in place a psychological first aid program, enhancements to our wellbeing support, continuing to work on the prevention of OVA, as well as looking at other ways we can better support you. You will hear more about these and other initiatives over the coming weeks.

We will be sharing the survey results in meetings for programs over the next few weeks. Information about the results and what we are doing in response to your feedback will be available through the Organisational Development, Culture & Learning Intranet page.

 Thank you for participating in People Matter. Your feedback helps to improve our workplace for you and your colleagues.

Andrew Stripp
Chief Executive

Key Messages

Tune in to celebrate our colleagues with 30 years or more of service

Tonight, we celebrate our colleagues who a have given a remarkable 30 years’ service and above. Join us at 5.30pm to celebrate their significant contributions.

Information, including the list of recipients and how you can join the live events, can be found here.

Updates to quarantine and isolation requirements

At yesterday’s Employee Forum, Professor Rhonda Stuart outlined updates to quarantine and isolation requirements for healthcare workers, patients and international travel. You can access Rhonda’s presentation slides here

Face to face meetings, training and handovers

In light of current employee vaccination levels, face to face meetings, training and handovers may now resume. Please continue to observe correct PPE use and physical distancing when meeting and ensure that entire teams do not meet at the same time.

Please stay vigilant with physical distancing during meals and tea breaks when masks are not being worn.

Monash Health’s 2021 Annual General Meeting and Open Board Meeting 

You’re invited to Monash Health’s 2021 Annual General Meeting and Open Board Meeting, which will be held on Thursday 2 December at 2 pm. 

Join us to hear how we’re engaging with our community, consumers and partners to embed a new approach to public health. 

To learn more and register, please visit www.monashhealth.org/agm

Providing evidence of your vaccination status

Last month, the Chief Health Officer released directions on mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers.

In line with our commitment to the directions, we are now required to collect evidence of the employee’s fully vaccinated status by 15 December 2021.

If you were vaccinated at a Monash Health vaccination clinic (onsite at Monash Health, St John of God Berwick Hospital, Cranbourne Turf Club, Sandown Racecourse or a pop-up clinic) and were identified as an employee, we already have evidence of your vaccination status, and no further action is required.

Over the coming weeks, we will be contacting those employees we don’t currently hold evidence for and asking you to provide proof of your vaccination status via the COVID-19 Vaccination Evidence Form. This evidence is required, even if you have previously provided a declaration stating you have been vaccinated.

Meet the STARs supporting medication safety

At yesterday’s employee forum, two STAR Awards were presented: In Pursuit of Excellence and Outstanding Care or Service Delivery.

Both recipients received awards for their efforts in improving medication safety at Monash Health. Read more about their great work here.