Chief Executive Update – 9 September 2022

Chief Executive Update – 9 September 2022

As of today, we have:   

• 47 COVID-19 positive inpatients
• 35 employees with COVID-19
• 6 employees in precautionary quarantine
• 17 employees who are primary close contacts and working under public health exemption

In this update, we cover: 

• A health-based response to Public Intoxication
• Designs for new Aged Care facility released
• Compassion and advocacy win STAR Award
• Research excellence; pushing the frontiers of women’s health and fertility care
• Second payment dates for the Winter Retention and Surge Payment
• Some important messages from Wayne Schwass for R U OK? Day
• Upholding our Code of Conduct – what you need to know about fraud
• Unvaccinated employee work requirements

Against a backdrop of declining COVID-19 inpatient numbers, a reduction in community infections, and updated public health guidance, we are reviewing the current settings for our employees, patients and visitors.

At this week’s Employee Forum, we heard from Professor Rhonda Stuart about some changes to COVID-19 clearance, testing, mask-wearing requirements, visitor restrictions and face-to-face meetings that will be effective from 12 September 2022.  This story outlines the key changes and you can view the presentation here.  

It’s important to remember that, although the COVID-19 isolation period for the general community is reducing to five days, hospitals are classified as a sensitive setting so you must not return to work on-site until you have completed a full seven-day isolation period. 

We are continuing to review other areas such as working from home arrangements and PPE requirements and we will provide an update as soon as we’ve reached these decisions.  

As we have done since the start of the pandemic, we’ll continue to respond to complexities and challenges as they arise, acknowledging that a return to more normal operations is not a straight line; it’s wobbly and we’ll need to be prepared to adapt our responses as necessary. Thank you all for your patience and flexibility as we navigate this together. 

Meanwhile, our teams are doing some great work with the resumption, expansion and quick stand up of important services such as the Public Intoxication unit.  

A health-based response to Public Intoxication 

Monash Health is providing a new Public Intoxication Service in the City of Greater Dandenong as part of the Department of Health’s Public Intoxication Health Response Trial. The Assertive Outreach Service will work closely with Ngwala Willumbong, our partner provider, to support people intoxicated in public.

The service will work with emergency responders to help people who are intoxicated to access better support and to provide pathways to a safe space.

Designs for new Aged Care facility released 

Plans are in place to demolish the outdated and vacant Eastwood Hostel at the Kingston Centre to allow for the construction of a 150-bed facility that will promote independence, privacy and will include dementia-friendly features.

The four-storey building will make the most of the Kingston Centre’s gardens and natural environment, with improved use of natural light and access to terraces and landscaped garden areas.

You can read more about the development and view the designs here.

Compassion and advocacy win STAR Award 

Congratulations to Rhonda Wynne, our brilliant STAR Award winner for “Excellent Experiences”.  Rhonda is a Residential Placement Co-ordinator who led the relocation of residents from Eastwood Hostel.

She implemented a person-centred process by personally speaking with all the residents individually, as well as their nominated representatives, to identify their preferences on where to live after Eastwood closed.

You can read more about Rhonda’s great work here.

Research excellence; pushing the frontiers of women’s health and fertility care  

This week is Women’s Health Week. At Monash Health, we’re proud of our teams for leading the way in delivering exceptional care in women’s health, maternity and obstetric services across our hospital sites and the community.   

Our clinician-researchers are passionate about helping women achieve the best health outcomes because they understand the positive effect this has on women’s lives and the flow-on impact on their families and community.   

Watch the video and hear from our talented team members, pushing the frontiers of healthcare and working for the benefit of women, their families, and the community.   

Second payment dates for the Winter Retention and Surge Payment 

All clinical and non-clinical staff employed by the Victorian public health system who meet the eligibility criteria for the Healthcare Worker Winter Retention and Surge Payment will receive a payment of up to $3,000. The payment will be split across two payment periods and will be subject to tax.

The dates for the second payments are as follows:

• H pay cycle – Fortnight ending 2 October, paid 5 October 2022
• N pay cycle – Fortnight ending 9 October, paid 12 October 2022

More information on the surge payment, including eligibility criteria and how the payment is calculated, can be found here.

Some important messages from our R U OK? Day forum

This week we heard from special guest speaker Wayne Schwass, former AFL player and mental health advocate, on the importance of prioritising your own wellbeing and making long-term investments for your health.  

If you missed the wellbeing forum, you can play it back any time over the next fortnight.  

Upholding our Code of Conduct – what you need to know about fraud

To ensure we carry out our roles to the highest standard of integrity and help maintain community confidence and trust in our health service, all employees are provided with clear expectations set out in the Monash Health Code of Conduct, iCare values, and the Fraud and Corruption Framework.

You can read more here about the steps that both employees and managers must take to uphold diligent practices.

Unvaccinated employee work requirements 

Employees who are unvaccinated for influenza are required to follow these directions to reduce risk in the health service. Until the end of October 2022, all unvaccinated employees working on site are required to:

• Wear an N95 mask in all sites and take meal breaks alone.
• Watch the recording of the Influenza Vaccination Information session from our Infection prevention team, which is now available on LATTE .
• Provide a medical certificate if wishing to receive an official medical exemption.

Enjoy the spring weather and thank you, as always, for the work you do to look after our community.

Professor Andrew Stripp
Chief Executive