West Moreton Hospital and Health Service

Delivering effective healthcare involves truly listening to our community. 👂 In a powerful strategic planning workshop, consumers and community members - representing a diverse range of groups, including some of our most vulnerable - came together to help shape the future of healthcare in West Moreton. 💚 Chief Executive Hannah Bloch said hearing first-hand from our community about what ‘good’ healthcare looks like to them is essential. ‘Their voices are our guide to truly lean into and respond to their needs,’ Hannah said. ‘Together, we’re building a plan that will reflect the true health priorities of our community, shaping the future of healthcare in West Moreton in a way that honours every voice. ‘We’re grateful for the time, honesty, and commitment shown by everyone who participated yesterday. ‘These insights will help shape our actions over the next five years.’ This was just one of many engagement sessions we’ll be holding with our community, key stakeholders, staff, and partners, marking a truly exciting time for our health service. 📝 You too can share your voice here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gUJ3QpKp #WestMoretonHealth #MoreToWestMoreton #StrategicPlanning

Hi there 👋 As our community continues to grow, healthcare is becoming more important than ever. We want to know what matters most to you—both now and in the future. By taking a few moments to complete this survey, you’ll help shape our Strategic Plan for 2026–2030. ➡ https://lnkd.in/gUJ3QpKp Your insights will ensure our plan truly reflects the needs of our community, consumers, partners, and staff, so we can deliver the best care possible. Thank you for sharing your voice. 💚 #WestMoretonHealth #MoreToMoreton #StrategicPlanning

Meet some of our wonderful palliative care staff ♥ We understand how deeply emotional and challenging the end-of-life journey can be for our patients and their loved ones, and the palliative care team is here to provide comfort, compassion and support. To help with this mission, we’ve recently introduced a range of new initiatives to expand and strengthen palliative care services in our region 🏥 This includes additional staff, specialist clinics in our rural hospitals and in-home psychology support. We’ve also expanded our Hospital in the Home program and appointed a Palliative Care Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officer 👩⚕️👨⚕️ Plans are also underway to expand our Rural Palliative Care Service, establish a bereavement support service and link patients with chronic conditions into palliative care early to improve their quality of life. We are very fortunate to have such an incredible palliative care team working tirelessly to help our patients 🙏

Mum and proud Mijumbal woman Dayna Harrison wants baby Jude Tupu to grow up immersed in her culture and heritage. She joined twenty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families at a special ceremony called Welcome Baby to Community to yarn with Elders, and connect with other families in the region. Dayna (first photo) moved from her home at Tweed Heads to Ipswich three years ago to live with her partner. She joined the ceremony to meet other families in the region and teach Jude more about her culture. When Jude was born early at 34 weeks and 6 days, she spent time in the Ipswich Hospital special care nursery. Welcome Baby to Community is hosted by our Jaghu Maternal and Infant Care team, who work alongside the Ipswich Hospital nursing and midwifery team. Jaghu Clinical Midwife Consultant Nicole Moller said the First Nation’s maternity program is expanding with three midwives joining the existing team to deliver a Midwifery Group Practice (known as MGP) program within Jaghu. MGP offers continuity of care for women throughout pregnancy until around six-weeks after delivery. These midwives will provide more opportunities for First Nations’ community to receive their antenatal and postnatal care through a holistic and culturally safe model. The Jaghu team also have a dedicated Child Health Nurse, Social Worker, Aboriginal Health Worker and Social Emotional Wellbeing Officer within the team.

Did the signs point you back here? 🤩 If you're ready to improve the lives of young people and work across a range of facilities—including the new Wacol Youth Remand Facility opening in late 2024—we have roles available for: 👉 Advanced First Nations Health Workers 👉Registered Nurse 👉Enrolled Nurse Advanced Skill - Youth Detention You can find more information about these roles here https://lnkd.in/guvtP2EG #WestMoretonHealth #MoreToWestMoreton #YouthJustice

Are you ready to kickstart your career in health? We want to hear from First Nations uni students who are interested in joining the Deadly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cadetship Program. Working alongside some great mentors at West Moreton Health, you’ll gain on the job skills while studying. Positions are available in Nursing, Midwifery, Allied Health and Corporate Services for students completing a full-time bachelors qualification. The hours you work will be scheduled to fit around your studies. So, what are you waiting for? Apply by Friday 25 October. To apply, search ‘cadetship’ at smartjobs.qld.gov.au For program details, visit https://lnkd.in/g_7vxGT9 #WestMoretonHealth #Cadetship #Deadly #AboriginalandTorresStraitIslander #healthcareer

Visiting medical professionals and university students on placements will soon have the option to stay in new, modern accommodation suites at Gatton Hospital. A smoking ceremony, led by the Yagara Dancers, was held at the site of the future building this week to offer protection, healing and positive energy. Smoke has long held cultural significance in connecting with and cleansing the land that has been disturbed before the start of construction. Terry Kowald, Director of Nursing at Gatton Hospital said that having welcoming and comfortable accommodation at rural hospitals is a big part of attracting, keeping and growing the workforce. “For visiting doctors or other medical professionals, they may only be here for a night or two, but this is our chance to encourage them to stay longer – or even consider relocating here,” Mr Kowald said. “We also regularly have nursing students from local universities on placements that last six to eight weeks, so having accommodation on site is often the only way they can complete their placement in a rural area.” With the region growing and health services expanding, Gatton Hospital is also in need of more staff across a variety of roles, from medical professionals to administration and operations. “The first step for many staff who move to Gatton to work is experiencing the lifestyle and region for themselves,” he said.  The new accommodation units, set to open early next year, will feature six suites with ensuites, including an accessible room. There will also be a communal kitchen, lounge, and laundry area, plus a separate conference room for studying or meetings. For convenience, there will be six sheltered parking bays, two electric vehicle charging stations, and a disability-accessibility parking bay for those staying at the facility. 

Want to know what a team of life-changers look like? You’re looking at them! This is Ipswich Hospital’s TLH surgical team. TLH stands for total laparoscopic hysterectomy. It involves a tiny camera instrument that surgeons use to see into the abdomen so they can remove the uterus via keyhole surgery. Ipswich Hospital has become the second public hospital in Queensland to offer TLH as a day surgery. Springfield resident Kirralee Robinson became the fourth woman to undergo TLH day surgery at Ipswich Hospital last month. Just five hours after her surgery, Kirralee was lying in the quiet comfort of her own bed to continue her recovery. That feeling of comfort is something Kirralee hopes to enjoy from now on, having lived with chronic pain for the past five years. The pain sucked the energy from the working mum-of-three, leaving her very tired but often still unable to sleep. A diagnosis of adenomyosis – a close cousin to endometriosis – was a big step in a long journey to regain her quality of life. [Adenomyosis (ad-uh-no-my-O-sis) happens when the tissue lining the uterus grows into the wall of the uterus. Endometriosis (end-o-mee-tree-o-sis) happens when the tissue grows outside the uterus. Both can cause severe pain.] As she looks hopefully towards a pain-free future, Kirralee encouraged other women experiencing chronic pain to continue to advocate for themselves until they find a treatment. Shout out to Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service and their Medical Director Gynaecology, Dr Graeme Walker, for supporting the Ipswich Hospital team to safely introduce TLH day surgery here in West Moreton. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gEHeijfj Pictured is Obstetrics and Gynaecology Director Dr Kanapathippillai Sivanesan (left) and the TLH medical and nursing surgical team including Dr Ritu Arora, Dr Mayooran Veerasingham, Owen Clausen, Dr Robert Nguyen, Michelle Davidson, Kate Kleinhans, Dr Alan Cheng, Dr Donya Sabet, Christie Dinkelaar and Kirsten Beer.

When Melissa Chiem took on a part-time job as a pharmacy assistant in high school, she had no idea the pivotal role it would play in her future.   Now employed as a Pharmacist in West Moreton Health’s Prison Health Services, Melissa is thriving.   ‘I’ve been working for West Moreton Health for nearly five years now. It’s been an incredible journey and I've had the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally,’ she says.   ‘I started my first job as a pharmacy assistant when I was in high school and I immediately enjoyed the dynamic environment and the positive impact we have on the wider community.   ‘This initial experience ignited my passion for pharmacy, leading me to pursue it as a career.   ‘I appreciate how pharmacy combines science, patient care and communication, allowing me to make a meaningful impact on people’s health.’   The most enjoyable part of the job, she says, is that every day is different.   ‘I thrive on the variety, the challenges and the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team,’ she says.   ‘Whether it’s answering questions about medications, collaborating with healthcare teams or staying updated on new treatments, there’s always something new to learn.   ‘This dynamic environment keeps me engaged and motivated. Additionally, the opportunity to build relationships with patients and support their health journeys is incredibly fulfilling.’   Melissa is one of West Moreton Health’s many hard-working pharmacists who we celebrate today as part of World Pharmacists Day. #WestMoretonHealth #MoreToWestMoreton #PrisonHealth #WorldPharmacistsDay

Fay Jones’ sore eye didn’t stop her making history this week. She arrived at Gatton Hospital Emergency Department at precisely the same time they stopped using paper-based patient records. Now the Murphys Creek resident will forever hold the honour of being the first patient recorded in the hospital’s integrated electronic Medical Record (ieMR) system. When Dr Supun Jayasundara told her of this honour, Faye said it was the first time she had been first at anything. ieMR is a digital solution that replaces traditional paper-based clinical charts and medical records. It helps clinical collaboration throughout the patient’s health journey and supports best-practice care and safety. Next month, Boonah Hospital will also transition to ieMR. All the best for a quick recovery, Fay. You’ll always be number one in our books.