Metro South Health

Congratulations to our very own Dr Susan O'Dwyer who was appointed as Chair of the Medical Board of Australia this month. 👏🩺 Dr O'Dwyer is our Executive Director of Medical Services. In addition to her leadership role at Metro South Health, she has been a member of the National Medical Board since 2016 and before that was Chair of the Queensland Board of the Medical Board of Australia. AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)

Happy first birthday to QEII Hospital's Ward 4A 🎂✨ Caring for a massive 1,281 patients in their first 12 months, this incredible team has tackled challenges with resilience and built a culture of exceptional care at the brand-new ward. 🏥 “Today gives the team a great sense of achievement after a challenging and rewarding year. I’m a big believer in our staff being our greatest asset. If they feel empowered and valued, it filters down to great patient care and ultimately achieves great patient outcomes," said Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) Nick Delaney. Here’s to the Ward 4A team as they continue to grow, learn, and care for our QEII community. 🌟

Diagnosing on the spot! Bayside Health Service is trialling portable ultrasounds at Redland Hospital to detect rare high ankle injuries at the bedside. Advanced Physiotherapist Laura Hayes says portable ultrasounds offer faster assessments, reducing the need for costly MRIs and improving patient care.

PA Hospital’s Stroke Unit has proven the incredible power of teamwork after being certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Unit (CSU) by the Australian Stroke Coalition on 3 December. 🏥 PAH is now the second Queensland site to achieve CSU accreditation after GCUH, and one of only seven sites named nationally. 🌟 “This accreditation recognises and endorses our stroke processes, our clinical standards, clear documentation and audit of stroke patients coming to the PA, and it highlights that we have made some significant inroads into timely treatment of stroke,” said Stroke Unit Medical Lead Dr Michael Devlin (front right). From admission to discharge, there is a dedicated team of medical, nursing and allied health specialists working together to deliver exceptional and timely care to every patient. “Delivering care to someone having a stroke is certainly a team effort. We're supported by multiple units in the hospital who have invested time and effort and processes into making that patient journey from hospital, from door to discharge door as safe and as quick as possible.” 🤍 Congratulations to the whole team on this remarkable achievement and thank you for your commitment to excellence in stroke care. 👏✨

Trailblazer Alert: Dr Erica Williams 🌟 PA Hospital’s Dr Erica Williams has been revolutionising physiotherapy for nearly two decades. As a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, she co-founded the Back Assessment Clinic in 2006, slashing wait times for spinal patients from years to just weeks and reducing the need for surgeon involvement for 70% of cases. But Erica’s influence doesn’t stop at home. Now, she’s breaking new ground in France, where she’s advocating for direct access physiotherapy and teaching the next generation of physiotherapists—all while delivering entire lectures in French! Her dedication to advancing the profession, both in Australia and abroad, has opened countless doors for better patient care and career opportunities for physiotherapists. Merci, Dr Williams, for leading the way!

👋🏽 Meet Magic Mike, a gem of the QEII Hospital Volunteer Services team. For 13 years, Mike has dedicated his time to supporting patients and staff with a smile and a heart full of kindness. His selfless contributions recently earned him the 2024 Metro South Health Volunteer Award. 🏆 “The best part of my day is getting a smile back from the people that I’ve helped. Coming here every day is joy for me,” he said. At a sprightly 81 years old, Mike dedicated his award to his late wife, saying, "When I took the award home, I held it up to my wife’s picture and said, ‘this is for you, darling.’” 🤍 His dedication, warmth, and positivity make him an irreplaceable part of the QEII family. 🌻 Mike, thank you for all you do – QEII wouldn’t be the same without you. 🌟

Celebrating Dr Michael Cleary 🌟 After 41 years of extraordinary service, Dr Michael Cleary, Metro South Health's Chief of People, Engagement, and Research, is retiring today - leaving a legacy of innovation, kindness, and collaboration that will be felt for years to come. He started his medical career at PA Hospital where he met his lifelong partner Carol while caring for a patient in radiology, participated in Australia’s first successful liver transplant, and was awarded the coveted Buchanan Prize for the highest score in the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Fellowship Exam. He was also bestowed the ‘golden stethoscope’ (pictured) which he still has to this day. Known for his boundless energy, strategic vision, and genuine care for people, Michael has been a driving force in Queensland Health. His humour, warmth, and ability to bring out the best in those around him have left a lasting impression on colleagues and teams across the health system. Thank you, Dr Cleary, for 41 years of dedication to Queensland Health and the countless lives you've touched along the way. Your legacy will inspire generations to come.

Introducing REST: The Rehabilitation Engagement and Safety Team 🌟 The Spinal Injuries Unit at the PAH has welcomed REST, a multidisciplinary team dedicated to fostering a safe, supportive environment for patients and staff navigating the complexities of long-term rehabilitation. CNC Rob Moloney, along with Psychologists Harriet Bodimeade and Jenna Scambler, are leading the way in trauma-informed care, equipping staff with strategies to manage complex behaviours while supporting patients through their life-changing journeys. By focusing on early intervention, personalised care, and staff education, REST is shaping a resilient and compassionate space for recovery.

Professor Euan Walpole is leaving behind a remarkable legacy at PA Hospital and beyond after almost four decades of transformative contributions to the care of patients with cancer. Dr Walpole has not only advanced medical oncology outcomes for countless Australians, but also inspired a generation of trainees and young investigators, elevating evidence-based practice and research to world-leading heights. He started at PAH as an intern in 1981, advancing through his training at multiple facilities, but it was in 1990 that he returned to PAH making it his clinical home. “The change in perspective of what cancer treatment is all about in this era compared to the approach in the 1990’s, and actually having the data to prove that alongside our research, is key to changing the perceptions of our life’s-work treating patients with cancer,” Dr Walpole said. In celebrating Dr Walpole’s retirement from his role as the Medical Director of Cancer Services, we honour a leader who has seamlessly combined research excellence, mentorship, and advocacy to leave an indelible mark on the global fight against cancer. 👏

QEII Hospital's Pharmacy Department is leading the way with a fresh, purpose-built shelving system that’s transforming how the team works—and how they care for patients. 💊 Director of Pharmacy Natalie Tasker (right) says the upgrades are delivering results where they matter most: medication safety, efficiency, and staff morale. “All the changes we’re implementing may sound small, but they’re cumulative, and often it’s the simple things that work,” she said. By improving stock organisation, adding clear labels and barcodes, and optimizing the new layout, the team has significantly reduced selection errors while future-proofing for PBS dispensing launching in 2025. 🏥⭐ Kudos to the team for advocating for improvements that make a real difference to patients and staff! 👏