Welcome to your latest Wellbeing & Support update.
This week we have seen a number of changes in response to the announcement of 36 Melbourne suburbs being locked down and many of those directly inside our catchment and a further group in neighbouring areas. This means some of you have found yourself both living and working in areas considered hotspots and for some of us, we now work in an area considered a hotspot.
Western Health has responded quickly to these new challenges and once again we are focussed on keeping you safe and well. So we are asking you to really focus on your personal safety as well as the safety of your work colleagues by strictly adhering to physical distancing and practising rigorous hand hygiene. We have also asked you to wear surgical masks and face shields/eye protection in all general areas of Footscray and Sunshine Hospital (including Joan Kirner). Please note that this requirement applies across all areas, not just clinical or public areas. It applies at all times and for all staff at those sites (unless a higher level of PPE is required appropriate to higher risk). Full details are available in the document PPE – Tier 1 Guidance for Staff FAQs under P in the Quick Reference Guides.
While many of our clinical colleagues are highly experienced in the use of PPE, those of us who are not in those areas are far less familiar and for those staff, wearing PPE represents a really big change in the way many of us work and relate to each other. For one thing, there can be confusion about how to wear the surgical mask, so here are some simple diagrams from the World Health Organization:
And you can always ask a clinical colleague to show you how it’s done. As we know, change at work and home often brings uncertainty and anxiety for many of our employees but please be reassured, your wellbeing is paramount.
Wellbeing and Support Hubs
Sunshine Wellness Hub remains in the lecture theatre in the WCHRE and is open from 8am each day. There will be rostered staff from 12 -2.30pm daily to provide support.
Footscray Wellness hub is currently in the Mavis Mitchell room and is open from 8am each morning. There will be rostered staff from 12 -2.30pm daily to provide support.
Williamstown Wellness Hub is in the Education room on level 1 and will open at 8am each morning.
As we have had to roll back some of the loosening of restrictions like having tables to sit at in the café, many of you have begun to ask us again about where to find somewhere to have a meal break away from your own workplace, but where physical distancing rules can still be maintained.
Here are some areas for you to access:
At Sunshine – the atrium area up in the WCHRE can be utilised. This area is available Mon- Friday from 12 midday to 3pm. The courtyard between the WCHRE and the long corridor can be accessed by swipe card and is available to those wanting fresh air. There is also the area opposite the pharmacy. We are also exploring a couple of other outside areas and will advise shortly.
At Footscray – there is an outside area on level 1 near 1East (see images below) and we have now opened the courtyard on the Ground Floor near the Green Bag Café between 11.30 am and 2.30pm.
It’s extremely important that everyone plays their role in observing hand hygiene and the 1.5 metre rule. The furniture has been arranged to facilitate this, so please do not move the furniture and please look after the health of yourself and your colleagues by adhering to these requirements.
Our staff in the spotlight
It has been good to see a range of Western Health sites and staff featuring in recent high profile media coverage, reflecting the large amount of COVID related work being done by the organisation. All media coverage of the Showgrounds testing site has been managed through liaison with Western Health as the lead organisation for that site.
Also last night’s ABC TV 7.30 Report featured Sunshine Hospital’s testing clinic and our nurse, Shabnam Tawfi. Click on the links below to see and share this story from the Western Health Facebook page or from the ABC.
Kindness Matters
Kindness matters and costs nothing. It can be as simple as a state of mind, the attitude you bring to what you do and the actions you take as a result and yet the impact can be huge and long lasting. We need kindness more than ever as we find ourselves living with continued restrictions at work and at home.
Let’s check in on our colleagues if we notice they may be struggling, tired or anxious and let’s be respectful of others in the workplace in the way we communicate and how we conduct ourselves.
We can only get through this in the best possible way if we work together- the Western way.
For more information and resources to support you to take care of yourself and others as we navigate this next phase COVID-19, please click here.
Remember you can email for support and information at WellbeingSupport@wh.org.au and a member of the team will respond to you within 24 hours.
We also provide an Employee Assistance Program through Caraniche who can be contacted on 1800 099 444 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days) or by email work@caraniche.com.au
Regards
Suellen
On behalf of the Executive Team