Metro North Health

Swallowing seems simple, but it's actually pretty complicated - it takes your brain, several nerves and muscles, two muscular valves and an open, unconstricted oesophagus for it to work harmoniously.

Following a stroke, a person's speech and swallowing abilities are often affected, which is where TPCH speech pathologist Pip steps in to provide speech and language therapy and help patients to learn new swallowing techniques. 🤗

"I am especially passionate about advocating for patients with communication impairments to receive the best care and treatment possible," Pip said.

"I really value being able to make a positive difference to the outcomes of patients during their rehabilitation stay and seeing their improvement throughout their admission."

[Accessibility image description: Pip is smiling wearing a dark coloured top with greenery in the background.]

"I had a stroke in July this year. It has mixed up my speech. It's like knowing what you want to say, and when you go to say it, there is nothing. It feels very frustrating. Not just for me, for my husband too! He has to work out what I'm trying to say. There are moments when it works and moments when it doesn't. It's hard. I am learning different ways to say words. My hope is that my speech comes back. I want to learn to write and remember numbers again. That's the goal."

☁️ Catherine, 73 years old, STARS speech pathology patient.

[Accessibility image description: Catherine wears a dark blue t-shirt standing in front of wood panels surrounding gold lift doors.]

Registered nurses Margaret and Maureen, and Dr Chrys are from the TPCH internal medicine and dementia research unit (IMDRU) - the largest dementia clinical trials unit in South-East Queensland. 🤩

Since its launch in 1998, the unit has been at the forefront of trials into a groundbreaking group of drugs for Alzheimer's Disease - drugs with the potential to modify a disease that affects memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities.

"IMDRU has conducted over 45 large international and national trials involving over 400 patients and carers in dementia," Margaret said.

"In the last 26 years, IMDRU has conducted trials in compounds which have successfully progressed to marketed therapies." 🤗

[Accessibility image description: Dr Margaret, Dr Chrys and Dr Maureen stand side by side smiling with a brick wall and greenery in the background.]

High-quality nutrition during pregnancy is a cornerstone of health for both mother and baby - which is why Susan, an advanced dietitian and principal research fellow for allied health at the RBWH, has dedicated her research to the topic.

Under Susan's leadership, access to dietetic antenatal care has grown sixfold after her practice-based research proved that access to nutrition experts can support women in reaching their nutrition goals and improving diet quality, ultimately leading to healthier pregnancies.

"Our research has allowed the expansion of nutrition care services across all Metro North birthing facilities to ensure women have access to evidence-informed dietetic care, no matter where they are having their baby in our health service," Susan said.

"We know that supporting women and families with healthy eating and physical activity can have lifelong benefits to their health and the health of future generations."

👏 to Susan for her dedicated research with women and their families.

[Accessibility image description: Susan wears a colourful floral dress smiling.]

It started as an ordinary day for 55-year-old Caboolture local Darni, travelling to work on her motorbike when tragedy struck, and she was thrown from her motorbike into a guard rail.

The impact broke several bones in her body, including her pelvis and spine, amputated her right leg and induced a brain bleed and traumatic brain injury. Thankfully, a nearby off-duty paramedic and a police officer quickly jumped into action to save Darni's life.

Darni was airlifted to RBWH ICU, where she would wake to her new reality. Many weeks later, she's continuing her rehabilitation journey at STARS, where she continues to show her fighting spirit. 💪

"My memory is affected, and it makes me feel inadequate, but I am doing lots of therapy to get my brain working again," Darni said.

"I'm a very strong person in body, but I will never get better without my family's support. I would try and stand up if they asked me to, even if it hurts. I have to get up and walk and learn to use a wheelchair - I have to live my life. I can't be like woe is me." ❤️

[Accessibility image description: Darni wears a floral t-shirt sitting up in a hospital bed smiling.]

Gary is the advanced dental technician at the Caboolture Satellite Hospital Oral Health Service which means that he and team help meet needs of patients requiring repairs to old, or new, dental prosthesis such as dentures and splints. 🤩

For those eligible patients who use the service, it has been a fantastic first year of care for the community and judging by the number of appliances the team have made, it is certainly a much-needed service that is having huge benefits.

"Recently we helped a patient who on the day before an important job interview – broke his denture! We were able to do an emergency repair, and he was certainly very relieved," Gary said.

"We recently introduced a new specialised welder which is capable of repairing metal dentures in a quick and efficient way. Previously, this repair job would take up to three hours, and now we can do it in about 10-minutes."

[Accessibility image description: Gary wears a navy button up shirt leaning on a metal work bench with equipment.]

As a community forensic psychiatrist, Dr Carolina's work is based on diagnosing, treating and managing patients with mental disorders involved in the criminal justice system.

Her patients include those who have committed a serious crime while mentally unwell, patients who are incarcerated, and she also assists others in understanding the link between their mental illness symptoms and their offending or future risk of offending.

"It's important to believe that one can make both the world safer while at the same time improving the life of our consumers to prevent it from happening again. We do this without judgment," Carolina said.

Metro North Mental Health is looking for a forensic psychiatrist to join the community forensic outreach service team. If this sounds like you, apply here: https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-MH585284

A decade ago, Gordon suffered severe injuries when he was hit by a car while leaving a movie theatre. He spent six weeks in rehab at RBWH, where he first met nurse navigator Suzie.

Through years of health struggles, 98-year-old Gordon has always been able to fall back on his love of painting for joy and diversion during tough times. 🧑‍🎨

A celebrated local artist, Gordon has won the Ekka Portrait Champion award five times after taking out this year's prize.

One piece of art that Gordon made this year was particularly special for RBWH nurse navigator Suzie.

"I gifted a beautiful portrait of Suzie on her birthday as a way of saying thank you for the years of care she has provided me and my family. I don't know what we would do without Suzie," Gordon said. 🥰

[Accessibility image description: Suzie is holding a self-portrait standing next to Gordon.]

"I have a spinal cord injury and have had multiple surgeries for it. Before my injury, family and work were everything but now my life has gotten a lot simpler. You’ve got to make the most of what you’ve got. I am working out what will be my new ‘normal’. You have your bad days, but you just have to make your good days even better. My goal is to get better so I can spend time with my two grandchildren."

☁️ Nicole, 51 years old, STARS rehabilitation patient.

[Accessibility image description: Nicole wears a black t-shirt sitting on the side of a hospital bed smiling.]

After years of persistent leg pain, former TPCH nurse Flora is back at the hospital where she used to work - this time as a patient with a double hip replacement.

When Flora had to stop working because of the pain she was in, she was referred to the TPCH physiotherapy department and director of orthopaedic surgery, Dr Simon Perkins. They diagnosed Flora with hip dysplasia and severe arthritis, requiring a bilateral total hip replacement.

"I'm like a different person. I can't believe I lived with so much pain for so long. It was so debilitating," Flora said.

"I am so grateful for the care I received. It has made me eager to return and contribute to the nursing profession in any way that I can." 🥰

Read more of Flora's story here: https://metronorth.health.qld.gov.au/news/hip-surgery-gets-flora-back-on-her-feet

[Accessibility image description: Flora is holding a wooden bar, smiling in a hospital gym setting.]

STARS physiotherapist Brooke is behind the 'dignity at STARS clothing program' initiative thanks to a RBWH Foundation patient care grant. 🌟

The program partnered with community organisation 'Thread Together', will launch next week providing clothes, shoes and toiletries for patients that arrive at STARS for care and rehabilitation and have no access to any of these items.

"We want to provide dignified compassionate care," Brooke said.

"My goal is to avoid the purple surgical gown when patients are in a rehab space. By wearing appropriate attire, it will shift their mindset from patient to active participant in their own recovery."

👏 to Brooke and everyone involved in this great initiative.

[Accessibility image description: Brooke is holding up a pair of trackpants and shoes smiling in a rehab gym setting.]

Ingrid, Redcliffe Hospital's oncology NUM, has accepted a generous donation from the Redcliffe Tigers AFL club for the hospital's wig and turban service.

Thanks to donations like this, the wig and turban service is free for Redcliffe Hospital cancer patients.

Gayle and Kylie from the Redcliffe Tigers AFC organise a yearly ladies' day to raise money for a local charity. Since 2018, the Tigers have raised $15,000 for the volunteer-run wig and turban service. 👏

"This donation will be so appreciated by the patients who rely on this service to help maintain their dignity while going through such a life-changing time," Ingrid said.

[Accessibility image description: Kylie, Ingrid and Gayle standing together with the hospital in the background.]

Caring for our tiny and most vulnerable patients is neonatal nurse Lyn, who has been at RBWH NICU for 30 years. 💜

Lyn, who is also involved with neonatal research and works in the NeoRESQ program, has watched how technology has advanced over the years and how parents are incorporated more into the babies' care.

"With things like our newborn reading program and kangaroo care (skin-to-skin), we place much more of an emphasis on parental involvement, which is great for both babies and parents," Lyn said.

"We are there to support and care for not just the babies, but the whole family unit. And you can see what a difference you can make to those families who are often going through a distressing and confusing time."

Interventional pulmonology uses minimally invasive techniques such as endoscopy to diagnose and treat lung cancer, pleural disease and many types of complex airway and lung disorders. 🫁

Clinical nurse Chen has spent the last 10 years in this small but mighty department, that mostly carries out bronchoscopies which investigate airways and lungs, pleural procedures to drain fluid from lungs, and stents for airway obstructions.

"I like the variety of procedures, it’s always interesting - now we offer robotic-assisted bronchoscopy robot which is such a huge asset to our department and our patients," Chen said

The RBWH bronchoscopy suite is looking for a clinical nurse to join the interventional pulmonology service team. If that sounds like you, apply here: https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-RBH582875 🤩

WeCU Family Care Program recruit Glenn may be new to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) environment but caring for extended family, like patient family member Toni, is something he has committed to most of his adult life. ❤️

WeCU is an Australian first and was founded by the Foundation in 2022 to provide families with information, care and comfort, facilitate communication with a loved one’s healthcare team, and assist with accommodation bookings and patient travel subsidy support.

“While I may not have a medical background, my life experience in caring for loved ones, navigating difficult situations, and overcoming personal challenges – have instilled in me a deep sense of empathy and a genuine desire to help others during their most vulnerable moments,” said Glenn. 🥰

WeCU is staffed by a dedicated team 7 days a week and, on average, helps about 200 people every day. The RBWH Foundation also refurbished the ICU waiting room, which now offers welcome packs, a library and coffee vouchers.

"When my wife left me, I let my two children be adopted by her and her new partner. My son was three and my daughter was three months old. They both found me many years later in their 20's and 30's. Having them back in my life makes me feel like a human again. The other day I had a hug with my son and he told me he loved me, and I just said do you have any idea how much I love you kids? They are my world. I now have five grandchildren. They call me pop. They are always checking in and making sure I'm okay."

☁️ Jim, 82 years old, RBWH vascular ward patient.

[Accessibility image description: Jim is sitting in a chair wearing a purple hospital gown smiling.]

One in six Australians suffer with back pain, taking both a physical and mental toll on the patient - but could gaming through virtual reality provide a solution? 🎮

RBWH physio Peter has dedicated his research to treating back pain through virtual reality, where participants shoot basketball hoops and score strikes in ten pin bowling activities to provide progressive exposure to increased movement.

“While virtual reality and pain education have already been used separately for chronic low back pain, there has been no research to assess the effect of these two techniques used together, but this study addresses this gap,” Peter said.

“There is the possibility of these treatments taking place in an individual’s home, acting as a primer for patients on a waiting list to commence treatment, or facilitating increased accessibility for patients who live in regional Queensland or who face challenges attending face-to-face appointments." 🏀🎳

[Accessibility image description: Peter holds a VR headset.]

TPCH cognitive and assessment and management (CAM) unit registrar Kate, recently thanked the Ridley Road Community Men’s Shed for their kind donations and diversional activities made for the patients of the unit. 🤝

This was made even more special as John from the Ridley Road Community Men’s Shed is Kate’s grandfather.

"It took a few months, and many different designs perfected over the dinner table, but the Men's Shed made a diversional therapy dementia table, comprised of multiple individual fiddle boards and blackboards for drawing," Kate said.

"Each board is removable from the table, allowing it to be customised to the patient's needs. It was an honour to work so closely with my grandfather and give something lasting to the CAM unit's patients." 🥰

👏 to this iconic duo for creating something special for the CAM unit.

[Accessibility image description: Kate and John stand side by side with their arms linked around each other smiling.]

Natascha started as a patient of TPCH and is now a representative on our Consumer Engagement Network. Her life changed when she got an assistant dog to help with her Functional Neurological Disorder symptoms.

Evy, a 15-month-old labradoodle, has undertaken advanced training to sense and alert to emotional and metabolic changes. This has helped Natascha go into remission. Together with Evy, she can monitor her stress and fatigue to prevent seizures and live a much healthier, happier life.

“When Evy first came home with me as a 10-week-old puppy, I was dissociating 90% of the time, experiencing up to 100 seizures a day. This was very painful, distressing and exhausting. Within one week of having Evy, my dissociation dropped by 50%,” Natascha said.

If you see someone with an assistance dog, it is important to remember that they are different to therapy dogs and are actually at work. As they have an important job to do, don't pat them or distract them - they are busy looking after their owner. 🐾 ❤️

[Accessibility image description: Natascha is pictured with dog Evy, who is smiling at the camera.]

Senior medical officers Dr June and Dr Adam are part of a new geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) service introduced at the Brighton Health Hub. 🤩

The new service includes a 15-bed sub-acute inpatient facility designed to give older patients the extra time and support they need to transition safely out of hospital and back into the community.

“The aim is for patients to return to their home environments with the assistance of community-based services,” June said.

"The service is focused on restoring patients’ physical and cognitive function where it has become impaired due to complex medical conditions or chronic disease."

[Accessibility image description: June wears red scrubs and a black jacket, Adam wears blue scrubs with a stethoscope around his neck both standing in hallway smiling.]

Did you know the RBWH vascular department has the most women in fellowships and surgeon roles in all of Australasia?

Dr Emma is the current vascular fellow, and she most enjoys operating in this surgical subspeciality that deals with all things veins, arteries, and vessels that are either blocked, dilated or bleeding. 🩸

"In vascular, you're not responsible for a single organ like other specialities. I enjoy that medicine and surgery are so intertwined, and you need to stay abreast of that to give your patient a good outcome," Dr Emma said.

RBWH vascular department are looking for a registrar or senior registrar to join this dynamic team. If that sounds like you, apply here: https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-RBH580725

[Accessibility image description: Emma wears light blue scrubs and a vascular themed surgical cap, wearing a donate life lanyard around her neck.]

Elizabeth was an inpatient recovering from a heart assessment at a local private hospital when she started displaying symptoms of a stroke.

It was the quick thinking of a nurse on shift and the collaboration with RBWH stroke unit, namely Associate Professor Andrew, who advised the team to perform a thrombolysis, which ended up saving Elizabeth's life.

Elizabeth was quickly transferred to the RBWH stroke unit for a potential clot retrieval, but thanks to the fast-acting collaboration between the hospital treating teams, the medication was administered quick enough that she didn't require the procedure.

"Knowing the stroke symptoms is so important. I feel very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time," Elizabeth said.

"God must want to keep me around a little longer - I am part of a sewing group that sews blankets and clothes for people in Africa. I have been doing it for 15 years!" 🪡 🌍

[Accessibility image description: Elizabeth wears a dark red coloured top, smiling sitting on a chair with hands clasped in her lap.]

"I think I was in my own way, in denial about my health. Being the stubborn person that I am, I was hiding behind facade that I didn’t need any help from doctors. I was terrified of needles. I realised very quickly that the people in these hospitals are here to support and guide you. It’s unbelievable. The problem for me was the stigma in the stoicism of men. The more blokes that can talk about these sorts of things, it helps to bring those walls down. If you're not being honest with your feelings, you’re lying."

☁️ Johno, 43 years old, Redcliffe Hospital general medicine patient.

[Accessibility image description: Johno is smiling wearing a purple hospital gown.]

STARS patient Maureen took a trip down memory lane recently after participating in a cooking themed reminiscing session in the Level 5 dining room. 🍽️

Reminiscing is recognised as a valuable activity for elderly patients and those with dementia and involves the use of props and prompts like pictures, physical objects and songs to help recall memories from the past.

During this session, patients were presented with vintage kitchen utensils including a rotary whisk, wire flour sifter, bone handled cutlery, ice cream scoop, enamel cookware, lemon juicer and a Margaret Fulton cookbook.

Maureen recalled many of the vintage cooking items, particularly the rotary whisk. 🥰

“I remember that – the children ran around chasing each other with it,” Maureen said.

“I used to make cakes and ice them with royal icing and patty cakes and scones – Flo’s pumpkin scone recipe was the best.”

Read more on this story here: https://metronorth.health.qld.gov.au/news/kitchen-nostalgia-brings-back-memories-for-stars-patients

[Accessibility image description: Maureen has a dark red coloured jacket draped over her shoulders with a cookbook and kitchen utensils on the table in front of her.]

RBWH's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) introduced the Little Royal Readers program, designed to foster connection and comfort during a delicate post-birth period for families. 📖

Babies admitted to the NICU are gifted two books and a library bag, which is made possible through the dedication of a local community sewing and quilting group, The Sewing Lair & Sewing for Charity Australia.

Nurse Bec is reading to Sonny, born at 31 weeks alongside twin brother, Lenny, and knows just how important this initiative is for our littlest patients and their families. 💙

“It empowers parents to actively participate in their baby’s care, fostering a deeper bond through shared moments of storytelling. These interactions not only strengthen the parent-infant relationship but also provide a comforting sense of normalcy and hope during a challenging time,” said Bec.

To enquire about donating books, click here: https://metronorth.health.qld.gov.au/news/reading-to-babies-in-intensive-care

Getting into the spirit of the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, the STARS physiotherapy team and staff council are hosting their own games to get patients moving with fun physical activity.

There are events such as timed sit-to-stands, basketball shoot-outs, and bean bag shot put, but it was patient Sandy winning a gold medal in the walking slalom race that brought back memories of competing at the Commonwealth Games for her. 🥇

Sandy competed in the 1974 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand taking home the gold in the 200m butterfly, silver in the 200m backstroke and bronze in the 100m butterfly.

"Anyone can do it, no matter what their circumstances are, you just have to want to do it," Sandy said,

“You don’t worry about going backwards, we all go backwards. We have to go backwards to be able to go forwards.”

A new state-wide cancer care service with the latest cutting-edge technology and world class cancer treatment techniques is in planning stages, set to take shape at the Herston Health Precinct. 👏

The 150-bed Queensland Cancer Centre will provide Queenslanders with access to new and innovative cancer treatments, including cellular therapy, nuclear theranostic, and proton beam therapy.

Metro North Health's Associate Professor Glen is particularly excited, with the new centre to be staffed by a team of medical and surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses, and allied health professionals.

"It is a real opportunity to uplift cancer care in Queensland and to support the development of more services for cancer treatments, no matter where you live," Associate Professor Glen said.

[Accessibility image description: Glen is wearing a dark coloured sweater with hands folded in front of him standing in a tiled area with glass doors.]

The early patient intervention centre (EPIC) is a short stay unit at the RBWH where patients admitted through the emergency department receive the urgent medical care they need before being transferred to a ward.

EPIC provides 15 inpatient beds and six cardiac monitoring beds, with nurses Michelle, Dani and Amity agreeing that it's a great service for treating a wide variety of emergency patients faster.

"EPIC helps to get patients who require urgent care out of the emergency department sooner, freeing up more beds for patients who need them," Michelle said.

The EPIC team is looking for more RN's to join this fast-paced unit. If this sounds like you, apply here: https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-RBH579829

Almost nine years ago at 22 years old, Dominic's life changed in an instant, after cardiologists broke the news that he was in heart failure due to a virus and had around five years left to live.

By 2014 Dominic was going downhill fast, and discussions of a heart transplant were starting to be had.

The following year in 2015, Dominic's medical team at TPCH fitted him with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) which was implanted in his chest to help pump blood.

It was here, while Dominic was still in hospital recovering from the LVAD surgery, that fate would find him a perfect match for a donor heart, and he was quickly rushed back into surgery. ❤️

“If someone is willing to donate their organs, it will change another family’s life," Dominic said.

“As a recipient, I will always remember and think of my donor and their family.”

It's DonateLife Week this week with Australians encouraged to talk about organ and tissue donation with family and friends. It only takes one minute to register.

Read more of Dominic's story here: https://metronorth.health.qld.gov.au/news/second-chance-at-life

[Accessibility image description: Dominic wears a white jumper standing in front of greenery.]

"My son was 6 months old when he had open heart surgery here at The Prince Charles Hospital. The heart kids' community that we were linked with, made us realise that we weren't alone. I have an enormous sense of gratitude, and as a parent, it was a really humbling experience. He's now 19 and an arborist who loves climbing rocks, cliffs and trees! You go through this defining yourself moment - here I am, this bloke with a heart condition now myself, but it was nothing compared to what my son went through."

☁️ Grant, 58 years old, TPCH cardiac patient.

[Accessibility image description: Grant is wearing a light-coloured polo shirt sitting smiling on a hospital bed.]