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Health Consumers Queensland responds to COVID-19
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e-Alert to focus on powerful partnerships which inform and shape the COVID-19 response
We know that many of you are at the heart of COVID-19 in Queensland, either as consumers and carers, loving family members, or as staff in the health system. Our thoughts are with you all and we hope that working together on this will help to ease the burden.
Health Consumers Queensland is now focusing its efforts on supporting powerful partnerships between consumers and staff in the health system. Our role is in enabling the most effective strategic response to COVID-19 and the communication messages and mechanisms used during these times.
Our eAlerts will now focus on sharing opportunities for consumers and carers to be involved in working with Queensland Health on shaping their plans and decisions about what and how they are communicating so that their messages are received and understood by our state’s diverse communities.
- As the pattern and spread of COVID-19 changes daily, we also want to support consumers and carers to quickly build your skills and confidence to self-organise and have an impact on planning and decision-making in your regions and local communities.
- We will also continue to update you on our new working arrangements and current activities.
- You can also continue to apply for non-COVID-19 related opportunities through this eAlert and we encourage you to do so as the organisers are making arrangements for non-facing meetings during this time.
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New Working from Home Arrangements for Health Consumers Queensland during (COVID-19)
All staff members of Health Consumers Queensland are now working from home.
Hours of work
All staff members are continuing to work the same hours and the same days. As you know, some of us are full-time and some of us are part-time but there are no changes to our working patterns at the current time.
How to contact us
EMAIL –Please use our usual email addresses.
PHONE - Our phone number (07 3012 9090) has been re-directed. You can continue to call this number and you will be automatically re-directed. Your calls will still be answered by Nicole O’Keane, our Office Manager, who will forward a message on to the staff member you are trying to contact and they will return your call. However, to increase our focus and efficiency, we will no longer be answering phones before midday. If you call during this time, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as we are able.
SOCIAL – You can also send us a message on Facebook and we will respond as soon as possible.
ONLINE – We will be holding our regular meetings with our Consumer Advisory Group and the Collaborative via Zoom and we will send members of those groups a link to these meetings.
MAIL – We have set up a mail redirection service. This takes a few days for Australia Post to transfer but the re-direction will be in place from Monday 23 March. Ideally, if you could delay sending us any mail until Monday 23 March, this would prevent any overlap. Please continue to address any mail for Health Consumers Queensland to GPO Box 1328, Brisbane QLD 4001.
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Reminder: Health Consumers Queensland 2020 Annual Forum is postponed
Last week we made the decision to postpone Health Consumers Queensland’s 2020 Annual Forum on 26-27th May 2020 at Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort, as we all work together to contain the spread of the Coronavirus-Covid-19 in our own backyard.
Your wellbeing is our highest priority, and for that reason, we have made the decision to postpone our event for the foreseeable future. We have been in contact with everyone who has registered or submitted an abstract this week but if you haven’t heard from us or you have a question please contact suzanne.wirges@hcq.org.au
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Opportunities for Consumers and Carers during COVID-19
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How consumers and carers together with staff in the Department, HHSs and the broader health sector, can work in partnership during COVID-19
Consumers who are currently involved on a committee
We suggest you ask how and when you may be involved in the decisions being made about COVID-19 and provide feedback about what you are hearing/seeing among your network they may need to respond to.
Staff in the Department, HHS and the broader health sector
We suggest you keep the consumer representatives you have been working with, informed and updated about what’s going on by sharing key information with them. We also recommend you involve these consumers (and maybe more) to be at the decision-making table as you make collaborative decisions about your response to COVID-19.
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HCQ Website - Keeping Consumers at the Centre of the Response
Keep an eye on our dedicated COVID-19 page for our latest COVID-related news, activities and opportunities.
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Join a state-wide network of consumers and carers who can be involved in rapid COVID-19 responses
We need a community of interested consumers/carers who are able to be on stand-by for COVID-19 response opportunities at short notice. We will not be following the usual application process for this work. Instead, please register your details via the link below and Health Consumers Queensland will be in contact as opportunities arise.
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New tip sheet for HHS staff on how to involve consumers in COVID-19 planning, decision-making and communications
On request from HHS staff, Health Consumers Queensland has created a brand new tip sheet for staff on how to involve consumers in COVID-19 planning, decision-making and communications. We hope you find this clear, simple and useful.
We have sent it to HHS Chief Executives and Engagement Advisors. Please circulate it to any staff and consumers you know who should be partnering together on the local development of COVID-19 strategy and communications.
Please click on the button below to download your copy of the COVID-19 tip sheet for HHS staff.
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HHS Engagement Staff – share and receive updates on consumer involvement in COVID-19
Health Consumers Queensland will be hosting a weekly 30 minute Zoom session for HHS engagement staff to share and receive updates on consumer involvement and partnerships in COVID-19. To join these sessions, please register your interest by clicking the link below.
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Health Consumers Queensland Opportunities
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Let’s Talk Online About Parents, Parents-to-be, Bubs and Kids
Health Consumers Queensland has an opportunity for four parents, parents-to-be, carers, close family loved ones, or anyone with a passion for the health and well-being of parents, bubs and kids with strong community connections to host an online discussion with their community connections about their experience with health care that supports pregnant people and families in the Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN region.
Closing date: 4pm, 26th March 2020
About the project
Health Consumers Queensland has been contracted by Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN (DDWMPHN) to facilitate four kitchen table discussions in early April to hear about your experience with health care in your community. Due to the current situation with COVID-19, we are moving from the kitchen table to online discussions.
What is 'Talk About'
• ‘TALK ABOUT’ is a way for Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN to ask you about your experience with health care in your community.
• The PHN wants to ‘talk about’ what you think is working well and what you think could be done better.
• Throughout 2020, there will be 4 topics for you to give feedback on.
• To start the year, the PHN wants to ‘talk about’ PARENTS, PARENTS-TO-BE, BUBS AND KIDS.
About Online Kitchen Table Discussions
Online Kitchen Table Discussions are community engagement sessions led by local people for local people. They allow small groups to participate in discussions at a time of day that suits them. The discussions enable health consumers, carers and community members who do not ordinarily participate in healthcare consultation to have their say in a safe and supportive environment.
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Consumer representatives for Clinical Incident Reform Group Project
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Service (PSQIS), Clinical Excellence Queensland, Department of Health
The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Service is responsible for the monitoring and support of Hospital and Health Services to minimise harm, reduce unwarranted variation in healthcare and to achieve high-quality patient care.
The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Service is seeking three health consumer representatives for the Clinical Incident Reform Group project. This is a unique opportunity for one consumer to participate on the Clinical Incident Reform Group (CIRG) committee for the review of clinical incident management in Queensland and two consumers to review educational resources and tools that are being developed.
Purpose
The purpose of the Clinical Incident Reform Group (CIRG) is to review the current practices related to incident data management, resources and approaches used in Clinical Incident Management (CIM) including:
- the assessment of the electronic information incident management system
- research into the types of methodologies utilised for clinical incident analysis and possible alternatives, and
- the identification of improvements in respect to CIM tools/resources/training that may enhance the deployment of clinical incident management in Queensland Health.
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Have a voice in the way that people are cared for in a medical emergency
Closing date: close of business on Tuesday, 31 March 2020
The Emergency Medicine Foundation is inviting a health consumer representative to influence and promote positive patient, family, consumer and community experience and outcomes for emergency care.
The Emergency Medicine Foundation is:
- funding innovative Australian research to improve patient care in a medical emergency
- dedicated to translating research outcomes into real and practical benefits, which help save lives in medical emergencies
- supporting emergency health professionals – doctors, nurses, paramedics, retrieval staff and allied health professionals and work with hospitals, patients, government, NFP organisations and the wider community
- delivering better and more effective health services through research to improve healthcare, health outcomes, save lives and money.
ROLE OF THE CONSUMER
- To partner with a unique, non-profit organisation to promote positive patient, family, consumer and community experience and outcomes from emergency care, through robust research and making change happen.
- Lead and engage with their Board and Executive to help shape the future of EMF.
- Be a guiding voice for an organisation that has limited consumer involvement and take it to a place where the consumer voice is pivotal, underpinning the work they do.
- As the first consumer representative with EMF, this role will shape the future of consumer partnering and EMF’s future. In many ways the role will be shaped by you, and may include attending meetings, providing advice on documents – such as strategies and research initiatives, and also representing EMF.
WHO IS IT FOR?
The ideal candidate:
- You don’t need to be research savvy, but you must be an experienced consumer representative.
- You will be confident working and communicating with healthcare professionals, board and executive members.
- You enjoy being part of a small, values driven, dynamic team.
- You will have the ability to think strategically and clearly articulate your feedback in person, by phone or online meetings.
- Strong consumer voice with a flexible approach that will help EMF shape its future.
- Consumers located in rural, regional and remote communities are very welcome and highly encouraged to apply (access to meetings will be supported by online video conferencing).
HOW TO APPLY
Find out more and complete an application by clicking on the link below and return to consumer@hcq.org.au by close of business on Tuesday, 31 March 2020.
For assistance, please contact Health Consumers Queensland via consumer@hcq.org.au or by phone on 07 3012 9090.
Any questions about the role or EMF, please contact
Ms Kellie Furey, Communications Manager
Phone number: 07 3720 5700
Email: kellie.furey@emfoundation.org.au
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Consumer keynote speaker at the Australasian Delirium Association Conference, 3-4 September 2020
The Australasian Delirium Association (ADA) is seeking up to two (2) consumers and/or carers to present on their experience and perspectives of delirium as an opening keynote speaker for the ADA conference on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th September 2020.
Closing date: 5pm, Thursday 9 April 2020
Australasian Delirium Association (ADA)
The ADA is a health professional organization which aims to advance research and knowledge about delirium to improve clinical practice related to delirium prevention, recognition and management across a range of disciplines and specialties. They aim to provide better understanding of delirium through leadership, education, resources, research and partnerships
The DECLARED conference is the major educational event convened by the ADA, and will be held for the first time in Brisbane in 2020.
Purpose
Delirium (acute confusion) is a common and distressing hospital-associated complication which increases with age, and remains under-recognised. The committee hopes that opening the conference with consumer and carer perspectives will help to raise awareness of the individual and family impact of this serious condition, as well as the disease features and system impact which are more traditionally emphasised in health professional conferences.
Other major conference speakers include visiting clinician and academic experts from USA, UK, Europe and Australia from nursing, medical and science backgrounds. The organizing committee for the DECLARED2020 conference are based in Brisbane and include medical, nursing and allied health clinicians interested in delirium and delirium research.
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Opportunities from other Organisations
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Consultation open: draft National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards
The Australian Government Department of Health (the Department) has contracted the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) to develop National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards.
The development of the NSQDMH Standards is a significant first step in providing safety and quality assurance for digital mental health service users, and best practice guidance for service providers and developers.
The Commission defines a digital mental health service as a mental health, suicide prevention, or alcohol and other drugs service that uses technology to facilitate engagement and the delivery of care.
The draft NSQDMH Standards are now available on the Commission’s website for public consultation.
To support the consultation process, the Commission is holding a series of webinars and public forums in March-April 2020 in all capital cities and three regional locations. These forums will be facilitated by Dr Peggy Brown AO, Senior Clinical Advisor, and will give stakeholders a chance to discuss the draft NSQDMH Standards, provide feedback and ask questions of the project team.
The Commission invites consumers and carers, clinicians, service providers, and all stakeholders wishing to attend a forum or webinar to register their interest.
Download the draft NSQDMH Standards and register for a forum or webinar
Your input during the consultation process will inform the final draft of the NSQDMH Standards the Commission provides to the Department for approval in June 2020.
For further information please contact:
Ben Prest
Senior Project Officer
DMHS@safetyandquality.gov.au
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