Published on 18 February 2022

A fast start to February

It’s hard to believe we are already in February, as it feels like only yesterday we were gearing up for the festive period.

I know how busy you have all been, working to provide Best Care for your patients and looking out for one another during what has been another very challenging period as we navigated recent covid demand and staff shortages.  It is pleasing to see both of these figures improving.

Thank-you, as always for your support.

I for one, feel very positive about what lies ahead for all of us in 2022, especially as we continue to work together across our Bacchus Marsh, Melton, and Caroline Springs campuses.

Through all of the challenges transition activity continues, as does our business as usual.  I am pleased to see so many of you being and getting involved in contributing towards our goal of ‘One Western Health’.  In addition, our work on transition of clinical and community services, there is also a raft of activity to support infrastructure improvements as well as the transition of many back-of-house support services.  As I always say, we are all responsible for delivering Best Care irrespective of our roles and I am grateful for the work that is being done to continue this despite the recent COVID waves we have all faced.

We will be announcing some more BMM forums shortly where you can hear key transition updates, next steps and as always have the opportunity for an open Q&A.

I look forward to what promises to be a productive and fulfilling year ahead, and hopefully being able to get back on sites again.

 

Regards,

Russell

We welcome

  • Judith Osbon

    JUDITH OSBON

    Project Manager – Bacchus Marsh and Melton Transition

    Judith has joined the transition team to support the Divisional Director Health Support Service, the WH Bacchus Marsh and Melton transition Project Team and the Health Support Services staff, deliver a transparent and efficient transition of all Health Support Services at Bacchus Marsh and Melton hospitals into the HSS portfolio.

    Judith comes to the role with seven years of experience with the Health Support Services division and has a particular focus on people, policies and processes.

    Judith will endeavour to speak with all the support staff and look at spending a day in the life of each of the HSS roles to help with the transition into Health Support Services.

  • Wes Jackson

    WES JACKSON

    Operations Manager of Aged Care

    Wes has experience working in Aged Care facilities and was fundamental in supporting Western Health to minimize the outbreak in Aged Care facilities assigned to Western Health during COVID peak.

    Wes is currently undertaking a Master’s of Public Health with extensive experience in Education and recently as a Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) of a subacute ward.

  • Jane Plummer

    JANE PLUMMER

    Manager Food Services

    Jane has worked at Western Health for almost 7 years, managing the Food Service operation at Sunshine Hospital, and brings with her an extensive food service background, having worked in hotels/restaurants, aged care and the health sector.

    Jane has a strong passion and commitment to providing the best possible food experience for our patients, residents and clients.

Services and Programs

OKTA

Please make sure you have registered for OKTA.

Registering to OKTA will allow a smooth transition for you to be paid and access for staff managing rosters in the new RosterOn system at Western Health.

This is done using a phone app called OKTA Verify, with registration only taking a few minutes.

You can download the OKTA Verify Application onto your smartphone and then register via this link on a Western Health computer.

If you need assistance, please refer to this how to register guide.

The icon above will be on the Bacchus Marsh and Melton intranet will direct you to resources that help and support you access OKTA and other new apps as they come online.

PAYROLL MIGRATION

The migration of payrolls onto Western Health systems is nearing completion. We have now gone live while this complex project has many stakeholders across shared service payroll providers, including Melbourne Health, Ballarat Health Services, Grampians Rural Health Alliances, and our managed payroll provider Tambla.

We have endeavoured to make disruptions as minimal as possible, if you have any issue please use the email or phone number below.

Email: RosterONSupport@ssg.org.au with the subject line: BMM – [Query/Issue].

Phone: 03 9342 8904

Training sessions are still available this Friday. Please book here.

  • Timeline

    Timeline:

    Monday 14th February –Saturday 26th February

    1. WH RosterOn cutover has now occurred for BMM users.
    2. HW pay run ends 20th February to be paid on 23rd February (47 employees are on the HW pay run)
    3. Additional support will be provided for managing RosterOn changes

    Sunday 27th February –Wednesday 2nd March

    1. Pay period closes for NW 27/2/22
    2. First payment made 2nd March (650~ employees)
    3. Payslips are sent to DJHS work email address

What's New

CAPITAL WORKS

You may have noticed the new works underway for the upgrade of our facilities at Bacchus Marsh Hospital.

These works will include the development of a new main electrical substation, new electrical switch room, a new central mechanical plant and a builder’s site shed. Once completed, these works will assist us to achieve a major power upgrade, major mechanical upgrade, roof replacement and improvements to heating, ventilation, air conditioning and existing noise issues. Importantly, these works will ensure our facilities as fit-for-purpose for the future so we can continue to deliver safe and effective care to our community.

Between now and September you can expect lots of activity in and around the hospital. Between February and May these works will take place on our hospital grounds.  Internal works will then commence from May.

Please take notice of signage and works around the hospital site and take extra care when walking (particularly when using headphones or mobiles) in and around the vicinity.

Contractors will be accessing the Bacchus Marsh site from Clarinda Street.  There may be some minimal disruptions to staff and patient existing access points.  Thank you for your patience during this time.

The new central mechanical plant will be erected permanently on existing car park spaces between the current Engineering block and the main building.  Those who currently access this car park will need to seek alternative access.

The project team will be engaging with you in greater detail if these works impact the day-to-day operations in your department.

We look forward to sharing updates about these exciting improvements at Bacchus Marsh Hospital as we progress.

GET YOUR CAFFEINE AND LOCAL INTEL FIX ALL AT ONCE

Be sure to check out the new TV installed displaying all the latest news and updates when grabbing a coffee or bite to eat at Bacchus Marsh.  We will be rolling this initiative out at Melton Health near the coffee shop as soon as it is open for business.

ENTRY SCREENING

On Monday 24 January 2022, to align Entry Screening across all Western Health sites, Bacchus Marsh and Melton are implemented the same process:

  • Staff, patients, contractors and visitors are all required to complete daily Attestation
  • Visitors, contractors, ambulatory care and clinic patients only will be given a coloured wrist band to wear whilst on site. There will be a different coloured wristband for each day
  • Staff do not need to wear a wristband

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The first edition of “Transition News For The Community” was circulated via the Community Engagement Transition Committee in January.  This newsletter will be provided to the members every 2 months and will be circulated to local venues including libraries and local clubs within Melton and Moorabool councils.  The purpose of the newsletter is to not only inform the community about transition activity, but also new developments and improvements occurring at Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Caroline Springs campuses.

 

 

 

What's Next?

STAFF CULTURE SURVEY

We are hoping you will all complete the culture survey that will be emailed to you before the end of February. The culture survey is a confidential way for Western Health to hear how you are going and how the amalgamation has impacted on you. This information will be extremely helpful to work out what ideas and initiatives the work on culture and other integration projects needs to include in the next few months. The survey is entirely done by an external company who send us the results altogether, it does include some demographics and team data but nothing identifiable.

Email Sharon Read if you have any questions on: Sharon.Read@WH.org.au

 

Did You Know?

A BIG THANK YOU TO BIG W!

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies program provides social emotional support and some practical support to expectant mothers and their children from Melton and Bacchus Marsh LGA.

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies provides support to some of the most disadvantaged families from all walks of life and since the pandemic hit in 2020, the demands of our program has changed.

Families were faced with different socio-economic challenges such as loss of employment and this in turn, changed the support needed from Healthy Mothers Healthy babies; meeting the demand has meant searching high and low for resources.

We are so thankful for this donation from BIG W as it will support mothers with kitchen staples in their pantries and basic needs for their babies providing some relief to their pockets.

Thank-you BIG W team.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Cathy Clifford, for being one of 12 people accepted into the Australia wide Nurse Executive Leadership Program (NELP) early in 2020. Cathy was asked to submit an article for the HIVE journal summer edition discussing the NELP program.

 

 

 

 

WHIPPING UP SMILES!

We were delighted to see so many staff enjoying their free ice creams earlier this week. More than 4,000 free soft serves were handed out at Western Health sites over our three day blast. It was a small gesture to thank staff for the huge effort that they are continuing to put into caring for our community.

Check out our picture gallery of staff enjoying their ice creams.