August 2014
It gives me great pleasure to be able to provide my first contribution to the revamped North East Community Hospital (NECH) newsletter. Since taking on the role of CEO at the end of January this year there have been many activities and opportunities to meet staff across the Hospital and Nursing Home. I would like to share some of the highlights for me and to also update you all on proposed next steps.
In the event space we have certainly seen a few activities in the first 6 months. The Volunteers Quiz Night was a great night with over $2,000 raised. There was some discussion about the winning table but I gather there was nothing sinister going on and we look forward to having more staff come along to the next one! We celebrated International Nurses and Midwives day this year, a great way to value one of our largest staffing groups. NECH had its first artistic venture being an exhibition site for the South Australian Living Arts (SALA) festival with three pieces displayed in the hospital main entrance by local artist James Parker. NECH has a 40 year history of connection with local community and this relationship with community is just as important to me today. The end of the financial year was celebrated with a baked spud day where the executive office team donned our aprons serving staff with baked spuds and a delicious assortment of dressings as a way of saying thank you for your continued efforts at making NECH a great place to work.
The continued element that I see and read in patient feedback forms is the level of dedication and quality service delivered across the clinical and non-clinical spectrum. It is this that has the ability to strengthen NECHs strategic point of difference to other health care providers.
At the end of July this year the Departmental Managers and members of the NECH Board came together for a strategic planning day. This was the first time that Departmental Managers and the Board were jointly participating in determining our future direction and was a great opportunity for all to understand differing perspectives and provide meaningful contributions to our future. I am intending to hold a forum where the outcomes from the Planning Day can be shared with all staff and provide the opportunity for you to ask any questions.
I was fortunate to hold a forum 4 months after starting where I provided an overview of my first few months at NECH. From September onwards I will be holding a regular joint CEO/Staff open meeting. The regular forum is where staff can come and hear about what is happening at NECH and future actions. More importantly it is a forum for staff to actively participate and contribute to supporting NECH to be well positioned going forward.
It has certainly been an actioned packed first half of the year for me and I look forward with great interest to the next 6 months.
Scott Williams
