Staff go above and beyond during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred

It was full cyclone mode for our Nursing and Midwifery Executive Director Matthew Lunn, who became the Health Incident Controller during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The role oversaw the entire Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service response.

“We acted quickly in identifying vulnerable patients, inspecting and preparing our facilities. We reviewed and adjusted our operational plans daily to make sure we were doing everything possible to keep our staff, patients and the community safe.” Matthew said.

Matthew said the support, kindness and care of the Gold Coast Health team was a testament to our “Always Care” motto.

“I’m incredibly proud of our entire team – from the wardies, food operations workers to the clinicians,” he said.

“More than 350 staff stayed on-site throughout the cyclone period, which shows how caring and dedicated we are to serving the Gold Coast community.”

A message from our Health Incident Controller, Matthew Lunn:

As health service employees, our team plays an essential role in caring for the most vulnerable in the community. During events such as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, it becomes even more clear that they are a critical part of the fabric of our community.

As Health Incident Controller, I led, supported and oversaw the disaster response.

Planning and preparation were crucial in making sure our response flowed smoothly.

We quickly identified vulnerable patients, inspected and prepared our facilities, and reviewed and adjusted operational plans daily.

I know I speak on behalf of the entire Health Emergency Operations Centre team when saying how proud we are of the entire Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service for their compassion, bravery and care they showed during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

I am so impressed with how our team responded and supported each other and our patients throughout the week, including more than 350 staff staying on-site across the weekend if they couldn’t get to and from work safely, as well as ensuring shifts were covered.

Read some of our favourite staff stories below.

Leonie embraces her inner Mary Poppins

Anyone who has worked with Clinical Nurse Leonie Harris knows she’s committed to her job.

But, during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred she proved she will be at work rain, hail or shine.

“On the Saturday I walked from the Southport Sharks carpark to Gold Coast University Hospital,” Leonie said.

“The walk there was fine, but getting back wasn’t great. I was holding my big umbrella, and the wind picked me up and lifted me off the ground!”

Thankfully, Leonie was not injured or put off by the experience, and she prepared to go to work Sunday morning – which is where she faced her next challenge.

“The boom gate outside my complex was down and I couldn’t get out,” Leonie said.

“Thankfully, I saw a lady next door getting ready to leave and she kindly offered to drive me to the hospital.”

Acting Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) for Community Frailty Service, Amanda Issell, said she’s overwhelmed by Leonie’s positivity and commitment over the weekend.

“She never feels like she’s coming to work, she just feels like it’s part of her life,” Amanda said.

Lorretta makes double the impact on the cancer ward

Lorretta Wiggins had a busy week to say the least, finding herself covering not one but two big roles during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The Nurse Unit Manager of Lorretta’s cancer ward was away, leaving Lorretta to take on this position as well as her everyday Clinical Nurse Director role.

“I’ve never worked through something as big as this natural disaster in my nursing career, so it was all quite new to me,” she said.

Lorretta was the first to arrive and last to leave, worked additional hours each day and even slept on her office floor Friday night to make sure her team had her support.

Like many, it meant Lorretta went majority of last week without seeing her young children.

“My husband has always been incredibly supportive of my career and understands my job to me is not just the hours I’m required to be here,” Lorretta said.

“I was worried if I went home, I wouldn’t be able to get back to work and my staff would be left without that extra support.

"The team is amazing and would have been fine, but I wanted to make sure I was here to support in any way that I could.”

And she did just that, helping out on the floor with patients, covering shifts and making sure they were equipped for the cyclone.

“Disasters can bring out the best in people,” she said.

“When I felt overwhelmed, the staff were all so helpful and supportive.

"It was like a whole new appreciation for our team here. It was incredible to be part of it.”

Kids support mum at work

During Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, Samara Ellem was one of many staff to put their hand up to return to work.

The mother of five and Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) at Robina Hospital's Acute Care of Elderly unit said it was her kids, in the middle of the storm, that confirmed to her she was doing the right thing.

"My four-year-old asked me why I was going back to work," Samara said.
"And before I could answer, my eight-year-old said 'It's because Mum cares about the people in hospital'.

"Once I knew my family was safe, I felt like I had a duty of care to the staff and patients here, and it was really heartwarming to know my kids realise that too."

Samara spent the night supporting staff and patients on the Acute Care of the Elderly unit, but not in her usual role as NUM.

"I got to team-lead, which is not something I get to do every day," she said.

"But going back to nursing 'on the floor' is a bit like riding a bike — it was great to get back to it."

Weather emergency offers new perspective

After working her usual Administration Officer shift as the cyclone approached on Friday, Helen McCann stayed back to work an evening shift at Robina's main reception desk.

With few visitors to the hospital and dozens of staff volunteering to stay the night at work, Helen volunteered to go ward-to-ward and let staff know where they could collect one of the hundreds of hot meals available for breakfast or dinner.

"I got to speak to so many colleagues from different professions and could see how everyone was playing their part," Helen said.

On Sunday, while bringing her husband to work, Helen again volunteered to make sure staff didn't go hungry.

"I borrowed Bayberry Cafe's food trolley and took meals around the hospital, from IPU and ED to OSO and Security, and then on to the staff at the mental health units," she said.

"I feel so proud to work along so many wonderful people and, most importantly, how all services pulled together as a community to ensure we were ready for "Alfred" - it's given me more appreciation and understanding of other departments and feel more connected."

Neighbourly support brings tears to Dr Baratloo's eyes

As Alfred approached, Dr Alireza Baratloo was “shocked” and unsure what to expect – he only brought his family to Australia from Iran two years ago.

Nevertheless, he stepped up to take extra shifts at the height of the storm.

He drove though howling winds and around fallen trees to make it to Robina Hospital emergency department, where he works as a Registrar.

“I supported my family as number one, just like anyone, but after that my priority is to help other people as well,” he said.

It was what happened at home during his shift that brings Ali to tears.

He learnt that his neighbours visited his wife and 7-year-old son to ensure they were safe and dropped off a care package of supplies, including torches, food and wireless radio.

“They saw that I had left home, and they decided that they wanted to support my wife and son as much as they could, and that was just fantastic,” he said.

It’s just one example of why he and his family have found a happy home in Queensland.