Townsville Hospital and Health Service reveal 82 per cent of staff have proved vaccination

The Townsville Hospital and Health Service have revealed how many staff have applied for a vaccine exception or are still yet to declare their status.

MORE than 1000 Townsville Hospital and Health Service staff do not have a definitive vaccination status, according to new data.

The THHS has revealed 82.19 per cent of staff have demonstrated proof of receiving at least one Covid-19 vaccination.

This comes a week after the state government’s mandated Covid-19 vaccination cut off on Thursday last week.

Across the state 11 per cent of Queensland’s Health’s 90,000 hospital-based workforce remained unvaccinated at the beginning of this week.  

Earlier this year the state government announced that all staff in Queensland hospitals must receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

The 2019-20 annual report says the service has 6499 staff employed across the health service. Based on this figure, about 5341 staff have identified that they are vaccinated.

Some staff have sought exemptions to the mandate, with the service now considering the requests.

This comes as four hospitals in the North Queensland region have experienced a code yellow.

Townsville, Mackay, Mount Isa and Cairns all declared code yellows on Tuesday to free up beds after all the hospitals experienced an influx of patients.

While there was a suggestion the number of staff impacted by the state government’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate could have contributed to the issue, the THHS has said this was not the case.

Chief executive Kieran Keyes said the staff vaccination rate was not a factor in the code yellow, which was deactivated on Wednesday morning.

“More than 82 per cent of our staff have had at least their first vaccination,” Mr Keyes said.

“As data on staff who have received the vaccine is continuing to be collated, it’s expected this percentage will continue to rise.

“Some staff have applied for exemptions to the mandate and these are being considered. Staff currently on leave will have their vaccination status validated on their return.”

Mr Keyes said it was difficult to predict when there would be a surge in patients who were acutely unwell.

“Activating a code yellow accelerates a whole-of-hospital response that involves the emergency department, medical and surgical wards, theatres, and discharge planners,” Mr Keyes said. “The response is managed by the incident management team chaired by the chief operating officer.”

Palmetum goes through major revamp

TOWNSVILLE’S iconic botanical garden has gone through a multimillion-dollar revamp with locals now encouraged to rediscover the gem.

The Palmetum has gone through a major irrigation upgrade, pathway and accessibility improvements and the reopening of the Tumbetin Lodge, to give the gardens a new lease on life.

Now, the community is being encouraged to grab a treat from the cafe, or bring a picnic, put on a pair of sensible shoes and rediscover the botanical garden.

Mayor Jenny Hill said over the past 18 months, the council has invested heavily in improving the amenity of parks and gardens around Townsville.

“We have three world-class botanical gardens located right here in our own backyard, which provide wonderful, free spaces for our community to explore and enjoy,” Cr Hill said.

The Palmetum has undergone a major irrigation upgrade with the help of a state government Works 4 Queensland grant of more than $2m.

Cr Hill said this project would futureproof the garden for decades to come.

“With 70 per cent of our region’s yearly rainfall falling between January and March it’s important we’re able to keep this world-class garden looking its best year-round, in the most water-efficient way possible,” she said.

The gardens have also had a major accessibility overhaul, with upgrades to help residents of all abilities access The Palmetum.

Infrastructure Services Committee chairman Kurt Rehbein said council crews replaced a number of timber footbridges within the gardens, constructed new pathways between Nathan St and Yolanda Drive and upgraded a number of access ramps.

“This garden truly is a beautiful part of the world, so we wanted to make sure we could enhance accessibility to ensure people of all abilities could make the most of what this wonderful part of our city has to offer,” Cr Rehbein said.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads invested $400,000 in the accessibility upgrades.

The arrival of Absolute Cravings at Tumbetin Lodge had been welcomed with open arms, with Community and Cultural Development Committee chairwoman Ann-Maree Greaney saying it is exciting to see the historic building alive again.

“As part of Council’s vision to become a globally connected community driven by lifestyle and nature, we understand how important enhancing the liveability of our natural space is,” Cr Greaney said.

“With more people visiting this wonderful local business we hope to see more locals once again discovering some of the wonders of their own backyard.”

Boost for Queensland’s defence capabilities

SKILLING Queenslanders to help boost the state’s defence capabilities is the key focus of a new group that met for the first time in Townsville on Monday.

Acting Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles at TEi Services in Townsville.TEi Services in Bohle benefiting from the Defence and Aerospace Industry Fund. Picture: Evan Morgan

The Deputy Premier’s Advisory Council on Defence Industry and Jobs has met for the first time, with an aim of boosting the state’s ­defence capabilities.

The advisory council was supportive of the Queensland Defence, Maritime, Aerospace and Space ­Industry Skills Plan.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Queensland’s defence capabilities were world-class and a highly skilled workforce was essential for future growth.

“The Palaszczuk government is firmly focused on Queensland’s ­future and has dedicated $3.34bn through the Queensland Jobs Fund to support job-creating industries,” Mr Miles said.

“We want to ensure there is a pipeline of Queenslanders ready to enter a workforce that will underpin a multibillion-dollar industry and add to our sovereign industrial capability.”

The plan outlines three focus areas – engage and attract; train and retain; and collaborate – with actions that will promote career ­opportunities, upskill current workers and collaboration with industry to ensure the future supply of a skilled workforce.

Mr Miles said that the council would help the government leverage the state’s defence capabilities. Advisory council member Dr Karen Stanton from Heat Treatment ­Australia said the skills plan showed the government was committed to growing the defence industry sector in the state.

“This council’s job is to provide advice that can develop and attract investment into Queensland’s defence industry and the reality is, as these sectors grow, there will be a need for a strong workforce to ­support them,” Dr Stanton said.

Push for certainty on NQ’s tourism jewel

FEDERAL Minister Stuart Robert has urged the state government to stick to the national plan on emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic after a visit with tourism and business operators on Magnetic Island.

Mr Robert, who visited the island with Herbert MP Phillip Thompson, said the borders needed to open safely so business could get back to normal.

“Confidence is what small business operators are looking for, and that confidence comes from the national plan because it delivers the national hope that our small business needs,” he said.

The Employment, Workforce and Small and Family Business Minister said operators had struggled for long enough with low occupancy rates because of a lack of confidence and the national plan, which was agreed to by states and territories, set out how the country would emerge from the pandemic.

“(People) want certainty,” Mr Robert said. “People can’t book experiences whether it’s jetskiing … or going out on boats, whether it’s going to the koala sanctuary whether it’s staying in accommodation … they need the certainty to do that.”

Mr Thompson said they had spoken with businesses about what the other side of the pandemic would look like and how to create a good support network for operators.

“We heard today they’re not here with a hand out, they want to know the government has their back, and that is what we said,” he said. 

Originally published as Townsville Hospital and Health Service reveal 82 per cent of staff have proved vaccination