Meet Rebecca Raftery, Senior Clinical Pharmacist and Principal Project Officer with the new Bundaberg Hospital project team. Rebecca has been instrumental in reviewing and providing valuable feedback on the new pharmacy and hospital ward medication room designs, drawing on national benchmarking and insights from visits to other hospital sites.
What does your role entail and how have you contributed to the design discussions?
I was asked to review and provide feedback on the pharmacy department and medication room designs for the wards. I was able to use national benchmarking and visits to other hospital sites to provide commentary around creating practical and modern workspaces for our teams in the new hospital.
Why do you believe it’s important to involve local hospital staff and patients in the design of the new hospital?
We are the staff that will be working in our new hospital, and the patients that will be using it. We know the current deficits in our existing hospital and are excited at the prospects of a new hospital. We care about our region and want to provide the best services possible.
What did you enjoy most about participating in the design workshops?
They were interactive workshops and I loved getting to meet the design team. They have invaluable knowledge and experience from working on other hospital projects. It gave me a chance to step outside my usual role and try something new which will ultimately impact my future roles in the health service.
Which design elements do you think will most improve patient care or staff wellbeing?
Having a bigger emergency department will meet the needs of the community. Green spaces will provide patients and staff the ability to congregate outdoors for breaks. I really love the colour palate and transition from 'sea to land'. The pharmacy department will meet the contemporary needs of a growing team and embrace some technological advances in our profession.
What excites you most about seeing the hospital come to life?
What excites me the most about seeing the new hospital come to life is the potential for positive impact on the community. It's not just about the building itself, but the people it will serve - the patients, families, and staff who will benefit from improved care, cutting-edge technology, and a more efficient, welcoming environment. I believe that it will be a place where lives can be changed for the better.
What will the new hospital mean for the community?
The new hospital will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare for our Wide Bay community.
Finally, how do you maintain your health?
I eat a well-balanced diet, exercise regularly, and make sure I take regular breaks from work to do things I enjoy (going to the beach, camping, seeing family and friends).