In this afternoon’s Command Centre meeting we finalised planning for the Easter long weekend, and I’m pleased to let you know it will be ‘business as usual’ with our organisation supported by our rostered clinical staff, after hours administrators and our on call teams including clinical, non clinical and executive on call.
For staff who are rostered to work this weekend, perhaps take a moment to visit one of our Wellness and Support Hubs and have a breather. For staff not working this weekend, please enjoy some downtime with your loved ones.
I really wanted to take a moment today to acknowledge the efforts of each and every one of you, and say thank you. You should all be very proud of what you’ve achieved since early February. Your commitment to Western Health is the reason we’re now very well prepared for whatever we may face in the coming months.
Regards
Natasha
Covid-19 Daily Summary
• Respiratory Assessment Clinic presentations yesterday: 77
• Numbers of individuals tested for COVID-19 at Western Health: 3446
• Numbers of individuals tested positive to date: 71
• Numbers of current inpatients with COVID-19: 4
PPE guidelines
As communicated in Russell’s message, Western Health’s guidelines for PPE usage have been streamlined and are now much simpler for staff to follow.
Please familiarise yourselves with these guidelines, which can be found in the Quick Reference Guide section of the microsite.
PPE containers
Three labelled containers have now been delivered to wards and clinical areas across our sites. The containers are a key component of our PPE Conversation Strategy as they are being used to facilitate the reprocessing (cleaning and sterilisation) of PPE.
Staff are now asked to dispose of all their masks and gowns, unless damaged, into the following labelled containers:
• N95/P2 masks
• Surgical masks
• Isolation gowns
Changes to interpreting services
All interpreting services will now only be available over the telephone or via Zoom. Please click here for details on how to book interpreting services for your area. AUSLAN interpreting will be available through video relay interpreting (VRI) service.
Pathways for COVID-19 patients
An important reminder, especially as we head into a four-day weekend, that our clinical leaders have finalised the pathways and flow charts for patients under investigation of COVID-19.
Click here to read the full details.
Infection prevention staff will be available to answer questions over Easter.
Reminder regarding visitor restrictions
An important reminder about existing visitor restrictions, which have been gradually introduced as part of our strategy to minimise patient and staff potential exposure to COVID-19:
• ONE (1) visitor per patient, per day
• No visitors to ICU
• No day leave for inpatients
• No visitors aged under 16, unless they are parents of patients
• Patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, or under investigation, cannot have visitors. (Patients presenting to the emergency department with respiratory symptoms are considered under investigation and are included in this visitor restriction. Exceptions are in place for patients under the age of 16 and patients who do not have capacity to advocate for themselves).
We ask for assistance from staff in helping us to monitor these restrictions. In all instances there are exceptions allowed that support extenuating circumstances.
Respiratory Assessment Clinic Easter hours
A reminder that the opening hours of Sunshine’s Respiratory Assessment Clinic will be restricted over the Easter long weekend.
From Friday-Monday inclusive, RAC will be open from 10am-6pm (public and staff).
Wellness and Support Hubs
Our Wellness and Support Hubs will be open for every day over the Easter long weekend, from 10am-4pm.
You have all been under additional pressure over the past few months, and we encourage you to take time out at our hubs whenever needed. The hubs are available to all staff and offer a space to have a break, as well as access to counselling.
The Wellness and Support Hubs can be found at:
Sunshine – WCHRE lecture theatre, level 1
Footscray – Mavis Mitchell Room