In today’s bulletin, I provide an update on new Department of Health rules coming into place this week regarding visitors attending hospitals and aged care facilities, and information about our workforce surge escalation response.
I’d also like to encourage you to watch the recording of Russell’s webinar if you weren’t able to catch it yesterday. Russell provides a sobering update on the current situation we are facing here at Western Health as Omicron reaches its peak over the coming weeks; acknowledges the demand this will place on staff who have already given so much over the past two years; and reassures that we will get through this together.
Regards
John
Executive Director Operations (Acting)
COVID daily situation report
In the past 24 hours, the following numbers have been reported.
Statewide
40,127 new Victorian cases
21 lives lost
209,715 current active cases
Western Health
85 cases as inpatients
7 cases in ICU
467 cases in community monitoring programs
773 staff affected by COVID exposures and contacts (including 393 COVID positive staff)
Russell's CEO webinar recording now available
In his webinar on Tuesday, Russell was joined by Dr Marion Kainer, Head of Infectious Diseases, and A/Prof Glyn Teale, Clinical Services Director for Women’s and Children’s Services. Together, they provided an update on current challenges for Western Health due to the surging numbers of Omicron in the community and the impact that has on patient demand and staffing, and an update on vaccinations including boosters and paediatric doses – some of which is captured below.
Booster doses and vaccination program for 5-11 year olds
Marion discussed how vital booster doses are in providing stronger protection against the Omicron variant. Please note, the Outreach Vaccination Team will do a staff pop-up at Footscray Hospital on Thursday 13 January from 9am-3.30pm.
Marion also covered the vaccination program for 5-11 year olds and how US data of 8.7m paediatric doses delivered there overwhelming supports the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for this age group. A reminder that our Melton and Sunshine vaccination hubs are supporting the 5–11-year-old vaccination program with dedicated areas decorated in a fun and welcoming child-friendly theme, with supports in place for children with developmental disabilities, autism and/or sensory issues. Bookings are required for 5-11 year old vaccinations with no walk-ins available at this time.
New rules for visitors attending Western Health
New Department of Health rules regarding visitors attending hospitals and aged care facilities will come in to place this week.
All visitors entering Western Health will be required to show evidence of having received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine on entry. Visitors will also be asked about their vaccination status when they complete the Visitor Attestation.
Visitors who have not received 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be required to complete a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) prior to entering the hospital and wear an N95 mask for the duration of their visit.
Visitation rules otherwise remain unchanged at Western Health. Further details will be available in the Western Health Visitation QRG to be published this week.
Workforce surge escalation
Our response to the COVID surge continues to escalate, with high demand for care for our community. Unfortunately, Western Health currently has more than 700 staff furloughed and providing coverage for all these staff is not always possible. As we proposed last week, the next step in our plan is to adjust our staffing levels across our inpatient wards and units.
Stage 3 (Extreme Surge) measures for acute and subacute wards
With the exception of units with high-acuity beds (COVID wards, coronary care unit beds and emergency departments), we are implementing Stage 3 (Extreme Surge) measures whereby extended team-based models in all of our acute and subacute wards. This means where necessary and a nurse is not available to fill a nursing vacancy, then one of the ward’s RUSONs will be included within the team numbers.
Our RUSONs will be working at an extended scope that allows them to undertake vital signs, urinalysis, blood glucose monitoring and simple dressings under the supervision of a registered nurse.
To minimise the impact, and to ensure that we are allocating the available nurses to the areas with the greatest need, our nurse managers are being requested to only request replacement staff should their ward pass a 1:6 ratio of nurses to patients (with the RUSONs in place on top of this to supplement staffing numbers). Night duty ratios will remain unchanged; however, without supernumerary in-charge nurses.
Stage 4 (Acute Care) measures for Maternity Services
In our Maternity Services, we are implementing Stage 4 (Acute Care) measures in our COVID Surge workforce model, due to the high furlough numbers. Our post-natal maternity departments already have extended team-based models in place, whereby registered nurses (RNs) are working under a midwifery-led model within their normal scope of practice. We will work with Maternal Child Health services to support the large number of furloughed staff, to be able to free up our midwives that are currently working in domiciliary services to be able to support inpatient services.
Western Health has been working with our teams for months now preparing for extended team-based models in case this was required. Of course we will only implement this on a shift-by-shift basis when it is required, and will maintain nurse-to-patient ratios wherever possible.
We have also deployed nursing and midwifery staff from non-ward areas, and engaged our supplementary workforces to support clinical care. We have also asked our graduates and post-graduate course new starters to commence employment earlier where possible.