Good afternoon all,
I’m pleased to report that the number of staff furloughed due to exposure or COVID diagnosis is down from a high of 773 last week to 531 today. This has made a tangible difference on our clinical areas. To all staff returning from furlough, it’s great to have you back on board.
Please read on below for updates on asymptomatic COVID testing for staff; movement of healthcare workers; vaccination for in-patients and more.
Regards
John
Executive Director Operations (Acting)
Asymptomatic COVID Testing for Western Health staff
Routine asymptomatic surveillance testing will no longer be required as there has been extremely low rates of detection of staff-to-staff and patient-to-staff transmission identified through the staff surveillance program.
We recognise that some staff may wish to continue with asymptomatic testing; therefore, staff can continue to access asymptomatic testing at both Sunshine COVID Testing Clinic and the Footscray Private Consulting Rooms.
For further details regarding the recommended COVID testing for staff, please refer to the ‘COVID Testing recommendations for staff’ QRG on the microsite here.
Movement of healthcare workers
Aligning with Department of Health guidance, staff movement across sites will now be permitted without Executive Director approval where:
- There is a need to cover vacancies or to support rostering related to clinical care or clinical support that cannot otherwise be provided locally; or,
- Where managers and senior management need to move between sites to support services for which they have responsibility.
Movement across sites for other purposes, such as education and training, and non-essential reasons is still not permitted.
Staff moving across sites must complete the staff attestation each time they enter a new site, and where possible movement should be limited to two sites on any one day. Please refer to the QRG here for further details.
Vaccination for in-patients
Our Outreach COVID-19 Vaccination Service is experiencing high demand for vaccinating in-patients. Prioritisation of patient is currently being undertaken to support patient that cannot access one of our vaccination hubs on discharge. To organise vaccination for an in-patient in your care, please email outreachcovidvax@wh.org.au as soon as possible rather than at point of discharge. In-patients at Sunshine Hospital who are physically able can also be referred to the vaccination hub on site. Referral slips for patients who can attend as a priority walk-ins should be available on every ward and can also be found at the main reception desk of each hospital.
Russell's CEO webinar today at 2pm
A reminder that Chief Executive Russell Harrison will present a webinar this afternoon at 2pm with updates from Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Shane Crowe and Head of Infectious Diseases Dr Marion Kainer.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://westernhealth.zoom.us/j/95020834106?pwd=RHh3czZaRk1jVnI3eUF0eG00S0dJdz09
Meeting ID: 950 2083 4106
Passcode: 653976
COVID patient summary
117 COVID positive patients
488 patients in the COVID Positive Pathways program
531 staff furloughed