Western Health’s COVID leadership team is continuously reviewing regulations across our sites, in line with Department of Health guidelines.
Today I’d like to share several updates, including the introduction of online attestations for patients and visitors and changes to visitation guidelines. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, all decisions are made with the safety and wellbeing of our staff, patients and visitors being the key consideration.
Online patient and visitor attestations
Western Health is seeking to improve and streamline the screening process for patients and visitors entering the health service. From this week, we will be rolling out a QR code screening process across all entry points all our sites. This will enable screening to be completed more quickly, minimising queues at entry points and improve the experience for people entering our service. This process has been successfully trialled at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s over recent weeks.
*Please be assured that the existing process will continue to be available for patients and visitors who do not have access to a device. Staff members will be available at all times to offer support.
This is the sign you will now be seeing at our entrances:
Changes to visitation rules
Visitors play an important role in the health and wellbeing of patients receiving care at Western Health. In line with easing restrictions across the state, Western Health’s visitation guidance has been updated. Changes include a support person being permitted for women attending appointments in Joan Kirner, which will be a welcome change for our community. The updated visitation guidance can be found here.
Our COVID-19 Testing Clinics
You might have noticed that Western Health’s Respiratory Assessment Clinics have been rebranded and are now called COVID-19 Testing Clinics. This change has been made in response to staff and patient feedback, making it easier for patients to find COVID testing services operated by Western Health. The opening hours of testing clinics at Sunshine, Sunbury and the Melbourne Showgrounds can be found here.
Finally, I’d like to remind all staff about the opportunities for COVID vaccinations. As relayed in a bulletin on Friday and again this morning, a pop-up vaccination hub will be operating at Footscray Hospital TODAY and TOMORROW only. This outreach service is for staff aged under 50, using the Pfizer vaccine, in line with State and Commonwealth directives. If you do want to be vaccinated, I would encourage you to book in as soon as possible as the supply of Pfizer vaccine is limited. For more information about Western Health staff COVID vaccination bookings, click here.
Regards
Natasha