As many of you will be aware, the National Cabinet met yesterday and announced the resumption of some elective surgery services.
Over recent weeks health services had been restricted to offering Category 1 and urgent Category 2 elective surgery services, as part of efforts to prepare health services across the country for the coronavirus pandemic. These restrictions have now been relaxed, with the reintroduction of additional elective surgery to be completed in a safe and carefully considered way which ensures the wellbeing of both patients and healthcare workers.
Following yesterday’s decision, I will be working with the leadership team to explore how we will expand elective surgery at Western Health in a carefully considered and controlled manner. We will keep you updated.
Today I would also like to remind you of Western Health’s commitment to providing care to our community.
The threat of COVID-19 has necessitated many changes to the way we provide our services. While this has unfortunately included restricting community access to our sites, it has also provided valuable opportunities to adapt our models of care. Our rapidly expanding Telehealth service is a great example of your flexibility, proving we can successfully look after some of our patients remotely.
Leaders across all areas of our organisation are looking at how we can continue to innovate, while working to prevent the spread of COVID-19. I encourage all staff to think about how we can further connect with and provide care to our community during these uncertain times.
Finally, with our COVID preparations now very well established, I’ve decided to shift my daily staff bulletins to twice weekly. We will continue to review this as we go – and as always, feel free to send me feedback!
Thanks for keeping yourselves informed.
Regards
Natasha
COVID-19 Daily Summary
• Respiratory Assessment Clinic presentations yesterday: 68
• Numbers of individuals tested for COVID-19 at Western Health to date: 4786
• Numbers of individuals tested positive to date: 74
• Numbers of current inpatients with COVID-19: 1
Vulnerable people in the workplace
Western Health continues to make the health and safety of our employees a priority.
Updated government advice has provided health services with further clarity regarding health service workers who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 risk especially with regard to employees who are pregnant. Please see details here.
For further information from the DHHS, click here.
Information for pregnant health care workers
There is limited evidence at this time regarding the risk of COVID-19 in pregnant women.
Based on currently- available information, pregnant women do not appear to be at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness than the general population.
However, due to changes in their bodies and immune systems, we know that pregnant women can be badly affected by some respiratory infections, including influenza.
Pregnant women should therefore be considered a potentially vulnerable group until further information is known.
Pregnant women should be encouraged to follow the standard advice to protect themselves against COVID-19, such as good hand hygiene and physical distancing practices.
They should report possible symptoms (including fever, cough or difficulty breathing) to their healthcare provider.
Additionally, pregnant women are strongly encouraged to have the seasonal influenza vaccine, as this will help to prevent them and their baby from catching influenza.
Based on the latest guidelines, Western Health will continue to work with staff that are pregnant (>28 weeks gestation) to undertake a risk assessment where they are working in a high risk department. Western Health will continue to offer options to those affected staff (which may include redeployment).
Staff that are pregnant (under 28 weeks gestation) are encouraged to use the appropriate PPE as per the Western Health guidelines.
In the first instance employees are encouraged to discuss their risk factors with their line manager.
Other higher risk population groups include:
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions;
• People 65 years and older with chronic medical conditions;
• People 70 years and older
• People with compromised immune systems.
Western Health employees who fit into these categories should refer to the Protecting Vulnerable Staff QRG (under V on the microsite) to find out what steps they should take to help ensure their safety in the workplace.
Pathways for patients suspected of COVID-19
An important reminder that our clinical leaders have created pathways and flow charts for patients under investigation of COVID-19.
For full details, click here.
Respiratory Assessment Clinic hours and screening tool
From tomorrow, the Respiratory Assessment Clinic will be open 7 days a week between 10am-6pm for both staff and the public.
Western Health staff presenting to the clinic can do so between 10am-6pm via the Pod 1 entrance via the main hospital (outside lifts 16 and 17 of the ASB).
Prior to attending, WH staff are encouraged to complete a self-screening tool to assist with triage, which can be accessed here.