With high numbers of community cases reported once again this morning, I want to thank all of you for your ongoing efforts during this pandemic. While the end of lockdown has come as a relief for the community, generally, the pressures you are facing at work have not decreased. Our emergency departments, wards and intensive care units, in particular, remain very busy.
To give you an idea of the scale of Western Health’s COVID response, and the support we are providing to our communities, our outreach teams have cared for and discharged more than more than 970 COVID-positive patients in their homes during this wave alone. What a fantastic effort by so many staff members.
Another great example of the extra efforts by Western Health staff is that more than 2,500 of you have participated in our Asymptomatic Testing Program in the past two weeks. This level of vigilance is helping to keep your patients, as well as your colleagues and your families, safe. Thank you.
With the current risk of community transmission remaining high, can I ask staff to please be aware of the necessary restrictions we currently have on visitation. These restrictions are in line with Department of Health guidelines, following the current COVID Peak risk rating that all Victorian health services are working under. We do understand how difficult these restrictions are for our patients and their loved ones, and that is why we have a process for special exemptions. This process, which has recently been updated, can be found here.
Thanks for keeping updated.
Regards
Natasha
COVID summary
Confirmed COVID ward inpatients at Western Health: 64
Confirmed COVID ICU inpatients at Western Health: 14
Confirmed COVID patients receiving Western Health care in the community: 210
COVID tests by our testing sites yesterday: 1826
Vaccinations delivered yesterday by West Metro COVID Vaccinations team: overall (1,067,865) and yesterday (3752)
External faith representatives
Requests for visits from external faith representative continue during COVID19. There are a limited number of external faith representatives offering onsite visits, with the majority offering remote or virtual visitation at this time. Where onsite visits are provided, each external faith representatives may visit one patient each day to reduce movement throughout the health service. Read the updated QRG for more details.
PPE guidelines
Staff being aware of the PPE requirements for their particular role and workspace within Western Health is vital. Please check the PPE poster and review the overall guidelines in the PPE section of our COVID-19 microsite.
CHO update
Click here to read the most recent update by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer.