In addition to reviewing this bulletin, all staff are asked to read COVID-19 update linked here, from the Victorian Government, released on Friday.
Given the rapidly evolving nature of the Greater Brisbane outbreak, Western Health is putting in place the following strategies to keep our staff and visitors safe.
Any staff who were in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Greater Brisbane listed below, on or since Saturday 2 January 2021, are asked to not attend work and contact COVID Staff Enquiries at whscovid-19staffclinicenquiries@wh.org.au.
- Brisbane City
- Moreton Bay Regional
- Ipswich City
- Redlands City
- Logan City
These staff should also seek COVID testing at their earliest convenience.
Sunshine Hospital Respiratory Assessment Clinic is open 9am -10am (staff only), 10am-5.30pm (staff and public), 7 days a week.
Western Health staff may continue to access the clinic via the Pod 1 entrance via the main hospital (outside lifts 16 and 17 of the Acute Services Building).
As part of COVID Screening, all patients, outpatients and visitors should be screened prior to entry and asked whether they have visited the five LGAs within Greater Brisbane since January 2.
All inpatients who have visited the five LGAs within Greater Brisbane since January 2 should be quarantined in a single room for 14 days since they last visited those areas.
If a patient, outpatient or visitor discloses that they have visited the five LGAs within Greater Brisbane since January 2, please contact the De-Isolation HMO on 8395 9048 or on switch 8345 6666 so further risk assessment can be conducted.
We appreciate that many staff may have travel plans to Queensland and that the current situation will be creating some anxiety. Those intending to go to the Greater Brisbane area should be aware of the risk at present – and that they may need to quarantine on return to Victoria. We would advise people to keep themselves informed of the changing advice regarding travel from DHHS.
We also want to remind everyone of the appropriate use of PPE. All Western Health staff must wear masks at all times when you are indoors on Western Health premises, unless you are the only person in a room, or when you are eating or drinking. All visitors are required to wear masks. Please also remember to continue completing your online attestation, which would provide vital information to our contact tracing team in the event of an outbreak.
Eye protection is still required as part of standard precautions, for staff working with patients suspected of COVID-19 and for staff working with patients undergoing aerosol generating procedures or aerosol generating behaviours.
Regards
Maree Pane
Acting Executive Director Operations