The Emergency Department at Wonthaggi Hospital remains busy BASS Coast Health has put the call out for retired healthcare workers to help cover growing staff shortages as Covid runs rampant through the community.
More than 100 staff are out of action after testing positive, having a family member with COVID or being a household contact. Some staff are working from home in isolation while they have COVID.
CEO Jan Child said the service was at a critical juncture and praised staff for their efforts to keep services operating. “Many staff are working 16 hour days, and others are testing and vaccinating hundreds of people each day with little time off to minimise the impact of COVID on our community.
More than 100 staff are out of action after testing positive, having a family member with COVID or being a household contact. Some staff are working from home in isolation while they have COVID.
CEO Jan Child said the service was at a critical juncture and praised staff for their efforts to keep services operating. “Many staff are working 16 hour days, and others are testing and vaccinating hundreds of people each day with little time off to minimise the impact of COVID on our community.
“We know Omicron is the majority strain in Victoria and the Bass Coast. I am sure that everyone now knows someone who is positive or who has been a contact,” Ms Child said.
“The numbers will continue to grow and we will continue to have more and more staff impacted. We are trying to get our staff back to work as quickly as we can where they are impacted, and where it is safe to do so.
“We have also put out a call to retired healthcare workers, and people with like skills, to be in touch with our HR team to look at suitability to assist, should we enter a more critical level.
“The numbers will continue to grow and we will continue to have more and more staff impacted. We are trying to get our staff back to work as quickly as we can where they are impacted, and where it is safe to do so.
“We have also put out a call to retired healthcare workers, and people with like skills, to be in touch with our HR team to look at suitability to assist, should we enter a more critical level.
“We are at a very critical juncture. Never before have I known our health care system to be under such duress, and we are preparing for likely worsening as the numbers grow.”
Jan Child, CEO of Bass Coast Health
All critical services remain open. The Urgent Care Centre, Testing, Vaccination Centre, Cancer service, Dialysis, Hospital in the Home (including the newly developed COVID positive in home team), Inpatient areas and Midwifery are a priority and will be maintained.
BCH’s Emergency Department at Wonthaggi Hospital and Urgent Care Centre at Phillip Island remain open to everyone during the pandemic.
“We urge people with emergency health issues such as chest pain and breathing difficulties to come to the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre, and not put off care. We also ask people with social and non-urgent needs to seek alternative supports.”
Other services will experience reductions or closures effective from Monday 17 January. The staff from these services will be redeployed to keep the critical services open.
Some of the changes include:
Ms Child said it was an anxious time for many people. “We will absolutely get through this new hump because our plans are robust, and these same staff, whilst hugely fatigued, continue to step up to serve their community.
“We know the virus is moving through our community via social gatherings, supermarkets, in indoor settings where people are not wearing masks and keeping their distance. The best thing people can do is get vaccinated, don’t go near crowds, avoid indoor settings wherever you can and if you must go indoors, wear a mask.”
Children aged 5-11 can now be vaccinated at the Community Vaccination Clinic at the Wonthaggi Town Hall, via appointment only. Phone 1800 675 398 or online at https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/ Please book the appointment under the child's name, not the parent's. More appointments will become available over time so please keep trying, and remember to try for an appointment with your GP or with the local pharmacist.
“We know that people who are double vaccinated will not get as sick with Omicron and we know that people who are triple vaxxed are faring extremely well,” Ms Child said.
Ms Child urged people to wear high grade disposable surgical masks that fit them well, instead of cloth masks, which don’t provide as much protection.
BCH’s Emergency Department at Wonthaggi Hospital and Urgent Care Centre at Phillip Island remain open to everyone during the pandemic.
“We urge people with emergency health issues such as chest pain and breathing difficulties to come to the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre, and not put off care. We also ask people with social and non-urgent needs to seek alternative supports.”
Other services will experience reductions or closures effective from Monday 17 January. The staff from these services will be redeployed to keep the critical services open.
Some of the changes include:
- Non-critical elective surgery will be ceased and only Caesarean sections and Category 1 urgent surgery will be undertaken
- Sub-acute services will return to Wonthaggi Hospital from Korumburra Hospital
- Allied health and Nursing outpatient appointments will be restricted to urgent appointments only
- Essential medical specialist outpatient appointments will continue. Dental will provide Emergency Appointments only.
Ms Child said it was an anxious time for many people. “We will absolutely get through this new hump because our plans are robust, and these same staff, whilst hugely fatigued, continue to step up to serve their community.
“We know the virus is moving through our community via social gatherings, supermarkets, in indoor settings where people are not wearing masks and keeping their distance. The best thing people can do is get vaccinated, don’t go near crowds, avoid indoor settings wherever you can and if you must go indoors, wear a mask.”
Children aged 5-11 can now be vaccinated at the Community Vaccination Clinic at the Wonthaggi Town Hall, via appointment only. Phone 1800 675 398 or online at https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/ Please book the appointment under the child's name, not the parent's. More appointments will become available over time so please keep trying, and remember to try for an appointment with your GP or with the local pharmacist.
“We know that people who are double vaccinated will not get as sick with Omicron and we know that people who are triple vaxxed are faring extremely well,” Ms Child said.
Ms Child urged people to wear high grade disposable surgical masks that fit them well, instead of cloth masks, which don’t provide as much protection.