Published on 24 May 2023
Dear colleagues,
Western Health continues to monitor closely the status of COVID in our communities and the impact on patient presentations and admissions. Today, Western Health has 50 positive cases with two patients in ICU, 27 suspected or quarantined cases and 33 COVID recovered in our care. Western Health has also seen small cluster patient outbreaks in several areas across sites.
Many of the patient cases being monitored by the Infection Prevention team are noted to have waning immunity, with few having had vaccination boosters in the last 6 months. Some have not had vaccines since 2021.
Risk mitigation to protect patients
We are all familiar with the basics of protecting our patients from exposure from other patients however I would like to again provide a timely reminder of the following strategies to prevent outbreaks:
- Keeping doors closed on SCOVID and COVID patients all of the time, especially by medical and allied health teams – doors act as a physical zone. If you need to talk to, examine or treat a patient please go into the room and close the door
- Air purifiers being kept on and checked each shift
- Early use of Ventilation hoods to protect other patients
- Shift-to-shift nursing COVID risk assessments
- Prompt RAPID PCR testing for symptomatic patients – Infection Prevention and De-isolation Team can give approval
- Routine RAT testing regimes
- Staff wearing N95 masks in clinical settings at all times
- Use of Respiratory Precautions signage on doors
Positive staff cases
Whilst all clinical staff continue to wear N95 masks we have continued to see increased number of COVID cases reported to the Contact Tracing team which is reflective of the ongoing increase in our communities. For the month of May, we have seen the highest increase in reported staff cases this year. This may be due to increased community socialisation with the recent public holiday in late April and Mother’s Day celebrations, plus cases in schools impacting on staff numbers.
Staff should continue to report their positive RAT or PCR test to the Contact Tracing team via the RedCap link
Managers or their delegate should continue to report their furloughed staff daily via the RedCap link as we continue to report the number of staff furloughed to the Department of Health.
Nil PPE Changes to staff
- Staff in all inpatient, ambulatory and procedural clinical areas (including offices and staff stations in inpatient clinical areas), the Emergency Department, Dialysis, Day Oncology, Respiratory/Sleep Laboratory and Imaging, are required to continue to wear N95 masks, ensuring a fit check seal is performed each time applied.
- Other clinical areas, including outpatient departments are strongly encouraged to wear N95 however may wear a surgical mask.
- Staff in non-clinical areas are encouraged to wear a mask (surgical or N95).
- Masks continue to not be required in public areas, corridors and cafeterias – however, staff are strongly encouraged to wear a mask to enhance protection.
Staff PCR testing
Williamstown Emergency Department continues to provide PCR testing for staff who have COVID-like symptoms but are RAT negative. PCR testing is available from 8am-11am daily.
COVID booster vaccinations continue to be available
Staff can access COVID vaccines via the Flu vaccine immunisers drop-in sessions or via the pop-up clinic at Sunshine Hospital in Pod 2 for staff and volunteers only. The sessions for the flu vax immunisers can be found in the calendar on the Infection Prevention department website or via this link.
Appointments for Sunshine Hospital Pod 2 can be booked via the Coronavirus microsite front page link using the QR code. Vaccines available are the bivalent Pfizer BA4/5 and Moderna BA4/5. Novavax can be given for those unable to have a mRNA vaccine.
On occasion, there may be no vaccines available due to restrictions on fortnightly ordering of doses. Please check back if that occurs.
Thanks again for your continued efforts and diligence.
Regards,
John Ferraro
Chief Operating Officer