Extra emergency beds as hospital braces for Covid surge

Under the Victorian Roadmap, the state is due to hit the 70 per cent double dose mark on October 26. Then, if all goes to plan the magic 80 per cent double dose milestone will be reached  by November 5. These two dates will see restrictions drop away, lockdowns end and the state enter the new phase of “living with Covid”.

Over the coming weeks, the Advertiser will explore what “living with Covid” means, for our businesses, community groups, organisations and people.

This week, we spoke with Jan Child, the CEO of Bass Coast Health, to find out what this brave new world will look like for the operations and staff of our health service.

More than for most, entering a new phase of “living with Covid” means changes to the everyday operations of health services.

“We know we’re going to be really busy. Busier than we’ve ever been,” Jan said.

While the latest outbreak poses more challenges than last year’s wave – with more cases and a highly infectious variant – Jan feels her team is better prepared this time around.

“I do think we have more solid plans and much stronger protocols than before. It feels better,” she said.

At the heart of this solid plan is Armitage House. The newly renovated facility is being temporarily transformed into an Emergency Department, giving the hospital an additional 26 emergency beds, and the capacity to care for any Covid or respiratory patients in a separate area to the rest of the hospital.

The original Emergency Department will operate as normal.

“We’ve expanded our emergency capacity, and have a good space for patients who are unwell, and those with respiratory issues to be triaged, tested and supported, whilst we exclude they’ve got Covid,” Jan explained.

“In the current ED, we couldn’t do that. This gives us extra beds and ensures we can safely isolate people.”

Jan said the hospital is anticipating a surge in cases in the coming months and is working with other regional health providers to give local health services the best chance of dealing with increasing Covid cases.

“We’re talking with Latrobe Regional Health, and our colleagues in Foster, Koo Wee Rup and South Gippsland to see how we can work together.

For instance, with Wonthaggi focused on being able to provide emergency care during any outbreak, sub-acute patients at the hospital have been transferred to Korumburra.

“They’ll still be under the care of our doctors, but this gives us more beds here and more staff to increase capacity in preparation for this surge.”

Having more beds and more workforce is key to successfully managing the Covid challenge, and as a result, Jan said even when lockdown ends and restrictions ease in the broader community, strict protocols will remain in place at the hospital and its aged care facilities.

“Freedoms are coming, but health is getting tighter and tighter,” she admitted.

“Until we get cases down and have lower transmission, we have to keep it tight.”

That means no visitors to aged care (“although we are looking at outdoor visitors”), and everyone entering the hospital checking in and answering a series of questions.

“We are ramping up protective measures, because we know community transmission is growing. If we have people with symptoms coming into the health services and we lose 20 or 30 staff, because they have to test and isolate, then we will struggle. It’s all designed to keep the service running.”

The increased protocols put added stress on staff, who have worked tirelessly for the past 18 months.

“Our staff are exhausted,” Jan admitted.

“Like everyone, they’ve had enough and they’re over it. They’ve had a tough couple of months, sitting in PPE every day, some of them doing 12-hour shifts. I want people to know, they’ve got to be kind to our staff. Staff are all pulling their socks up to hold this together, because they love their community and they love their jobs.”

Renovations

Another layer of complication is the hospital is currently a massive construction site, working around building crews and disruption to normal facilities.

With the construction ban now lifted, work has begun again in earnest on the site. Construction of a new carpark will see the hospital entrance move from this week, although services will continue as normal.

“Everyone now needs to come to the back of the hospital, not the front,” Jan advised.

Instead of driving up Graham Street, entry to the hospital will now be via Cameron Street and Baillieu Street West.

“We will have staff there to meet and greet people and direct them, and that concierge hut will be staffed 24/7.”

The drive through Covid testing site will be relocated to the site of the old Senior Secondary campus in McBride Avenue.

Jan is hopeful the carpark, which will provide an additional 40 spaces, including eight accessible parking places, will be completed by Christmas.

Despite the disruptions, Jan is keen to reassure patients that health services will continue as normal.

During last year’s lockdowns, the number of people seeking health services and advice dropped across the state, due to fears of infection.

“People shouldn’t worry about coming in if they need treatment,” she said.

“We know exactly what we’re doing and there are sharp protocols in place. We’re protecting our patients through the extra capacity areas and solid use of PPE. We don’t want people to stop coming to have care, like they did in the first wave. Coming to hospital doesn’t mean they’ll get Covid.

“We will keep you safe.”