North-West Region Escalated Due to COVID Crisis

Media release – Dale Webster, Acting State Health Commander, 14 July 2022

Tasmanian Health Service (THS) North-West region escalation

The Tasmanian Health Service (THS) North-West region has escalated to level 3 of its COVID-19 Management Plan as of 3pm today, 14 July.

This follows a recommendation from the Regional Health Management Team and is based on the level of COVID-positive inpatients, general hospital demand and increasing level of staff absences impacting services in the region.

North-West Regional Hospital (NWRH) has already been operating at level 3 escalation and will now be joined by the Mersey Community Hospital (MCH), West Coast District Hospital and other district hospitals and community health centres across the north-west.

The region’s staffing resources will be prioritised and where appropriate reallocated to support the NWRH, MCH and district hospitals to continue delivering key services. This may lead to a reduction in community health services.

As is already the case at the NWRH, planned elective services at the MCH will be reviewed based on operational requirements and clinical need of patients. Emergency surgeries and other urgent or critical services will continue to be delivered.

Visitor restrictions across the north-west public hospitals will allow one visitor per patient for one hour unless an exemption is provided by the nurse-in-charge. Visitor access at residential aged care facilities is aligned with Commonwealth COVID-19 requirements.

Escalation levels are well-established and effective protocols that enable our hospitals to prioritise available resources to continue delivering essential services based on current demand.

If people have conditions that are not an emergency or do not require a hospital admission, they are encouraged to think about the right service for their needs and to reconsider attending the NWRH and MCH Emergency Departments during this time.

During this period of heightened pressure, we ask the communities of north-west Tasmania for their patience and understanding should they experience longer waiting times for lower acuity presentations or disruption to services.

Staff are working hard to address the demand for health services, and the public can have confidence that the needs of emergency presentations will be met.

The best protection for the public continues to be vaccination and people can support frontline hospital services this winter by rolling up their sleeves. People aged 30 and over are now eligible for their second booster dose and we would encourage them to come forward to be vaccinated for free at one of our many State-run vaccination clinics, or at their GP or pharmacy.

Equally, if you have not yet had your influenza vaccination, we would also encourage you to come forward for your dose. Flu vaccinations are free at our state-run clinics, and are also free at pharmacies and GPs until the end of July.

If you require medical assistance that is not urgent or life-threatening, visit your pharmacy for minor ailments, explore booking an appointment with a local GP, or call Health Direct on 1800 022 222 for free, trusted health information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Some GPs and pharmacies are also available after-hours.

Members of the public are also encouraged to continue practicing the COVID-safe behaviours. Practise good hand hygiene, follow social distancing, test when you have symptoms, stay home when you are unwell, and wear masks when required to do so.

If you require emergency medical assistance, call 000 immediately.