Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 & Influenza update 416 | 5/07/2022

Dear colleagues,

• Current situation
• Tier 3 update

Current situation

Metro North is currently caring for 139 inpatients and 501 in the virtual ward with either COVID or influenza.

Currently we have 561 staff away from work due to either being COVID positive or requiring isolation due to being a close contact.

Today I held a vidcast with Dr Krispin Hajkowicz on the current COVID and influenza situation. Krispin provided an excellent overview of the Omicron variant and new subvariants. The recording will be uploaded to QHEPS as soon as it is available.

You can watch previous vidcast recordings on QHEPS.   

Tier 3 update

Metro North remains at Tier 3 of the new Metro North COVID-19 and Influenza Response Plan 2022.

You can view the details of Tier 3 on the extranet.

Key actions include:

• High risk PPE for all clinical areas – minimum requirement is P2/N95 masks and eyewear (prioritise fit testing for new staff and annual review testing)
• Reduce and/or suspend non-urgent surgery and non-urgent outpatient appointments where possible
• Prioritise appointments for long waiting outpatients
• Optimise virtual outpatient care where possible
• Review room allocation methods (as per section 5.2 in the response plan)
• Optimise Virtual Ward and HITH capacity
• Optimise Virtual ED
• Review Workforce Business Continuity Plan and consider the need for staff redeployment
• Optimise use of private outsourced hospital beds
• Pause all non-essential meetings
• Defer non-essential training
• Essential training online except where face to face is required (eg OVP, fire evacuation, ALS, BLS)
• Limit patient movement across facilities to essential movements only
• Daily IMT meetings
• Discourage staff congregation in shared spaces including tea rooms

Please remember your hand hygiene, social distancing and appropriate PPE.

We are encouraging people with respiratory symptoms looking for testing to access local GP Respiratory Clinics.

People who are in the first few days of COVID infection may be able to access antivirals through their GP, or the Metro North Virtual ED if they report their positive RAT via the Queensland Health website.

Please continue to remain vigilant and follow the guidelines provided. Executive teams are acutely aware of the impact the current COVID and Influenza numbers are having on the health system and on you from a personal perspective. Your continued commitment is most valued and we thank you for the way you continue to deliver care during these unprecedented times.

Regards,

Alanna Geary
Metro North Health Incident Controller