With more than 20,000 new COVID cases reported in Queensland today, we find ourselves in the thick of the pandemic response we have been planning for. Thanks for the calm and composed response across all of RBWH in the last week.

Staff Vaccination Clinic

Our public vaccination clinic has been relocated to Doomben Racecourse to free up the Ground Floor location to commence COVID screening of patients being admitted for planned care.

Our staff vaccination clinic remains open for business

• Accessible to staff and household contacts (age over 12) accompanied by a staff member
• Room 1060 on Level 1 at the Northern end of the Specialist Outpatient Service in James Mayne Bldg.
• Monday to Friday – 8am to 4pm

We are NOT vaccinating children between 5-11 years at RBWH however a dedicated clinic has been established at Kippa Ring for this purpose and vaccination is also available through GP clinics and community pharmacies. Please check the vaccination website for details on accessing vaccination for children between 5-11 years age.

Fever Clinic / COVID Testing service

The Public Fever Clinic has been relocated to enable ETC to repurpose the location to assist in management of the large number of COVID positive patients presenting for Emergency Care.

A public drive through testing clinic has been established at QUT:

• Sports Lane Carpark
• 8am-8pm every day
• Providing PCR testing and also RAT test kits for selected cases

A Metro North staff testing clinic is being operated out of the RBWH Education Centre

• 9am-4.15pm every day
• Must be a staff member with a Metro North staff ID badge or be accompanied by a staff member
• Providing PCR testing as well as RAT kits when suitable and available

Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT)

The increasing volume of positive COVID cases has placed heavy demands on the PCR testing capacity in Queensland. Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) is becoming accessible and is playing an increasingly important role for diagnosis of COVID and supporting close contacts to be released from isolation. RAT is also beginning to be used for screening of patients being admitted to hospital.

RAT for hospital admissions

International evidence suggests that there is an increased risk of adverse health outcomes if patients with COVID undergo surgical or other invasive procedures. We are not routinely screening all of our patients at present however as RAT testing becomes increasingly available, we will begin to screen certain patient groups at the time of admission. The intention is to identify patients with COVID where a deferral of care would assist them to have the best health outcome. We will keep you informed as this evolves.

When can I come back to work if I have COVID?

Return to work is possible on Day 8 after onset of symptoms or confirmed COVID result (whichever occurs first) as long as symptoms have resolved. A negative COVID test is NOT required to enable return to work.

When can I return to work if I have been a close contact?

Return to work can occur on Day 8

• After separation from the confirmed positive case, and
• As long as you have no symptoms, and
• Have had a negative COVID test in the preceding 48hrs – a RAT test is suitable for this – available  via staff testing clinic.

An earlier return to work may be possible after 48hrs for essential staff that are able to remove themselves completely from any contact with the positive case (ie live in a different location). Under these circumstance staff must be asymptomatic and have a negative RAT test prior to commencing work each shift. More information will be provided about this if we need to activate this option at any stage.

Please be alert to symptoms of COVID and stay safe over the coming weeks.

Kind regards,

David Rosengren

Executive Director

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital