Tami Photinos, Executive Director, The Prince Charles Hospital

A lot is happening at the moment, so I felt it was important to update everyone on the main challenges TPCH is facing at the moment.

TPCH is currently experiencing high demands across all of our services resulting from large numbers of admissions, bed capacity, and staff absence due to illness. This is reflected through Metro North being at Tier 3 of the new Metro North COVID-19 and Influenza Response Plan 2022.

We are in a tough environment at the moment, with each day presenting different issues and pressures, so I ask that you support and take care of each other as we work together through these challenging times.

I acknowledge that many staff are going above and beyond their normal duties to support the hospital in caring for our patients, and these efforts are commended.  Today we’ve also a number of staff helping out at other Metro North sites, which shows the great commitment and flexibility of the team at TPCH.

Key points

• TPCH continues to care for a significant number of patients with COVID in Ward 1E and ACC, as well as Ward 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, EMU, 1F, CCU.
• A significant number of our staff are absent due to illness or being a close contact, and this is having a notable impact on our workforce.
• Reduce and/or suspend non-urgent surgery and non-urgent outpatient appointments where possible
• Please move as many outpatient appointments as possible to virtual care as it does help reduce the volume of patients who enter our facility.
• No changes have been made to our hospital entry points or to members of the public visiting our facility.
• To increase our frontline clinical capacity, please postpone any non-essential workshops, meetings and training/education sessions.

What you can do to help

• All staff providing clinical care to patients are required to wear an N95 mask and protective eye wear. Please ensure visitors are wearing masks appropriately and are practicing good hand hygiene.
• Staff who remain symptomatic with acute respiratory illness symptoms, are advised to have a PCR if they continue to return a negative RAT. You can access testing through local GP Respiratory Clinics.
• Please access your flu vaccination or booster if you haven’t already. Flu vaccinations are still available through our Infection Control Office, Level 3, Clinical Sciences Building, Monday to Friday, 7am – 4pm.
• Refrain from congregating in shared spaces including tea rooms.

View further details of Tier 3.

On behalf of TPCH Executive Leadership Team, I’d like to thank you all for your outstanding efforts during this extremely demanding period. Please remember that even though we are in the midst of a very unpredictable period, it is your unwavering commitment and care that allows us to do what we do best each day – care for our patients.

Tami Photinos
Executive Director