Tami Photinos, Executive Director, The Prince Charles Hospital
As most of you would be aware, the declared public health emergency expired on 31 October.
Here is a summary of the changes relating to TPCH.
- Wearing of masks – Staff and visitors and are strongly encouraged and supported to wear a mask within Metro North hospitals particularly when providing care to, working with, supporting or visiting vulnerable persons. However, masks are no longer required to be worn in a healthcare facility. The minimum requirements for patient care aligns with Infection Control: Standard Precautions 004711 (health.qld.gov.au) and Infection Control: Transmission Based Precautions 002850 (health.qld.gov.au).
- The traffic light system guides the community on responding to COVID-19. The COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Manual: For acute and non-acute healthcare settings | Queensland Health guides healthcare facilities on the appropriate response. Appendix 6: Escalation of PPE usage in healthcare delivery, community health and care services, in-home settings and for healthcare delivery in correctional services and Table 3 Hospital and other healthcare settings: Recommended PPE escalation according to COVID-19 community levels correlates to the traffic light system.
- Employees, Contractors and/or Students who are COVID-19 cases are not to enter a Metro North Health Hospital, Aged Care or Disability Care facility for seven days following their positive test result.
- Visitors who are COVID-19 cases are requested not to enter a Metro North Hospital, Aged Care or Disability Care facility for seven days following their positive test result unless the Hospital, Aged Care or Disability Care facility has approved the visitor’s attendance in accordance with the facilities local COVID-Safe Visit Process. The clinical area can safely facilitate a visit with the support of Infection Management Service if required.
- There is no requirement for staff who are household contacts to be subject to specific exclusion from the workplace however should make all effort to minimise the risk of transmission.
- Processes for staff who are COVID-19 cases or a close contact will be managed by Line Managers with usual HR processes. TPCH Infection Management Service are still required to contact trace according to Appendix 7: Recommended approach to assessing close contact exposures to COVID-19 in the hospital setting of COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Manual: For acute and non-acute healthcare settings | Queensland Health
For any queries or concerns, please contact TPCH Infection Management Service on 3139 4894.
Tami Photinos
Executive Director