![\"Metro](\"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/04\/mn-health-incident-controller2.jpg\" "\\"Metro")
<\/span><\/div>Dear colleagues,<\/p>\n
I am sure we have all seen the media coverage of a\u00a0positive COVID-19 case\u00a0of a staff member at Parklands Christian School in\u00a0Parkridge.\u00a0In total, Metro South\u00a0Hospital and Health Service\u00a0have recorded three positive cases\u00a0today\u00a0linked directly to the staff member at the school.\u00a0This is the first positive COVID-19\u00a0case in Queensland for\u00a0a number of\u00a0days and it is important we comply with any restrictions imposed by the Premier to ensure our situation does not become\u00a0similar to\u00a0one we are seeing down South.<\/p>\n
What\u00a0does this mean for Metro\u00a0North?<\/strong><\/p>\n Here at Metro North, we are leaning forward and implementing components of\u00a0our\u00a0Tier 1\u00a0response.<\/a>\u00a0The new revised Tier 1 response is now up on the intranet for your information and appropriate action.\u00a0Please\u00a0familiarise\u00a0yourselves with this\u00a0document at your earliest convenience.<\/p>\n To\u00a0summarise,\u00a0this involves:<\/p>\n With this news we are expecting an increase in presentations at our fever clinics across Metro North where we will be maintaining staffing to keep up with this expected demand.<\/p>\n We are\u00a0also\u00a0cognisant\u00a0that while our Southern counterparts in NSW and Victoria are not tracking as well as we are up here, appropriate staffing across Metro North for pandemic response is priority over deploying staff down South.<\/p>\n With regards to the situation in Metro South, there is a chance Metro North could be called on to assist. We will monitor this situation closely while maintaining vigilance and see what comes to light in the coming days.<\/p>\n Any Metro\u00a0North staff member\u00a0who is\u00a0requested or is requesting\u00a0to work in a health service other than Metro North (including interstate) is required to receive approval from their line manager\u00a0and then from the Chief Executive MNHHS\u00a0Shaun Drummond.<\/p>\n We will not be suspending non-urgent elective surgeries or procedures\u00a0or any\u00a0outpatient\u00a0appointments\u00a0at this time but will monitor the evolving situation closely and update you as needed.\u00a0We will also closely monitor community transmission and reallocate wards as COVID-19 inpatient wards should the situation necessitate this.<\/p>\n Our four Metro North fever clinics are fully operational and have had a busy day. The Brisbane North PHN has advised that the\u00a0community-based\u00a0GP respiratory clinics are\u00a0available and the larger clinics at\u00a0Nundah\u00a0and\u00a0Morayfield\u00a0have good capacity for community testing.\u00a0Further requirements for Fever Clinics and hours of operation will be reviewed over the next day or two.<\/p>\n Metro North\u00a0Mantra<\/strong><\/p>\n Your safety is our priority<\/strong><\/p>\n We understand that this information will be stressful for some staff\u00a0members. Please be reassured that we are taking all precautions\u00a0to keep our staff, patients and community safe. We need your help in this, if you see someone directly disobeying signage or physical distancing around the hospital, feel empowered to call them out if\u00a0it is\u00a0safe\u00a0for you to do so.\u00a0 Please do this in a respectful way but we have a responsibility to our community to assist in keeping everyone safe. Remind other visitors and staff to use the\u00a0sanitising\u00a0stations located around the hospital.\u00a0Encourage unwell colleagues to go home or stay at home.<\/p>\n Metro North are leaning forward and ready to take the next step if required. I ask all staff to\u00a0\u201ckeep calm and carry on\u201d\u00a0and we will keep you as updated as\u00a0soon as\u00a0possible on the changing situation.\u00a0If you have any HR concerns relating directly to COVID-19, there is\u00a0a\u00a0COVID-19\u00a0HR webpage<\/a>\u00a0on our extranet site with all information you might need.<\/p>\n If this situation is stressful or causing you distress, I encourage you to reach out to one of our various wellbeing support programs\u00a0\u2013\u00a0R\u00a0U\u00a0OK?,\u00a0COVID staff psychology support, Peer Responders or\u00a0Benestar\u00a0on\u00a01300 360 364.\u00a0As always, there is a large amount of\u00a0wellbeing resources located on\u00a0our\u00a0Staff Wellbeing extranet page<\/a>.\u00a0Your physical and psychological wellbeing is of the utmost importance always, but especially during this time.\u00a0Remember, you as our staff are our most important asset and we will do our utmost to keep you safe.\u00a0Please be assured that everything that can be done is being done\u00a0to protect you and ultimately your loved ones.\u00a0We are all in this together and\u00a0yours,\u00a0mine and our loved\u00a0ones\u00a0health and wellbeing\u00a0is\u00a0paramount.\u00a0Make informed decisions, use the resources available and seek\u00a0advice when you need it.<\/p>\n Together as Metro North-ions\u00a0and Queenslanders, we will get through this pandemic.<\/p>\n Kind regards,<\/p>\n Alanna Geary Metro North HHS \u2013 Overview of Cases*<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n HHS<\/strong><\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Virtual Ward \/ HITH \/ or similar<\/strong><\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Deaths<\/strong><\/p>\n **<\/strong><\/td>\n Total cases managed by HHS (including recovered)<\/strong><\/p>\n ***<\/strong><\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n #<\/strong><\/p>\n of clinics<\/strong><\/td>\n Presentations<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n ICU-NOT Ventilated<\/strong><\/td>\n ICU-Ventilated<\/strong><\/td>\n TOTAL^<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n *With effect 29 July 2020, 1000\n
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\nMetro North Incident Commander<\/p>\n\n\n
\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Patients being managed by HHS<\/strong><\/td>\n FEVER Clinics<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Total\u00a0In-patients<\/strong><\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \n <\/td>\n ICU Pts<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Last 24 hrs<\/strong><\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \n MN TOTAL<\/td>\n \u202f0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n \u202f0<\/td>\n \u202f0<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 339<\/td>\n 5<\/td>\n 571<\/td>\n 47,547<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n**Metro North has three recorded deaths (one person a return traveller into NSW, who passed away in NSW)
\n*** These numbers reflect the cases being managed by Metro North.<\/p>\n<\/div>