SA nurses and paramedics fly to Victoria to help deal with outbreak
A flight loaded with eager South Australian paramedics and nurses has flown to Melbourne after Victoria called for help containing its growing COVID-19 outbreaks.
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South Australian nurses and paramedics have flown to Melbourne answering Victoria’s “urgent request” for help as it tries to contain its COVID-19 outbreaks.
SA is now expected to take more international arrivals — with the risk of passengers carrying COVID-19 — to further ease the burden on Victoria.
The 29 volunteers had just received a pep talk from leaders at Adelaide Airport including SA Ambulance Service chief executive David Place on Wednesday morning when Victoria announced its latest daily tally of 73 new cases.
The call for volunteers was oversubscribed and included a husband and wife paramedic team and a paramedic who came back from annual leave.
The clinicians from sites across Adelaide will work in Victorian testing stations for about two weeks then have to self isolate for 14 days on return on full pay, in accommodation paid for by SA Health.
A second group of about 30 will be on standby to replace them if needed as part of the three month commitment.
Another 20 SA Health contact tracers are working remotely from Adelaide as they assist Victoria.
Lyell McEwin Hospital COVID-19 clinical nurse unit manager Kathie Spalding said she was nervous but keen to go, after gaining support from her family including her mother’s blessing.
“We got the call at about midday on Tuesday and we had an overwhelming response almost immediately,” she said.
“It is something I have always wanted to do, to be involved in a deployment, it what I have trained to do as well as is part of my ED background.
“I had a good conversation with my family and they are very supportive, none of them tried to talk me out of it and Mum helped me make the decision in the end to come over.
“I am a little bit nervous, yes.”
Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said it was part of the first line of defence for SA.
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“We need as s nation to work together to respond to this challenge,” he said
“These clinicians embody the spirit of their profession and their commitment to the health and wellbeing of South Australians.”
He said SA is willing to take international flights which would otherwise go to Victoria as it grapples with outbreaks.
SA Ambulance Service chief executive David Place noted paramedics are experienced in flying interstate at short notice to help with emergencies such as bushfires and he was proud of the rush of volunteers.
“At a time we have border restrictions it is still important to remember we are a nation,” he said.
“Our paramedics and nurses put their hand up to create a safer country for all of us and they need to be commended.”