Queensland hospitals reveal plan for dealing with peak of Covid pandemic
As Queensland nears its peak of the Omicron wave, hospitals and health services across the state have ramped up their pandemic response.
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As Queensland nears its peak of the Omicron wave, hospitals and health services across the state have ramped up their pandemic response.
With 11,600 new Covid-19 cases recorded on Thursday, chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said the pandemic peaks were expected in the coming weeks for all of Queensland aside from the Gold Coast, which appears to have reached its peak.
“Brisbane still hasn’t peaked, it’s probably around its peak. In the north side of Brisbane I think we’re pretty close to the peak,” he said.
“When we pass the peak we are going to be regrouping, rethinking our strategy at a state and national level.”
There were 1,355 ventilators available for patients who need them across the state’s hospitals and health services.
A Queensland Health spokesman said they had planned for an event like the current Omicron wave since the start of the pandemic.
“We have created extra intensive care unit beds. In fact, our ICU bed capacity across the state can expand to 570 beds,” he said.
He said there were more than 300 negative pressure rooms or equivalent to treat patients with infectious diseases like Covid-19.
“This number has increased about 20 per cent since the start of the pandemic.”
“In addition, we have the ability to provide care to patients who are well enough to be treated at home or other non-hospital settings. This might be through Hospital in the Home, where virtual care is provided.”
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said despite all the preparation for Covid waves, there was still pressure on the health system.
“When we talk about how we are prepared and planned for Covid, it shouldn’t be interpreted as our systems are not under pressure,” she said.
She said Covid had put a demand on the system on top of existing demand.
Ms D’Ath said most Queensland hospitals were in Tier 3 and 4 in terms of Covid-19 response.
HOSPITAL PANDEMIC PLANS
Metro North HHS
Redcliffe Hospital, Caboolture Hospital, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Prince Charles Hospital all have nominated Covid wards.
Metro North has increased graduate nurse intake and redeployed staff across the workforce into critical and areas of high demand.
Metro South HHS
Metro South Health has continued to increase the number of available inpatient and intensive care beds to treat Covid positive patients across the Health Service, with 280 impatient beds and 16 ICU beds.
Metro South Health were prioritising services at this time, given the Covid positive and close contact staff who are currently furloughed. This is a total of 635 staff as at 25 January.
Gold Coast HHS
Gold Coast Health has eight dedicated wards and staff caring for Covid-positive patients. They have used a number of strategies to ensure they can continue to deliver safe and compassionate care during the Covid peak. This includes changes to services, systems and processes and recruitment of staff.
Townsville HHS
Townsville University’s third infectious diseases unit is now operational and dedicated to Covid-19 patients.
The additional unit has a 17-bed capacity which takes their total capacity across three infectious diseases wards to 50 beds.
Cairns and Hinterland HHS
Cairns and Hinterland HHS have been operating a virtual ward for COVID-19 positive patients since early December, with capacity for up to 300 patients and capacity to expand if required.
They have three dedicated COVID-19 wards at Cairns Hospital, and two at their rural hospital sites and were partnering with Cairns Private Hospital for a 28-bed ward for Covid-19 positive patients.
Cairns and Hinterland HHS have asked staff who are willing and available to be part of a surge workforce for their COVID-19 Response Team in roles ranging from nursing through to administration.
Children’s Health Queensland
The Queensland Children’s Hospital has supported 2234 Covid positive children at home through their Covid virtual ward program since December 2021.
The Queensland Children’s Hospital has cared for more than 140 Covid positive inpatients since December 2021 and is currently caring for 24 Covid positive inpatients (as of January 25).
They have delivered 4012 vaccinations to children aged five to 11 years since vaccines have been available for this age group.
Sunshine Coast HHS
Sunshine Coast University Hospital was constructed with purpose-built pandemic wards so was well equipped to care for these patients and they have plans in place to expand their emergency department and intensive care unit to cope with any surge in Covid patients, should this be required.
The plans involve a tiered response which may require changes in services such as rescheduling of elective surgeries if there are large numbers of Covid patients requiring admission to their hospitals.
West Moreton HHS
West Moreton Health has designated five wards and created a second intensive care unit for the treatment of Covid patients.
This brings their current total to 85 Covid beds, with the capacity to bring more online if required.
Darling Downs HHS
Darling Downs HHS has two wards operational at Toowoomba Hospital dedicated to patients with Covid.
Their total capacity is 57 beds.
Plans are in place at our rural sites to provide additional resourcing, if required.
Central Queensland HHS
As part of its pandemic planning, Central Queensland HHS sourced additional equipment, including: PPE, Medihoods, air purifiers, respiratory equipment, temporary structures to assist in initial triage and assessment of patients with respiratory symptoms, and other capital works to create safer spaces to care for Covid positive patients.
Their planning includes the ability to increase Covid beds when needed.
Central Queensland HHS have a workforce surge plan to ensure appropriate and timely deployment of staff to accommodate increasing demand.
Mackay HHS
Mackay Base Hospital has a dedicated Covid ward which has not yet reached capacity. They also care for patients in a virtual ward which also has further capacity for admissions. Mackay HHS have plans to open a second dedicated Covid ward if needed and have sufficient staffing and resources in place to do so.
They have secured additional resources such as ventilators and air purifiers and completed some infrastructure works to support the safe care of Covid positive patients.
Wide Bay HHS
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service has dedicated Covid wards at Bundaberg Hospital and Hervey Bay Hospital.
Hervey Bay Hospital’s dedicated Covid ward currently has 16 beds and Bundaberg Hospital’s dedicated ward has 24 beds, with an ability to expand at both facilities if needed. These figures do not include intensive care beds.
WBHHS also had arrangements in place with private health providers to help manage and prepare for the projected increase of Covid admissions as needed.
Torres and Cape HHS
The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service continues to adjust its response to the Covid pandemic in line with statewide planning.
This includes monitoring of workforce availability and identifying Covid-care areas within their acute facilities for possible use.
The health service also is working with local disaster management groups to ensure support mechanisms are in place so that positive Covid cases and close contacts can isolate appropriately, including social support, food support and arranging alternative accommodation in which to isolate where individual home circumstances are unsuitable for isolation.
Through their care in the home program they are also maintaining close contact with vulnerable clients throughout their region regularly so as to monitor their condition and ensure they are supported and cared for.
Central West HHS
The Central West Hospital and Health Service continues to adjust its response to the Covid pandemic in line with statewide planning.
This includes monitoring of workforce availability, prioritising acute care and identifying Covid-care areas within our acute facilities for possible use.
Central West Health has also secured Longreach-based accommodation for the use of individuals and families anywhere in the Central West who test positive for Covid, need to isolate but don’t have a suitable place.
This accommodation is free and meals are included so that people who are isolating can adhere to all of the movement restrictions.
South West HHS
The South West Hospital and Health Service continues to adjust its response to the Covid pandemic in line with statewide planning.
This includes monitoring of workforce availability and identifying Covid-care areas within all our acute facilities for possible use.
Acute care is being prioritised while chronic disease management and primary community care is pivoting to telehealth were possible and face-to-face as necessary.
They are also increasing the capacity of their hospital in the home program to allow them to manage the care of larger numbers of people at home if required as the pandemic progresses.
North West HHS
A designated COVID-19 inpatient setting has been established in Mount Isa hospital providing them with up to 12 dedicated Covid beds.
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