How Barwon Health has prepared for Covid patient influx

Barwon Health says it has undertaken extensive planning and infrastructure modifications in preparation for the anticipated demand from Covid-19 patients.

Barwon Health says it has undertaken extensive planning and infrastructure modifications in preparation for the anticipated demand from Covid-19 patients.

As of 9am Friday there were 32 patients in Geelong hospital with Covid-19, seven of whom were in ICU.

In keeping with Barwon Health’s role as a Covid streaming hospital, the inpatients came from Geelong and across the state, spokeswoman Kate Bibby said.

Chief executive Frances Diver said at present Barwon Health had two ‘pods’ in its ICU, with 10 beds dedicated to COVID-19.

“However this can be extended as required,” Ms Diver said.

“We have two wards dedicated to COVID-19 patients, these wards operate at 50 per cent density limit for infection control purposes.

“Staff across Barwon Health are being redeployed to support a range of COVID-19 functions

including ICU and inpatient care, testing, contact tracing, remote patient monitoring and

vaccination.

“We have scaled back some of our services to free up staff to support this effort.”

Ms Diver said Barwon Health expected cases to increase, however our high levels of vaccination gives us a level of protection.

“We are working closely with the local private hospitals and our rural counterparts across the

Barwon South West to ensure we can meet the needs of the community,” she said.

“We have capacity to convert large numbers of beds for COVID-19 care.”

On Friday, officials said there were 620 Victorians in hospital with the virus, including 114 in ICU and 76 on ventilators.

Treasurer Tim Pallas said just eight per cent of those in hospital with Covid-19 were fully vaccinated and about 66 per cent had not been vaccinated, while 26 per cent were partially vaccinated.

– with the Herald Sun

Originally published as How Barwon Health has prepared for Covid patient influx