Lismore Base Hospital braces for latest Covid surge

More than 680 new cases of the virus have been recorded in the past day in Northern NSW.

A total of 683 new cases of Covid have been reported overnight in the Northern NSW Local Health District.

Within the district, 35 Covid cases are being treated in hospital, including four in intensive care at Lismore Base Hospital.

Two unvaccinated Byron Shire residents, and one Grafton woman died in the 24 hours to 8pm Thursday.

Lismore Base Hospital is among regional facilities that are “currently experiencing extra demand on staffing and resources”.

Northern NSW Local Health District’s director of clinical services Lynne Weir said this was due to increased pandemic activity and the additional pressure of some staff being furloughed due to isolation requirements.

Lismore Base Hospital on Friday.

Gil Wilson, NSW Nurses and Midwives Association local branch secretary, expressed frustration that staff are working double or triple shifts.

“We’re only human, if we get sick we’re out too,” he said.

Hospitals have been reassigning staff from other areas as part of their surge measures to combat the increasing demand.

“Staff that have Covid but are asymptomatic are being sent back to work,” Mr Wilson said.

“I don’t understand the government’s thinking on this.”

Questions have been raised over Lismore Base Hospital’s ability to handle Covid-positive cases once capacity is reached.

Ms Weir said the NSW public health system is the largest in Australia.

“Its networked structure enables patients to be transferred to other hospitals when necessary, including through partnerships with private hospitals,” she said.

Outside Lismore Base Hospital on Friday.

“Throughout the early stages of the pandemic, we sourced additional equipment, including ventilators, and we regularly review our stock and supply chains of resources, including PPE and pharmacy items, to ensure adequate supplies.

“We are also able to surge staffing and (intensive care unit) capacity, if and when required.”

Ms Weir said the workforce has been increased and upskilled, with more than 265 staff attending surge training in intensive care, emergency care and immunisation specialties to provide additional capacity if needed.

The NSW government today announced an extension of the usual holiday suspension of non-urgent elective surgery through to February ahead of an anticipated peak in Covid cases later this month.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said although the Omicron variant is “highly transmissible” it appears to be a less severe form of the virus.

“Public health orders will also be updated next week to include a requirement that people report their positive rapid antigen test results, linking those impacted with health support and advice about how they can manage their symptoms from home,” Mr Perrottet said.