Murrumbidgee Local Health District: Intensive care capacity boosted in response to coronavirus
Hospitals in Wagga and Griffith will double their intensive care units in response to coronavirus following the first confirmed case on Sunday. It comes as the number of cases in NSW soared overnight by 149 to 818.
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The Murrumbidgee Local Health District will double intensive care capacity at Wagga and Griffith hospitals in response to COVID-19.
As part of the move, some non-urgent elective surgery will be postponed or transferred to private facilities.
The move comes after the district recorded its first coronavirus case on Sunday.
No further cases have been identified in the district since.
Executive Director of Medical Services Dr Len Bruce said there would be no change to the hospitals’ emergency and trauma theatres or urgent surgery cases.
“Elective surgery cases will be prioritised by clinicians from Wednesday, March 25,” Dr Bruce said.
“The changes will apply to non-urgent cases, which include some non-urgent ear nose and throat, general surgery, urology and orthopaedic procedures.
“We are now working closely with our clinicians to prioritise these cases.
We are also liaising with private providers to undertake these elective surgeries in their facilities, helping to minimise the impact on those currently waiting for a procedure.”
C-section lists will continue as normal.
Remaining theatres at Wagga and Griffith will be shared among all specialities, including general surgery, endoscopy and vascular surgery enabling urgent and emergency cases to be prioritised.
Elective surgery at smaller sites will carry on as normal at this stage.
MLHD reminds members of the community that all hospitals across the district have implemented a limit on visitors to a maximum of one at any one time.
The community is being urged to support one another by practising good hand hygiene, good cough etiquette and most importantly, staff and visitors should stay home if they are unwell.
“I know these are challenging times but the community can be assured that the district is doing absolutely everything possible to protect and maintain the health of the people of the Murrumbidgee,” Dr Bruce said.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian today said the state’s COVID-19 situation is at a "critical stage" as cases rose "rapidly" overnight by 149 to a tally of 818.
The NSW Government announced a $2.3 billion health boost and economic stimulus package to help tackle the COVID-19 outbreak last week.
NSW Health will receive $700 million to assist in doubling ICU capacity, preparing for additional COVID-19 testing, purchasing additional ventilators and medical equipment, establishing acute respiratory clinics and bringing forward elective surgeries to private hospitals.
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