No time frame for State Government to take back control of Burnie’s public hospital from federal emergency crews
Federal emergency crews have taken over Burnie’s public hospital, and there is no time frame for when the State Government will re-assume control of the site.
Coronavirus
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FEDERAL emergency medical crews have taken over Burnie’s public hospital amid North-West Tasmania’s ongoing coronavirus fight, and there is no time frame for when the State Government will re-assume operational control of the site.
Health Minister Sarah Courtney on Saturday said the closed North West Regional Hospital and the North West Private Hospital would reopen facilities in stages, with emergency departments now open and the reopening of maternity wards earmarked as a “high priority”.
Ms Courtney said she hoped to see both hospitals fully opened soon, but couldn’t say when that would be due to stringent cleaning measures that are ongoing.
About 40 Australian Defence Force personnel and seven Australian Medical Assistance Team medical professionals flew to Burnie earlier this week, before taking control of the NWRH on Friday when the hospital’s emergency department deep clean was completed.
The hospital was closed last Monday after about 1200 staff across it, and the nearby North West Private Hospital, were all placed in quarantine along with their families due to a coronavirus outbreak.
All patients discharged after March 27 have also been ordered into isolation with their families for 14 days. Testing and monitoring of these patients and their close contacts is ongoing.
Ms Courtney said the State Government would resume services at both hospitals at a time after workers’ quarantine period ends and staff are considered fit for work.
“We know from the emergency department that the cleaning process does take a very long time. It will take as long as it takes but we’re very hopeful it will open soon,” she said.
“I’d like to see them back up and running as soon as possible but it’s important that when they are back up and running that we do it in a clinically appropriate way.”
AUSMAT Mission Team Leader Bronte Martin said the role of federal medics would be to see the hospital returned to normal service as soon as possible.
“That’s providing emergency services 24/7 to the catchment area of North-West Tasmania,” she said.
“It includes aeromedical services, emergency midwifery and obstetric services as well as both coronavirus and non-coronavirus-related presentations.
“We are here to help with a team of specialised team with experts in their field who normally work in emergency departments around Australia.”
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the AUSMAT deployment would strengthen North-West Tasmania’s hospital system.
“Team members are highly skilled medical professionals and this rapid deployment is further evidence of Australia’s world class health system in action and the scalable nature of the Australian Government’s response to COVID-19,” Mr Hunt said.
“AUSMAT is one of a few World Health Organisation globally-verified Type-2 Emergency Medical Teams in the world.”
ADF medical personnel deployment is made up of general duties medical officers, emergency nurses, a pharmacist, radiographer and an environmental health officer.
AUSMAT officers will provide leadership across clinical, logistic, infection prevention and control, epidemiology and health information, and pre-hospital admission liaison.
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