Reopened emergency department treating North-West patients again

Medicos on duty at the decontaminated NWRH emergency department have provided care to a significant number of sick and injured patients in the past three days.

SICK and injured people are again accessing emergency services at the decontaminated North

West Regional Hospital, with 40 presentations recorded in the three days since the department was reopened using imported specialists.

The ED reopened on Friday after five days of intense deep cleaning prompted by a deadly cluster of COVID-19 infections among hospital staff and patients.

COUPLE’S DOUBLE DOSE OF CORONAVIRUS HELL

Between then and Sunday night, Australian Medical Assistance Team medicos treated 40 presentations.

But the rest of the hospital is still closed, with up to 5000 staff and former patients and their families one week into a two-week quarantine period.

Royal Australian Air Force medical technician, Corporal Megan Macauslan, carrying out a check on an emergency trolley at the North West Regional Hospital. Picture: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

Ms Courtney said the Government’s “complete focus” was on reopening the North West Regional Hospital and the North West Private Hospital where the deadly cluster had emerged.

“Dealing with this challenge is our focus in the weeks and months ahead,” Ms Courtney said.

Readjusted coronavirus figures released on Monday – due to a manual counting error on Sunday – showed Tasmania had 195 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including seven new notifications between 6pm Saturday and 6pm Sunday.

DANGER NOT OVER FOR AGED CARE HOMES IN NORTH-WEST

One is an aged care resident [already announced], three are health care workers and one is a former patient at the NWRH. The other two are close contacts of other NW residents who have previously tested positive to the disease.

In total, 121 of Tasmania’s total number of cases are in the North-West, with 107 related to the dual hospital outbreak.

The maternity ward at the nearby North West Private hospital is now underway.

Meanwhile, residents and staff working across three aged care homes – Coroneagh Park in Penguin, Eliza Purton in Ulverstone and Melaleuca in East Devonport – remain under active surveillance.

Deputy Director of Public Health Dr Scott McKeown speaking at the daily COVID-19 update on Monday. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Deputy Director of Public Health Dr Scott McKeown said it was “very reassuring” that only one of the 500 people tested across the homes returned a positive result.

“But that doesn’t mean a resident or staff member cannot still develop the disease,” Dr McKeown said.

“If they display any early signs they will be retested.”

Before quarantined staff members return to work in Tasmania’s aged care sector or hospitals they must return two negative tests in 24 hours.

RHH K-BLOCK FACILITY OPENS

The female resident at Melaleuca who tested positive is being treated in the Launceston General Hospital.

Some Tasmanians on Monday questioned why infected people could be sent to hospitals in areas where there was no outbreak.

Ms Courtney said it was “absolutely appropriate that they are cared for in the right setting, and we are making sure it is safe for them and other patients and staff”.