Support on hand to boost state’s coronavirus fight

Private sector and not-for-profit health services could be called in to boost public health services in the battle against coronavirus.

TASMANIA’S frontline health capabilities could be bolstered by further deployment of private sector and not-for-profit medics in a bid to curb the state’s coronavirus spread.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney on Sunday said the State Government was “looking at a range of measures” to support healthcare workers and ensure Tasmania has “as many staff as required” to quickly respond to coronavirus cases.

St John Ambulance chief executive Ross Byrne said organisation volunteers and career workers were “ready to go” in whatever capacity Public Health required.

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Mr Byrne said St John’s personnel had already assisted on the North-West Coast with patient transport and temperature checks.

“I met with Ambulance Tasmania executives last week and it was discussed that if St John’s is going to assist further with the outbreak, both parties will first need to undertake some training together,” he said.

“While our training is virtually the same and our ambulances are kitted out the same as Ambulance Tasmania’s are, we want to make sure everything is done properly.”

Mr Byrne said St John’s could offer the availability of about 13 ambulances and 100 personnel.

“I don’t think Ambulance Tasmania needs that capability yet, but we’re putting it in place with them to make sure we’ve got a group of people prepared to help,” he said.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney during Sunday’s COVID-19 update. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Ms Courtney said the State Government had provided a range of measures to assist Public Health workers such as the deployment of AUSMAT and Australian Defence Force crews on the North-West Coast.

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“We’ve also seen in recent days an expansion of personnel on the public health hotline,” she said.

“We are working closely with government agencies, the private sector and not-for-profits as well, such as St John’s Ambulance, so that we can utilise the skill sets that we have here in the state to focus on handling the outbreaks.”

Mr Byrne said despite their efforts helping out in the coronavirus pandemic, the not-for-profit was not immune to the economic effects of the virus.

“We’ve had to retrench four workers and two other people have decided to retire early,” he said.

“Others have voluntarily decided to take holidays. There were also discussions had about connecting St John’s Tasmania with the Victorian branch but that would have seen the end of 20 jobs here and I wasn’t going to let that happen.

“We’re fiscally Tasmanian. We’ve been around for 130 years and we’ll always stand to support the community.”