Royal Hobart Hospital employees potentially exposed to COVID-19

With a number of healthcare workers in quarantine after a potential exposure to coronavirus after Tasmania’s most recent diagnosis, politicians have questioned whether the health system can handle an influx of patients. LATEST >>

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STAFF from the Royal Hobart Hospital have been furloughed from work after potential exposure to COVID-19 after Tasmania’s most recent confirmed case of the virus this week.

The state’s first case of coronavirus for more than two months was confirmed on Monday, a young Tasmanian woman who had returned from Victoria.

She was in quarantine at the Best Western hotel in Hobart before being taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where she remains in a stable condition.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney confirmed five RHH staff had been furloughed as a precaution.

“I am advised that five staff have been furloughed as a precautionary measure, and I commend the hospital on this approach,’’ she said.

“We know how important it is to be vigilant when it comes to managing coronavirus, and I support this proactive approach.”

Earlier, the Australian Medical Association Tasmanian president Helen McArdle said she had been advised on Thursday morning about staff being furloughed.

“We were advised by the hospital that there are five staff members that have been furloughed due to potential contact with the recent case,’’ she said.

“We understand it’s purely a precautionary measure, and that they were all wearing appropriate PPE [personal protective equipment] and the patient was appropriately protected.”

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation secretary Emily Shepherd said she had also heard similar reports on Thursday morning.

“We are aware there is discussion in regard to healthcare staff requiring the need to be furloughed following the presentation of a positive case to the Royal,’’ she said.

“The ANMF are working with our representatives and management of the Royal Hobart Hospital to ascertain the number of staff affected and offering support to members.”

Ms Shepherd said the coronavirus outbreak at Burnie’s North West Regional Hospital in April had highlighted the importance of infection control in hospitals.

“We understand the importance of infection control procedures and ensuring safety of staff and also patients when there are positive or potentially positive cases present to a healthcare environment,’’ she said.

The Royal Hobart Hospital. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

“In collaboration with the Tasmanian Health Service, we do feel confident there are robust plans and procedures in place and there are appropriate stockpiles of PPE.

“It is important to understand that the virus is very volatile and easily transmitted and it is important that everybody, from healthcare staff, patients and the broader community are adhering to the recommendations put down by Public Health.”

Labor leader Rebecca White said it was concerning to hear reports of staff needing to be furloughed.

“It raises questions about how prepared the hospital is to cope with further cases of coronavirus when the one case that we have had in Tasmania since a long run of no cases, has seen a number of staff go into furlough,’’ she said.

“The Health Minister and the government need to act very quickly now to ensure that our health workforce have what they need so they can respond safely to protect themselves and protect the health system from any further damaging implications like we saw in the North West.”

An interim report into the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the NWRH found some staff continued to work while showing symptoms of the virus.

It found the virus first spread among staff and patients in the hospital’s medical ward after local passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise ship were admitted.

The outbreak infected 127 people and claimed 11 lives.

It also resulted in heavier lockdown rules being enforced in the region.

The NWRH was closed for deep cleaning as the government worked to contain the situation.

The army and a specialist medical crew were brought in to man the hospital when it reopened but about 1200 workers, patients and their families were quarantined.

The interim report, which made 17 recommendations, also found up to 11 workers had already exhibited symptoms by the time authorities were notified of the first confirmed cases among hospital staff.
An independent review into the circumstances of the outbreak was commissioned by Premier Peter Gutwein, but it has not yet started.

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