A message from Chief Executive, Rohan Fitzgerald
GET YOUR BOOSTER, GET TESTED & STAY SAFE
Hamilton Base Hospital (HBH) has opened its doors to COVID positive patients, as the health system contends with record numbers of people hospitalised across the State.
Three patients were admitted to the HBH COVID ward this week, in what is expected to be a sign of things to come. The idea for an eight bed COVID ward was first conceived when planning commenced for a new clinical skills lab to train more registered nurses locally. Unlike a typical training facility, we made the decision to integrate systems to allow the area to be converted into a fully functioning ward. We are proud of what we have achieved and very grateful to CQUniversity for partnering with us to build this dual purpose facility, to support our community and pandemic response.
With cases surging across the country there is greater urgency for our community to get their third shot. The evidence shows a booster vaccine increases your protection against infection, severe disease and dying from COVID-19.
To assist, WDHS has made over 3,000 booster appointments available between now and the end of February. We expect these will be snapped up quickly, with the eligibility interval between 2nd and 3rd dose recently changing to three months. Call 1800 675 398 or go online to book your booster at one of our Frances Hewett Community Centre vaccination clinics, or make an appointment with your GP or local pharmacy.
The pandemic has altered the way we work, live and play and new words and phrases have been pioneered to explain the extraordinary times we find ourselves in. As nations decide to ‘live with the virus’ people are taking the concept of risk management into their own hands, and it seems to be working.
Self-imposed ‘shadow lockdown’ is one new expression that might help to explain why the initial surge in local cases in the Southern Grampians Shire has slowed.
Anecdotally people are reporting business and other activity in Hamilton and across the region is down on previous years, a trend that is playing out in towns and cities across Victoria. COVID-19 case numbers reported at the WDHS drive-thru have also dropped in the last seven days, but we need to remain cautious.
Locally 718 COVID positive cases have been reported at the WDHS Drive-thru clinic since the 3rd of January. In the week ending the 9th January, local case numbers grew to 333, their highest level ever, and a week later dropped to 243. Testing helps us to anticipate the likely demand on services at WDHS and is used to guide our decisions about how we allocate staff to programs that support people to live in the community with COVID-19, or who are hospitalised.
Thanks to everyone who has stepped up to get tested and those who continue to do so.The test turnaround times have improved this week and are now around 24 to 48 hours. The WDHS drive-thru operates from 8am to 11am at the Hamilton Showgrounds 7 days a week (we will also remain open on Australia Day).
COVID cases in the Southern Grampians Shire will continue to grow as students go back to school and life returns to pre-pandemic settings. People will need to make informed decisions about how they want to live in a COVID world.What is right for each of us will vary depending on age, underlying health conditions and immunisation status. Getting a booster dose is one simple way to reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 and hospitalisation.
While there are challenges ahead, the pandemic has highlighted the amazing efforts and work of the team at WDHS. They continue to provide outstanding service and go above and beyond to support our community. I am incredibly grateful for their dedication, compassion and care.
Kindness continues to be important as we enter a third pandemic year as are the COVID safe strategies that we have come to know.With higher temperatures forecast over the next few days, please plan ahead, drink plenty of water, and check on those most vulnerable – your neighbour living alone, older people, young children, and people with a medical condition and don’t forget your pets.