Labor shortages continue to paralyze the healthcare system and some hospitals operate with skeletal staff. In regional areas, one-third of staff are discharged on a given day, according to the Victorian Health Association, which represents state public hospitals.
The association said more than 10 percent of staff were not available at some metropolitan services, but high-level hospital sources, not allowed to speak in public, estimated it could be double that.
Statewide, 1923 public hospital employees are not available to work due to COVID-19.
Putland said much had been learned from the first wave of Omicron and the previous outbreak of the Delta.
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“During Delta, we had half the population that was vaccinated, half not, and we saw some terribly, terribly sick patients entering the ED and dying of COVID when they arrived,” Putland said.
“We now have an understanding of what COVID is like in a vaccinated population. We know there will be people very affected by this. Often people who are vulnerable or who have left too late to receive their reinforcement.”
Across the state, hospitals are rapidly expanding emergency departments. Casey Hospital, in Melbourne’s fast-growing south-east corridor, is opening a temporary modular facility in its emergency department, with negative airflow rooms for coronavirus patients.
In North Melbourne, Northern Hospital has opened a 12-bed modular facility in response to the increase in COVID-19 presentations.
The hospital is also expanding its virtual emergency service, which has been caring for hundreds of Victorians with non-life-threatening conditions.
Rand Butcher, executive director of the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses, said intensive care units across the state were on capacity or had already exceeded it.
“All hospitals are fighting for staff,” he said, noting that nurses received messages daily asking them to take double shifts or fill gaps in the list.
At Royal Melbourne Hospital, a senior doctor now permanently oversees the triage of the emergency department until well into the night. The new feature was created to ensure a doctor examines patients arriving by ambulance and those filling the aisles with carts.
“We are doing everything we can to try to provide timely care to patients while they are stuck waiting much longer than we would like,” Putland said, adding that the triage doctor can provide care outside the traditional setting of the department. emergencies and send patients home. when it is safe to do so.
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The triage doctor has the support of additional nurses, one who cares for patients filling the corridors of the hospital and another who monitors patients in the waiting room.
A team of senior medical students has also been sent to the emergency department of Royal Melbourne Hospital to help the stretched nurses.
But emergency physician Simon Judkins, who is also on the board of the Australian Medical Association, said the deployment of triage doctors in emergency rooms was simply “managing a symptom rather than providing a cure. “
He said there were still not enough staff or beds available in other areas of the hospital to bring those entering the emergency department who needed more care, he said, while most hospitals did not have additional doctors to provide them. emergency rooms.
Judkins confirmed that intensive care units had reached full capacity at Melbourne hospitals, a deterioration that forced the sickest patients on waiting lists for critical care.
In May, ambulances “vacated” outside Royal Melbourne Hospital. Credit: Nine News
“Now, with the pressures of the system, you actually have to deteriorate before you go into intensive care.”
Putland urged anyone eligible for a third or fourth dose of vaccine to receive a vaccine urgently.
“If you haven’t heard a third dose yet, for God’s sake, go do it, so we can continue to make this a disease that’s in the background instead of one that’s killing people unnecessarily,” he said. to say.
He also urged Victorians to wear masks when they could not distance themselves socially.
People in need of emergency care are asked not to delay arrival at the hospital.
“But at the same time, if you don’t need the care of a hospital and you can get your care differently, don’t treat your local hospital like a convenience store,” Putland said.
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“Go see the GP if you can and only call ambulances if you need them.”
A Health Department spokeswoman said the coming months “will be tough for our healthcare system, with demand for COVID not going away and continued demand for the flu and other respiratory problems, trauma or deferred care.”
He said the state was “investing billions to address this ongoing demand, including through the $ 12 billion pandemic repair plan to get more paramedics on the road, more triple zero call receivers , expanding emergency departments and training and hiring up to 7,000 health workers to strengthen our health system “and that” the department continues to work closely with health services to control pressure and demands, and to support generate more bed capacity and prioritize resources ”.
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