The Delta COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria remains serious and evolving. Last night, alongside other health services, we moved to respond to the current level of risk by enacting the COVID Peak guidance.
There are four risk levels established under the Victorian Health Service Guidance and Response to COVID-19 Risks (VHSGR) model. Each rating reflects the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the community and how a health service should respond and prepare to reduce that risk.
These changes will help protect our employees, patients and community as we continue to look after the most vulnerable and those in need.
Responding to this outbreak requires a calm and methodical approach, even in the eye of the storm.
We must continue to work together, follow the processes and procedures that have been put in place over the last 18 months, and look after each other.
This means that before we start work on any shift, we must think about safety.
- Stay home if you are unwell. If you are unwell, stay home and get tested. You have priority access at Monash Health drive-through clinics – show your employee ID to the traffic controller.
- Complete your online attestation carefully. Stay up-to-date with the list of exposure sites and take action if you’ve been to a site during the exposure timeframe. Using the exposure site map is a quick and effective way of identifying exposure sites in the areas you visit.
- If you haven’t already, complete your workplace declaration, which is a requirement under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.
If you have worked at or visited Royal Melbourne Hospital or Goulburn Valley Health in the past 14 days (or live with someone who does), you must not attend work at Monash Health. Please:
- Have a COVID-19 test as soon as possible and isolate.
- Contact the Monash Health Employee Hotline on (03) 9594 5815 (7am to 7pm, seven days a week) before returning to work at Monash Health.
Outlined below are changes to how we work, made to help manage the risks of COVID-19 as it comes into contact with our health service.
Working across Monash Health campuses
Limiting movement across Monash Health campuses is an important part of keeping our employees, patients, and community safe.
Work areas should limit workforce movement across Monash Health campuses where practical. Single-site rostering is highly encouraged. Additional requirements are in place for employees working in streaming or high-risk areas. See below for details.
Working in streaming and high-risk areas at Monash Health
If you work in a COVID-streaming or high-risk area at Monash Health you are required to be vaccinated and fit tested. You can move across wards and Monash Health sites if you are undertaking compulsory surveillance testing.
Please refer to our HCW working in high-risk and screening areas guidance for details.
Working in streaming and high-risk areas of other health services
If you have worked in a COVID-streaming area in another health service, you must not work at a Monash Health campus for 14 days after last working on that ward.
Please refer to our HCW working in high-risk and screening areas guidance for details.
Personal Protective Equipment
A reminder that all employees in low-risk clinical areas of the hospital must wear a mask and eye protection, unless eating/drinking on a meal break or in their own office.
Review our PPE Compulsory Standards here.
Emergency Department
All ED (Emergency Department) employees are to wear N95 masks and eye protection as a minimum, and Tier 3 PPE for Low and High-risk suspected / Confirmed COVID-19 patients. Patients are to wear surgical masks if practical.
Patient/resident testing and screening
We continue to test all patients and residents with compatible clinical and/or epidemiological risk factors. We also have routine pre-elective surgery and pre-elective caesarean testing. Additional patient testing will be as per risk assessment.
Visitor restrictions
We have made changes to visitor restrictions to further protect our patients and employees. These are effective 11.59pm tonight and reduce the number of support people able to attend Emergency Department presentations and in residential care environments.
An updated visitor restrictions poster is available here.
Pharmaceutical and medical industry visitors
Pharmaceutical and medical industry visitors are not permitted to visit any Monash Health site.
Elective surgery and procedures
There may be some changes to elective surgery over the coming days. We will continue to work to ensure that our workforce is best used to meet the needs of the community.
Category 1 and clinically urgent cases will proceed. All other categories are subject to a system assessment by the Department of Health, and updates will follow.
Specialist outpatient consulting
Specialist Consulting Clinics should only see patients face-to-face by exception, following a risk assessment. Clinicians should change patient appointments to telehealth bookings where possible.
A range of quick reference guides and other resources are available on our website to support employees as we continue to deliver high-quality care using telehealth channels.
Arrangements for those at higher risk of serious illness
If you are at higher risk of serious illness if you contract COVID-19, we will need to assess the risk of you continuing to work on-site.
Employees who fall into one of the following categories may be considered at higher risk related to COVID-19:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions.
- People 65 years and older with chronic medical conditions.
- People 70 years and older.
- People with compromised immune systems.
- Pregnant women >28 weeks gestation.
If you meet the above criteria and have not submitted a vulnerable employees checklist previously, please complete the checklist and return to COVID19employeeenquiries@monashhealth.org.
Student clinical placements to continue but restrictions in place
Student clinical placements are restricted from providing care/being exposed to high-risk SCOVID/confirmed COVID patients. Students are restricted to one campus or site only.
Working from home
Where it is operationally viable to perform your role remotely, continue to do so. However, remote working arrangements must be approved by your manager.
All meetings to remain online
All Monash Health meetings must be conducted virtually where possible. This includes meetings for clinical teams. Please do not organise face-to-face meetings or team gatherings.
Childcare is available for permitted workers
All employees of Monash Health are permitted workers. This includes clinical, as well as administrative and support services employees.
The Victorian government has confirmed permitted workers will still be able to access childcare, kindergarten, and early education centres if; at least one parent/guardian is authorised to work, has a valid authorised worker permit, is working either at home or on-site, and they cannot make alternative supervision arrangements. You can download the permit and read more here.
Getting vaccinated
If you have not yet received your COVID-19 vaccination, please make this a priority. You can walk into any Monash Health clinic and be prioritised or make a booking today to avoid delays.
Support is available
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the health service and our wider community, we want to make sure you and your families stay safe and well. If you need support, our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with Converge International is free and confidential. The EAP offers short term counselling and coaching support for all employees, immediate family members, and volunteers. The EAP service is available 8am – 8pm, Monday to Friday, with limited availability on the weekends. Make an appointment on 1300 687 327.
If you are experiencing anxiety or stress, we have a wide range of resources available to help you. These can be found on the Health and Wellbeing page on the Monash Health COVID-19 website.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing dedication and support.
Andrew Stripp
Chief Executive
All managers are requested to share these updates with their teams and discuss at stand-ups and handovers. Please print a copy and display it in communication books and on employee noticeboards.
As advice and information evolve, please regularly consult the latest updates by visiting the Victorian coronavirus website and the Monash Health COVID-19 website.