COVID-19 Alert 29 August 2021- Exposure at Dandenong Hospital

Exposure at Dandenong Hospital

Yesterday, we learned that a patient cared for at Dandenong Hospital between 2.20pm Wednesday 25 August and 11.15am Friday 27 August has subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

The patient was admitted via the Emergency Department, proceeded to Theatre, and cared for in North 1.

The South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU) immediately began the process of contact tracing and contacting all those who cared for or visited the patient. Contact is being made with those people who have come into direct contact with the patient, and they have been asked to test and isolate for 14 days.

Anyone who went into North 1 ward between 4.18pm Wednesday 25 August and 11.15am Friday 27 August is asked to get tested as soon as possible and isolate until they receive a negative result.  

 As our small paediatric ward at Dandenong is accessed via North 1, we also ask anyone who went to the paediatric ward during the above times to get tested as soon as possible and isolate until they receive a negative result.

 If you have been asked to take a test, you may present at any Monash Health screening clinic. Please bring your Monash Health ID for priority access.

As an added precaution, we will introduce surveillance testing for team members working in the exposure areas. Surveillance testing is routine testing for COVID-19, designed to serve as an early warning system and identify any transmission of COVID-19. Employees undergoing surveillance testing do not need to isolate.

We are taking an extremely cautious approach and, as a precaution, have temporarily isolated North 1 ward and have placed all employees working on the ward in N95 masks and face shields. We are also placing all the Operating Suite in N95 masks and face shields.

Household contacts
Accommodation assistance is available for any employee who needs or chooses to live in separate accommodation during their isolation period. Please call the Monash Health Employee Hotline on (03) 9594 5815, and accommodation can be arranged for you at no cost.

Public exposure sites

The following areas at Dandenong Hospital will be listed as public exposure sites on the basis that we are unable to confidently identify all visitors to the ward.  All other people in exposure areas are known.

• Dandenong Hospital North 1 ward and Paediatric ward between 4.18pm on 25/08/21 and 11.15am on 27/08/21 – Tier 2.

Elective surgery and procedures and Specialist outpatient consulting 

All elective surgery and procedures and Specialist Consulting Clinics at Dandenong tomorrow (30 August) will be reviewed and rescheduled where possible.

Visitor restrictions
Visitor restrictions are in place. No visitors are permitted at Dandenong Hospital except for:

• End of life
• One parent/guardian/carer per paediatric patient
• One support person per birth

Communication

Communication with the impacted areas commenced immediately last night and is ongoing.

We will host an online Employee Forum today at 2.00pm and will hold daily updates until advised otherwise.  Managers will provide details of this forum.

We will provide regular updates as information becomes available. If you have concerns, please contact the Monash Health Employee hotline on (03) 9594 5815, 7am to 8pm, seven days a week.

PPE requirements

Please ensure PPE guidelines and standard precautions are followed.

Standard Precautions are the minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of the patient’s suspected or confirmed infection status.

Simply put, these are:

• Hand hygiene.
• Use the appropriate level of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times.
• Always take a moment to risk-assess the situation before any patient contact.
• If you cannot assess the situation, it’s better to be prepared with PPE: “if in doubt, don’t go without”.

You should also take a moment to review our COVID-19 procedure, which can be found on PROMPT.

Support is available
I would like to thank our teams at Dandenong Hospital, particularly those who have already been tested and are isolating and waiting for a result. Potential exposures can be stressful, but support is available, and 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 service is available 8am – 8pm, Monday to Friday, with limited availability on the weekends. Make an appointment on 1300 687 327.

We also 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 employee website.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing dedication and support.

Andrew Stripp
Chief Executive