Dandenong Hospital exposure update
Thanks to all our Dandenong Hospital employees for your professional, flexible and positive response during trying times. In particular, my thanks to those who have been asked to test and isolate as a result of this exposure.
Testing is a key part of understanding the situation we are in, and your rapid response has ensured we can adapt quickly and develop a plan to ensure we continue to provide safe, high-quality care and support all employees.
The current situation
On Saturday, we learned that a patient cared for at Dandenong Hospital between 2.20pm Wednesday 25 August and 11.15am Friday 27 August subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.
As a result, we have exposure across multiple clinical areas and workforce groups at Dandenong Hospital, including the Emergency Department, North 1, Children’s ward, Birth Suite, Theatre and Imaging.
The patient is now in isolation at home, doing well and being supported by our Public Health Unit.
Exposure sites
The following areas at Dandenong Hospital have been listed as public exposure sites on the basis that we are unable to confidently identify all visitors to the ward. All other people in the other exposure areas are known.
- Dandenong Hospital North 1 ward and Children’s ward, between 4.18pm on 25/08/21 and 11.15am on 27/08/21 – Tier 2.
- Dandenong Hospital Imaging Department Inpatient waiting area, 26/8/2021 8:20am-9:20am.
Anyone who went into North 1 ward, the Children’s ward or to Birth Suite via North 1, 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.
Contact tracing
Contact tracing began immediately, and around 300 employees have been identified as being in the exposure locations during the times of concern. As the contact tracing process progresses it may be that we identify new contacts.
At this time, we have over 70% of results in and I’m very pleased to advise that they are all negative.
Surveillance testing
As an added precaution, we have expanded our surveillance testing program for people working in the exposure areas.
Surveillance testing is frequent, asymptomatic testing for COVID-19. It is designed to serve as an early warning system. It involves a weekly nose-throat swab and daily saliva testing when at work. Employees undergoing surveillance testing do not need to isolate.
Surveillance Stations are available at Pathology Collection Centres during business hours:
- Dandenong Hospital (West 2 Entrance) – throat/nose and saliva
- Casey Hospital Pathology Collection Centre (Level 1) – throat/nose and saliva
- JMPH Pathology Collection Centre (Suite G) – throat/nose and saliva
Additional Surveillance Stations have been stood up in key areas at Dandenong Hospital, including:
- Emergency Department – saliva testing only
- North 1 – saliva testing only
- Theatres – saliva testing only
A self-Swabbing Model is in place at these sites, requiring pre-registration on Test-Tracker. You will be trained for your first test.
Employees who have been asked to get tested as a result of an exposure or who have COVID-19 symptoms should attend a Monash Health drive-through screening clinic.
Targeted vaccination at Dandenong Hospital
We are standing up a targeted walk-in vaccination model at Dandenong Hospital to support Dandenong workforce vaccination. The Dandenong Hospital Employee Clinic will open on Wednesday 1 September 2021 and operate from 7am – 3pm.
Employee Attestations
Following this exposure, impacted employees will fail the current employee attestation. Guidance is below:
- Primary Close Contact exposures
- You must complete 14 days quarantine. Please return home and contact your manager.
- Tier 2 exposures
- Please show the screening team the text message of your negative test result. You will then be allowed access.
- All other Tier 2 exposures cannot attend work until they receive a negative test result.
Visitation Restrictions
While our emergency department remains open for patients, we have taken the decision to close Dandenong Hospital to all visitors. The only exceptions to this will be end-of-life care, one carer for each paediatric patient, and one support person for women in labour.
This reduction in visitors will allow us to fully assess the risk of exposure and gives us time to receive employee test results.
Clinical services
The number of employees furloughed as a result of this exposure means there has been a significant impact on clinical services.
To address this and ensure the ongoing safety of patients and employees, we have defined a clinical services plan for Dandenong Hospital and associated clinical services for the next 24 hours – until we understand the full impact of this exposure.
Emergency Department
Diversion arrangements are in place with Ambulance Victoria. Access will be maintained for:
- Accepting Cat 1 Urgent Resuscitation
- Adult Orthopaedic Surgery Trauma
- Mental Health 351s
Clinical streaming is in place for:
- Adult Plastic Surgery (Alfred) requiring surgical intervention
- Paediatric Plastic Surgery and Orthopaedic Surgery requiring surgical intervention to RCH/Austin
Inter-hospital transfers from Dandenong Hospital
- Inter-hospital transfers from Dandenong Hospital should be managed as high-risk SCOVID – Droplet and Tier 3 PPE at the receiving hospital.
Please note there is no change to the management of patients in Emergency Departments. Patients should be managed in N95 and eye protection only (unless caring for a COVID suspected or confirmed patient).
North 1 and Children’s ward
As the patient was cared for in North 1, and the Children’s ward is accessed via North 1, there is a significant Tier 1 Exposure burden for these wards.
These wards are currently closed for admissions. Beds will be closed as patients are discharged. Short-term workforce planning is being undertaken on a shift-by-shift basis.
All employees on these wards will wear N95s/face shields and Tier 3 for the care of Primary Close Contact patients (North 1 only). PPE coaches will be available to support.
A COVID-19 Marshall is in place at the entry to North 1.
Birth suite
Normal activity for admissions. Access to the ward has been revised.
Theatre Activity
Theatre Activity at Dandenong Hospital has been further restricted. Category 1 and Category 2A activity will continue, with all other activities rescheduled.
N95s and face shields will be used in all areas.
All patients will be tested pre-operatively. If it is a time-critical case, a SCOVID theatre will be utilised.
Medical and Surgical Specialty Units
Multiple Medical and Surgical Specialty Units have been impacted. Clinical leads in these units will discuss plans with their teams.
Clinical Service Impact
- Specialist Clinics: Aligned with medical workforce per specialty unit
- Triage continuing: Majority of clinics to telehealth/telephone
- Imaging: All outpatients on-hold Monday/Tuesday
- Pathology: No service delivery changes
- Allied Health: Activity diverted to alternate sites or transitioned to telehealth
- Pharmacy: Some service delivery impact due to workforce exposures
- Support Services: Significant impact. Service delivery contingency strategies in place to preserve service.
Further information
FAQS
A set of FAQs is available here.
Future forums will be held on this topic as follows:
- All Employee Forum: 2pm Tuesday 31 August
- Dandenong Employee Forum: Wednesday 1 September
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.