Chief Executive COVID-19 Update: 9 November

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – 9 November 2021

In this update, we cover:

• Celebrating safely this Spring and Summer
• Planned reduction to services over holidays
• Taking leave over the festive period
• Holiday travel arrangements
• Rapid antigen tests
• New High Acuity Discharge Clinic opens at Monash Medical Centre

Celebrating safely this Spring and Summer

With the end of year approaching and restrictions easing, many teams will be looking forward to getting together to celebrate.

This year, with COVID-19 cases in the community, it’s important that we keep safety in mind. Our 100% vaccination status provides excellent protection, but it is not a guarantee that you will not get or transmit COVID-19. We also need to be mindful that many of our patients are not vaccinated as yet.

There are a number of steps you can take to help ensure everyone remains safe when planning your event.

While all social gatherings should be conducted safely, all Monash Health work functions must meet the following requirements.

Please ensure:

• The date and time of the event is recorded
• A list of attendees is kept to assist with contact tracing
• Only Monash Health employees attend as they will be fully vaccinated
• Events are held outdoors (parks, outdoor dining)
• Food is not shared (e.g. food platters)
• QR check-in, where possible, is used
• Physical distancing is maintained
• All events adhere to COVIDSafe settings, including groups of no more than 30 to meet in an outdoor setting

Please note that social gatherings (private or work related) cannot be held at Monash Health premises. Thank you for keeping yourself, your colleagues, and the community safe.

Planned reduction to services over holidays

In line with the normal reduction in demand during the holiday season, there will be a planned reduction in service from Friday 24 December 2021 to Sunday 9 January 2022. In addition to maintaining our COVID-19 ready status, emergency and urgent elective activity will take place during this time.

Taking leave over the festive period

As we head into what is traditionally a quieter time of year, COVID-19 modelling suggests we will see a second peak in late December/early January, with a resulting increase in hospitalisation. While we hope this is not the case, it means we must make cautious plans.

To enable everyone to take a break this holiday season, while ensuring we continue to provide safe care, your manager may ask you to take a shorter leave break than you might normally take, or that you may have already had pre-approved earlier this year.

Similarly, if case numbers significantly escalate and an expanded workforce is needed, changes to existing leave requests may be required. Your manager will discuss this with you directly should the need arise.

A special thank you in advance to those who are working or on-call during this period. Your contribution is very much appreciated and vital for our patients.

Travel arrangements

If you intend to travel overseas, please be aware that you will be required to take additional personal leave to accommodate any COVID-19 requirements in your travel arrangements.

It is also important to note that the current requirement in Victoria is to test negative on arrival back home and again on day six, before returning to Monash Health on day seven.

Rapid antigen tests

Rapid antigen tests are now available to purchase from supermarkets and can be self-administered at home.

If you receive a positive result from a rapid antigen test, you must isolate. You should then present to a COVID-19 screening clinic and receive a standard PCR test to confirm your diagnosis. You must stay in isolation until you receive the result of your standard PCR test.

For more information on rapid antigen tests and their appropriate use, visit the Department of Health website. 

Yesterday we opened our new High Acuity Discharge Clinic

Finally, I am pleased to share that yesterday morning we opened our new High Acuity Discharge Clinic (HADC) at Clinic M, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton. 

The HADC will provide some of our non-COVID-19 patients, with high-acuity illness, a quick follow-up process/review and enable them to wait for tests and/or resolution of illness at home. It will also increase our inpatient/bed capacity and support our increased role in caring for COVID-19 positive patients.

You can learn more about what’s happening, referral criteria and processes, operating hours, and how we will run a mix of Face-to-Face or Telehealth appointments here.

My congratulations to everyone involved in this important initiative.

Thank you, as always, for everything you do.

 Andrew Stripp

Chief Executive