As in previous years, we will reduce our planned clinical activity during the Christmas and New Year period.
This year’s operational plan is particularly important in the context of COVID-19 and aims to strike a balance between:
- Maintenance of clinical services in the setting of ongoing COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 demand, and;
- The need for employees to take a well-deserved break where possible as we prepare for the 2022 year ahead.
There will be a reduction in planned clinical activities across a four-week period from Monday 13 December. Some clinical services and sites will either temporarily close or reduce their capacity during this time.
There will be no impact on our emergency, category one planned surgery or critical services, which will continue as usual.
Monday 13 December 2021 – Monday 10 January 2022 (All sites)
Planned clinical activity will be reduced during this period. Please refer to the Operational Plan to see what this means for your site or clinical area.
Non-clinical support and corporate business areas may extend activity reductions beyond this period.
Monday 3 January – Monday 24 January (All sites)
From Monday 3 January normal clinical services will progressively resume, with a full clinical service profile in place from Monday 24 January 2022.
Friday 24 Dec 2021 to Sunday 9 January 2022 (Moorabbin / Clayton Inpatient Clinical Services only)
Moorabbin’s Inpatient clinical services will be transferred to Monash Medical Centre from Friday 24 December 2021 to Sunday 9 January 2022. Moorabbin’s Inpatient clinical services will resume from Monday 10th January 2021 at 7am.
Evaluation of COVID-19 demand will occur across the closure period with the potential for early recommissioning pending significant increases in health service COVID-19 bed demand.
Ambulatory Services such as Chemotherapy Day Unit, Dialysis Services, Pathology, Peter Mac Radiotherapy, BreastScreen and some Specialist Consulting Clinics (and associated ancillary / support services) will remain at Moorabbin Hospital during this period.
A special thank you to everyone who is working or on-call over the holiday period. Your contribution is very much appreciated and vital for our patients. To all our colleagues who can use this opportunity to take a break, enjoy a well-earned rest.
Vaccination
Our vaccination sites will close from 24 December 2021 to 3 January 2022, reopening with normal activity from 4 January 2022.
Screening
The Monash Health led screening service at the Clayton drive-through testing site will close 25 – 28 December 2021 (inclusive), 1 and 3 January 2022. Priority patient groups (maternity/theatres) will be diverted to the Dandenong drive-through testing site on these days.
The Clayton drive-through (run by 4Cyte) will continue to operate throughout, with extended hours of 8am – 8pm. Employee priority access will be maintained at the Dandenong drive-through testing site.
What you need to do:
- Review the Operational Plan for your site and clinical area here
- Talk with your manager and discuss your opportunities for leave during this period.
Approved by Martin Keogh.