Recently, the Australian Government announced that from 1 January 2023 PCR tests for COVID-19 will be brought in line with other respiratory illnesses and will require a referral from a medical practitioner.
What do these changes mean for our employees and patients?
As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will remain flexible and adjust our models to keep in line with government advice while continuing to ensure we decrease transmission, limit any potential outbreaks and look after our employees and patients.
PCR testing for our employees
As part of these planned changes, our asymptomatic Employee Surveillance Testing will come to an end. However, PCR testing will continue to be available for all our symptomatic employees.
From Tuesday 3 January 2023, symptomatic employees can get priority COVID-19 PCR testing from Dandenong Pathology Collection Centre.
To access and use this service employees will need to:
- Bring their Employee ID, their Medicare card and wear an N95 (also available at the entrance).
- Drive up through the circular driveway off David Street.
- Enter Dandenong Hospital through the West entrance, into the air lock.
- Ring a doorbell alerting the Pathology collection team (so that the employee is escorted into the pathology collection centre).
- Fill out a pre-populated Request form.
Please note:
The Carroll Lane testing site will close on 31 December. Free RATs remain available at Carroll Lane until this site closes and will then be available for employees from our Dandenong Pathology Collection Centre.
This new Employee PCR testing service at Dandenong Hospital will only be available from Tuesday 3 January 2023. Currently, priority PCR testing is still available for symptomatic Monash Health employees at Carroll Lane.
PCR testing for our patients
PCR testing arrangements for our patients will remain largely the same, including:
- All overnight patients continue to be tested (PCR)
- All transfers to Aged Care and Subacute settings continue to be tested (PCR)
- Symptomatic admissions and patients on our wards continue to be tested (PCR)
The main changes to PCR testing our patients will be
- Pre-procedure patients who are not overnight admissions no longer require a PCR test.
From Monday 2 January 2023 our COVID-19 PCR testing will look as follows:
| Asymptomatic | Symptomatic | |
| PCR testing for… | All overnight admissions | All admissions |
| All transfers to Aged Care and Subacute | All ward patients |
In regards to pre-operative management and screening, our preadmission screening process will continue to confirm if our patients are ‘fit for surgery/procedure’.
| Asymptomatic | Symptomatic | |
| Prior to surgery/procedure | Pre-operative risk assessment completed | Admitting Unit will consider continuing admission plan and treat as SCOVID, or defer surgery/procedure if not urgent |
As advice and information evolve, please consult the latest updates and visit the Department of Health and Human Services and the Monash Health COVID-19 Employee website.
Approved by Martin Keogh