Message FROM the acting Chief executive Dr Tamsin Waterhouse
message FROM the Chief executive Deb Willcox
As our response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation continues I thank you all for your ongoing commitment to our patients, community and each other. Staff have been working incredibly hard to find and respond to COVID-19 cases as they are diagnosed to slow any spread in the community. There is a lot of activity in our hospitals and services to ensure we manage containment of the virus to protect you and your patients. I appreciate this is at times challenging, your ongoing professionalism and understanding is very much appreciated A great deal of planning has also been undertaken to ensure we are prepared for increased demand on our services. Our district has seen a number of cases and it has been a particularly challenging time for our colleagues at Ryde Hospital who are showing outstanding resilience. All of you have been working incredibly hard continuing to provide excellent care to our patients. We will continue to take every precaution to keep staff, patients and our community safe. Many of you would have seen media reports about the passing of a man in his 80s and a 95-year-old woman at Ryde Hospital who both had tested positive to COVID-19. Our thoughts and sympathies are with their families at this very sad time. I would like to thank staff who provided safe and compassionate care to both of these patients. I appreciate these events will be unsettling and I would like to reassure you
that every measure is being taken to keep you and your patients safe. As a precaution a number of staff who are considered close contacts to COVID-19 cases at Ryde Hospital have been sent home to self-quarantine and we continue to provide daily welfare checks. A number of these staff have already returned to work after their period of isolation. The use of PPE is being closely monitored to make sure we have ample supplies. We must ensure there is fair and appropriate distribution. We strongly encourage you to work with us as we manage our supply going forward so our staff and patients can be protected from the virus. District Director of Infection Prevention and Control Jo Tallon and a team of experts have spent the past week visiting hospitals providing advice and reassurance on how to provide safe care to patients while protecting yourselves. This will continue over the coming weeks to ensure you are supported. Please speak to your line manger if you need any additional support or advice and see the NSW Ministry of Health website for the latest advice and information here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/ diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx I would like to thank you all for your ongoing commitment and for continuing to look after our patients during these challenging times. Deb Willcox Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
2 NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 4| 12 MARCH 2020
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