NSLHD Year in Review 2020

COVID-19 teams on the ground

As part of NSLHD’s response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, a dedicated COVID-19 care team and front door team, tasked with taking temperatures and conducting health checks, have been deployed to work across the district to support staff.

and the front line against COVID-19, but they aren’t daunted by the responsibility in front of them. As well as taking temperatures and conducting health checks, the team relays updated health guidelines to those entering our hospitals. The team of 40 staff at Royal North Shore Hospital alone has been essential in keeping staff, patients and visitors safe. But behind the masks are smiles from across hospitals and professions ranging from registered nurses, enrolled nurses, assistants in nursing and administration officers. Since early March, staff like Registered Nurse Samantha Johnson have been present at major entry points of Royal North Shore from 5am to 11pm, seven days a week.

Donning pink vests, the COVID-19 care team offers workforce support and advice to all staff and managers, as well as check in on staff members’ wellbeing. The team also helps source relevant information for staff, feedback any concerns to the district executive and follows up on any questions if they can’t immediately answer. Director People and Culture Paula Williscroft said: “We have a wonderful 10,000-strong team of experienced, caring and professional health workers. “I am very proud of our staff who remain absolutely focused on the delivery of health care to our patients and community during the COVID-19 situation.” The front door team are the first people visitors see when they walk into hospitals across the district

“Being at the hospital you can always be pulled into different roles,” she said. “COVID-19 expanded quite quickly so it was just a matter of jumping in and helping out. It’s protecting the hospitals, the community and the patients.” For Assistant in Nursing Danielle Sanz, she saw it as a chance not just to keep everyone safe, “With everyone, we have a smile on our face and we greet them happily and positively which hopefully has a domino effect on their day,” she said. Danielle said the team took pride in offering guidance in a period of constant change. but also impart some much needed positivity given the unfolding situation.

COVID care team

RN Samantha Johnson, Benji Rengasamy and Danielle Sanz

WWW.NSLHD.HEALTH.NSW.GOV.AU 5

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