As plans for Sydney’s lockdown lifts and adults with double vaccinations begin to travel, the risk of a local outbreak increases, placing residential aged care facilities (RACFs) on a heightened level of alert – although residents and all staff will be double vaccinated by the end of September, resulting in a different type of outbreak. Staff will still be furloughed, COVID-19 positive cases will need treatment in the RACF if there is no indicator for transfer to hospital, and continuity of care for non-COVID-19 cases is required. Heightened awareness of working in PPE with ventilated masks requires more support and preparation for the RACFs.
Do you know how to respond?
Last year, a range of newsletter articles guided GPs and practice staff to the Primary Care Impact Quality Improvement activity to increase GP preparedness for a COVID-19 outbreak in RACFs.
It is timely again to refresh your practices or undertake the activity to ensure your practice understands how to support an RACF outbreak. GPs are not to enter RACFs in an outbreak, therefore it is important to understand how remote resident care will be maintained.
Practice managers are encouraged to pop the range of posters in the activity up in the tea rooms to ensure your GPs working in RACFs are ready.
Healthy North Coast’s response was created with a group of GPs working in RACFs, local health districts and the Public Health Unit. Ongoing work has continued through the cross-sector meetings held between the four groups.
GP team leaders
We are still on the lookout for GPs to undertake the GP team leader role, particularly in Northern NSW. This is a remote communication role. Its functions are to be the conduit between the RACF outbreak management team, the RACFs GP team and Healthy North Coast. Where a locum GP is needed on-site, the GP team leader guides this position, ensuring they are familiar with the home and how it works. It is a great opportunity to upskill on outbreak management and will require a maximum of 12 hours a week. It is a paid role and will be supported by Healthy North Coast’s Ageing Team.
Any GP who is interested in the GP team leader role, please get in touch with:
Bron McCrae
Deputy Director Healthy Living and Ageing, Healthy North Coast
[email protected]
Note: RACFs without a GP team leader will be supported by the Deputy Director Healthy Living and Ageing.
Visit HealthPathways for information on:
COVID-19 Assessment and Management in Residential Aged Care
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