Page 1334 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 12 May 2021
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The ACT government is proud of the excellent dedicated nurses and midwives who work in the ACT to make our community a better place. Last year was International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, and the events of 2020 certainly highlighted the contribution of health workers generally and the very important work of nurses and midwives across Australia.
Nurses have been critical in containing and limiting the spread of COVID-19 because of their quality clinical work at the coalface and across the health system. As the pandemic evolved in 2020 and into 2021, nurses have continued to step up to provide COVID-19 testing to the community, often upscaling to meet demand when new hotspots emerge interstate. As well as staffing our testing centres, they have been at the airport and hotel quarantine, including supporting COVID-positive people in the medi-wing.
Last week an outstanding team leader at the Weston Creek Walk-in Centre, Kirsty Cummin, was recognised as the ACT’s Nurse of the Year for her strong communication and exceptional listening skills. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kirsty led the transformation of the walk-in centre to become one of Canberra’s main COVID testing sites. Her role then extended to delivering care to those in hotel quarantine and overseeing staff delivering care in the medi-hotel. Despite expanded responsibilities, Kirsty consistently maintained high levels of professionalism with exceptional communication to all staff, ancillary staff, patients and relatives.
Nurses are also leading the ACT government’s COVID-19 vaccination service, providing a vaccination program that the ACT community can trust, bringing their expertise, flexibility and can-do attitude. The Canberra Health Services nursing staff are currently providing COVID-19 vaccinations to those eligible under phase 1a, 1b and the early 2a cohort through the COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
An example of the expertise of nurses is the FIT testing checks performed by the occupational medicine unit nursing staff located on site at Canberra Health Services for other health professionals. This process involves a check to make sure that staff are wearing appropriately fitted respirators that seal to their skin, that are compatible with other personal protective equipment and that are not displaced when the staff member moves. This ensures that our valued staff are safe when providing expert clinical care to vulnerable patients.
Nurses are providing leadership and contributing at a policy and strategic level, including in the development of COVID-19 strategy, preparedness and response in the aged-care sector in the ACT. Last year the office of the chief nurse and midwife developed a collaborative partnership with the-aged care sector, working on the ACT Aged Care COVID Response Plan, including establishing training in infection prevention and control in ACT facilities.
Nurses in the ACT Health Directorate continue to perform critical functions in response to the pandemic, including: disease surveillance for notifiable conditions, including follow-up with patients, clinicians and reporting; input to and representation on national disease surveillance committees; collaboration with research projects for
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video