Page 3732 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 September 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Questions without notice taken on notice
ACT Health—flu strategy
Ms Stephen-Smith (in reply to a supplementary question by Mr Hanson on Tuesday, 30 July 2019):
Canberra Hospital and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce (CPHB) have documented clinical procedures in place that guide the assessment and management of patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with influenza like symptoms.
The procedures outline detailed influenza management pathway and infection control risk assessment guidelines, as well as guides and standardises the care provided to patients presenting with influenza like illnesses relating to screening, admission and infection control principles.
Infection control measures in place, specifically whilst in the ED, include:
• Patient to immediately be provided with, and wear, a surgical mask and perform hand hygiene;
• Patient is to be asked to wear the mask at all times while in the hospital (this may change if the patient is admitted and isolated);
• Patient is to be encouraged to use cough and sneeze etiquette, including hand hygiene to help prevent the droplet transmission of infectious diseases;
• Staff involved in the clinical assessment or care of a suspected influenza patient must don a surgical mask and eye protection (face mask preferable) before attending to the patient. Droplet precautions must be applied; and
• Where possible the patient is to be assessed and tested for respiratory illness in a bedspace with curtains pulled to prevent transmission between other patients ensuring appropriate monitoring continues. The front curtain may need to remain open when the patient is resting to ensure appropriate monitoring.
Canberra Health Services and Calvary Healthcare participate in a national surveillance program for flu called FLUCAN which runs from 1 April until 30 October each year.
ACT Health—workplace culture
Ms Stephen-Smith (in reply to a question by Mrs Jones on Tuesday, 30 July 2019):
The ACT Health Directorate Workplace Climate Survey is planned for October 2019.
A report on the high level survey findings will be released at the conclusion of the survey process.
Health—maternity services
Ms Stephen-Smith (in reply to a question and a supplementary question by Mr Coe on Wednesday, 31 July 2019):
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video