The opposition health minister has voiced concern that the Shoalhaven Hospital won't cope when the region prepares to reopen at the 70 per cent fully vaccinated mark slated for some time in October.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Keria MP and Shadow Health Minister Ryan Park said the Shoalhaven Hospital is already inundated and cases are only increasing in the region.
The LGA recorded 11 new COVID-19 cases overnight on Tuesday.
Mr Park has called on the federal government to announce clear planning on how they will direct resources and staffing to regional hospitals.
"Even pre-COVID, there was an enormous pressure on the Shoalhaven Hospital," said Mr Park.
"That's why it's very important the government provide a level of comfort to the community and say very clearly the way they are intending on staffing these hospitals at their peak.
"And their peak is likely to be over the next four or five weeks."
Read more:
Mr Park's comments come off the back of the recent Bureau of Health Information Health Quarterly report for the April to June quarter.
The report revealed that prior to the Delta-variant outbreak, 40 per cent of people who attend the Shoalhaven Hospital's Emergency Department do not start their treatment on time and 42 per cent of patients are spending over four hours in the ED.
The Shoalhaven Hospital Group General Manager Craig Hamer assures there are plans in place for the hospital to manage increased demands due to COVID-19.
There are currently no COVID-19 inpatients at the hospital.
"Shoalhaven Hospital's escalation plan includes the establishment of a dedicated Intensive Care Unit, a dedicated COVID-19 ward and the implementation of a range of procedures to enable staff to safely care for COVID positive, or COVID suspected patients, in other parts of the hospital," said Mr Hamer.
Mr Hamer added that trained health professionals are in place in the Shoalhaven to support specialist care required for COVID patients and that some are being treated virtually.
"Specially trained doctors, nurses and other health professionals are also in place at Shoalhaven to support the specialist care required for COVID patients, in dedicated wards and areas," he said.
"A multi-disciplinary team of staff continue to look after COVID positive patients as part of the District's Virtual Community Care Centre who are well enough to safely isolate in their own homes.
"We are also training additional staff to increase our local virtual care capacity if required."
Read more:
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro assured South Coast communities there is enough ICU capacity in the event of an outbreak, but said getting vaccinated was the best way to support the healthcare system.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian released modelling done by health experts showed an ICU surge capacity of 1550 beds.
Mr Barilaro said the modelling numbers took the regions into account.
"We also have secondary plans in the regions to transfer people to other hospitals as needed and that's the approach that we're doing," he said.
"We've also mobilized to have additional air services available to move people around when and if numbers rise in the region."
According to NSW Health, 76.7 per cent of residents in the Shoalhaven LGA have received their first vaccination and 49.7 per cent of the community are fully vaccinated.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.