Crucial commitment

THE COVID-19 pandemic has affected every facet of Barwon Health, changing the way it worked and changing its services.

In just over 18 months since health authorities started to enact pandemic response plans, Barwon Health has processed more than 190,500 COVID-19 tests, with just under 650 positive cases reported in the Barwon South West Region.

Barwon Health chief executive officer Frances Diver said the ongoing role of staff and support from the community was significant in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the local community.

“COVID-19 testing has been a major part of our response to the pandemic and Barwon Health has processed more than 190,500 tests so far.

The majority of these tests have been at Barwon Health North and our Torquay site, while we have also run 24 separate pop-up testing sites throughout the pandemic.

“We have also worked with the private pathology providers to ensure testing has been accessible and to help us respond to major surges in demand for testing.

“Our staff have really stepped up to the challenge adapting to this new and challenging environment.

“We recognise the hard work and commitment of our staff is crucial to our success in keeping the community safe throughout the pandemic.”

Ms Diver said health workers had also valued the support from the community since March last year.

“We know it has been and still is tough but all the efforts to comply with the public health measures, get tested, isolate and most importantly get vaccinated have truly made a difference to keeping our community safe.”

Barwon Health has administered more than 256,000 vaccinations since the rollout launched in February this year.

As of September 27, more than 95 percent of Surf Coast Shire and Borough of Queenscliffe residents had received their first COVID-19 vaccination dose.

More than 83 per cent of Queenscliffe residents had received their second dose and more than 67 per cent of Surf Coast Shire residents were double-vaxed.

This week’s vaccination data showed 86.5 per cent of Greater Geelong residents had received their first dose and 56.5 per cent were double-vaccinated by the start of the week.

Ms Diver said using the mass vaccination site at the former Ford factory had been “highly efficient allowing us to deliver vaccinations at an industrial scale”.

“Wathaurong Health Service has also been delivering vaccinations for the ATSI (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) community at Ford.

“We have also run smaller more bespoke vaccination clinics for specific groups such as the service for people with a disability at Belmont Community Health and in reach services to people in residential aged care.

“(Community group) Diversitat has also supported our vaccination by providing targeted clinics.”

She said the establishment of the Barwon South West Public Health Unit had also been crucial to the health service’s response with hundreds of staff now dedicated to community engagement, testing, contact tracing and monitoring positive cases and close contacts as well as managing the vaccination program.

Meanwhile, the Geelong region will continue to be well-placed to manage COVID-19, with University Hospital Geelong one of Victoria’s hospitals designated to care for COVID patients.

“This is a whole of hospital effort, but in particular our acute inpatient wards, intensive care and emergency department have worked together to ensure we can care for COVID patients safely.”