Health workers assist Colac with corona troubles

GREAT Ocean Road Health (GORH) workers recently returned from Colac, after assisting with containment efforts following an outbreak of COVID-19.

Colac’s abattoir Australian Lamb Company has been linked to all but one case in the cluster, with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reporting 46 cases within a week throughout the Colac Otway Shire after initially recording two positive cases on July 18.

GORH staff assisted Colac Allied Health (CAH) conduct large scale testing across the shire and provided relief for healthcare providers.

GORH chief executive officer Sandy Chamberlin joined in the efforts and said she was glad they were able to aid their fellow Barwon South West healthcare providers.

“It was a case of us giving support to our neighbours and the public health system, and knowing they had all been working long hours and being able to offer some fresh eyes and some expertise.”

Ms Chamberlin said GORH staff helped with a variety of tasks.

“We had three ward clerks come and do an important job on Saturday (July 25). So, they input a lot of patients onto the system, which was really well appreciated.

“Our director of clinical services Andrea Russell led the large-scale testing from clinical bases out at Central Reserve.

“On the Monday (July 27) 793 clients were swabbed – with the majority of those being from the Australian Lamb Company – then on the Tuesday were the Trinity College Colac students and members of the public as well.

“I worked very closely with the CEO as well as leading the incident management team.”

CAH chief executive Fiona Brew was appreciative of the assistance they’d received.

“Great Ocean Road Heath (GORH) has attended on-site to bring its team of highly capable healthcare workers to support and supplement Colac Area Health’s response to the COVID-19 cases in the community.

“I am extremely grateful for the response and support GORH has shown, as well as the agencies working with Barwon Health to contain the outbreak.”

Ms Chamberlin also noted GORH had learnt much from attending the situation.

“For us, the learning in experiencing an outbreak is invaluable to us and health services and community, as well as doing the neighbourly thing in helping out when people are in need.

“Andrea and I have been able to bring back a lot of experience in assisting in managing an outbreak.”