NSW residents have been told to prepare for things “being done differently” in the state’s health system, as surge plans are activated to deal with rising COVID-19 cases.
Sydney firefighters and more paramedic graduates are on standby to bolster the NSW COVID-19 response as the state prepares for the biggest surge in cases since the start of the pandemic, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian expecting a peak in the next fortnight.
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson said “it does not have medical transport capabilities” but is preparing to provide other assistance. The Premier said it was likely “different procedures”, such transporting patients to hospitals further from their home, would need to be used as cases increased. Alison Hodak, president of the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses this week said: “We need to look at different ways of managing the increasing cases, sharing the load of the patients across the whole system in NSW. That way we aren’t overloading one particular hospital or one particular workforce.“on the condition of anonymity, said about 20 operating theatre nurses have been moved to staff these units.
About 1000 Rural Fire Service volunteers and staff have been deployed to the pandemic effort, Police Minister David Elliott said, with “many more on standby”.
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