Coronavirus

Last updated 8:25pm, 29 March 2020

Contents

• Current situation
• Masks and PPE
• Triage in general practice
• Testing
• Covid-19 Testing Centres
• Infection control advice
• Home isolation
• Telehealth MBS Items
• Resources for general practice
• • HealthPathways
  • Posters for display in your practice
  • Education: videos and webinars
• Aged Care providers
• Community information
  • Resources for community providers
• Useful links
• Further questions

Current situation

NSW coronavirus information:  NSW Health webpage

Health professionals latest advice: Click here

Coronavirus testing advice: Click here

Are you a healthcare worker with fever and respiratory symptoms? Isolate and seek medical attention ASAP

Guide for vulnerable healthcare workers: Click here

 

NOTE: Important webinar on Coronavirus - RACGP (NSW&ACT) with NSW Health

When?  This Tuesday evening, 31 March 2020

Time?    7.00pm-8.00pm      Register HERE for webinar now

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Masks and PPE

Surgical and P2/N95 masks have been supplied in limited numbers to PHNs for general practice and pharmacy staff who are exposed to at risk customers.  CESPHN has already delivered masks to all general practices and pharmacies who have requested them. 

To register your request for surgical masks please complete this form: CESPHN Mask Request Form – COVID-19

The Department of Health has advised that stocks from the National Medical Stockpile are limited and masks should only be used in accordance with the guidance provided by The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).

 Aged Care

If Commonwealth funded aged care providers are experiencing shortages and are unable to obtain masks, you may request supply from the Stockpile by emailing AgedCareCOVIDPPE@health.gov.au.

NDIS and disability providers

Access to masks for these sets of care workers is being kept under review and may be considered as more stocks become available and if risks increase

Allied Health

Access to masks for allied health workers is also being kept under review and may be considered as more stocks become available and if risks increase. If they were to be made available, they would be prioritised first to those allied health workers whose work entails close physical contact with their patients and only when the intervention is strictly necessary and urgent. If PPE is not available for interventions requiring close physical contact, allied health workers should reconsider the need for the intervention.

Non-hospital based specialists

High priority consideration will be given to providing masks to support necessary and urgent interventions for community/non-hospital based specialists whose assessments of, and interventions with, patients require close contact with patients, and particularly where aerosol generating procedures are involved. Masks are not routinely being made available to this group at this time

All other groups

People in other groups should continue to follow other infection prevention and control protocols, including social distancing, respiratory hygiene, frequent handwashing and regular cleaning of surfaces, including between patients if they are working in a health or other care field.

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Triage in general practice

 See here for current COVID-19 suspect case definition https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/2019-ncov-case-definition.aspx

Phone calls

If a patient calls you and they meet the suspect case definition:

• Arrange further assessment and testing, either at your practice (noting the infection control requirements) a pathology collection centre or refer to your local emergency department
• If you need further information, phone your public health unit on 1300 066 055.

Walk in patients

If a patient who meets the suspect case definition attends your practice:

• Ask the patient to wear a surgical mask and move them to a separate room.
• Either:
  • refer the patient to your local emergency department for testing
  • phone your local pathology collection centre to arrange for specimen collection or
  • take the specimens at the practice yourself (noting that there are additional infection control requirements for this)
• For detail on recommended testing and infection control measures see the latest Advice from NSW Dept Health
   https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus-update.aspx 

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Testing

• Arrange further assessment and testing for patients who meet the following testing criteria https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/2019-ncov-case-definition.aspx either at your practice, a pathology collection centre (see list below) or refer to your local emergency department or coronavirus clinic

Please note:

• People without symptoms should not be tested

•  Patients being sent for testing should wear a surgical mask

and

            if waiting to attend an appointment, they should self-isolate

Then

After testing:

• Continue to self-isolate until results are received

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Covid-19 Testing Centres 

Please note that laboratories are dealing with a large volume of samples and are processing these as fast as possible.

Clinicians please do not call the laboratories to chase up a result.  All results will be reported as soon as they are available.

The following pathology centres are conducting coronavirus testing in this region, however we are aware that many have long waiting periods for appointments: 

Eastern Sydney

Laverty Pathology Ground Floor, 164 Belmore Rd Randwick Ph: 9314 6571 Fax: 9314 6571
Between 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm (must have GP referral)

Inner West Sydney

Australian Clinical Labs Suite 101, 1st Floor, 308-312 Beamish St Campsie Ph: 02 9789 6220 Fax: 97877 1082
Monday to Friday 8.00 am - 1.00 pm (patient must wear mask and have referral from GP)

Laverty Pathology, 293 Homer Street, Earlwood Ph: 9558 1568 Fax: 9559 4287
Between 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm (must have GP referral)

Douglas Hanly Moir Pathology, Hudson House, 131 Macquarie Street, Sydney Ph: 9844 8300
Between 7.45am - 3.00 pm

South Eastern Sydney

Douglas Hanly Moir Pathology, 111 Mulga Road Oatley Ph: 8650 1370 Fax: 9586 2420
8.00 am - 4.00 pm (by appointment only)

Testing centres in other regions can be found on the NSW Health website: 

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus-testing.aspx

Coronavirus screening clinics:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) screening clinics are also in operation at several hospitals across the region: Most do not have contact details so call the Coronavirus Help Line on 1800 020 080 to get instructions on exact location, hours and in some cases reference numbers to confirm eligibility for testing. Try to arrive at least half an hour before closing.

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital 8.00 am - 10.00 pm daily (last arrival time is 9pm) Access via Gloucester Drive and follow signs

Concord Hospital, 8.00 am - 6.00 pm daily - across road from ED in Sports Institute Building

Canterbury Hospital, 8.00 am - 10.00 pm daily - access via the After Hours GP entrance

St Vincent’s Hospital 10.30am - 6.00pm daily. Enter via main hospital entrance and follow the green line to the Flu Assessment Clinic.(*All non-emergency presentations for testing of children should go to Sydney Children's Hospital or Royal Prince Alfred Hospital)

Sydney Eye Hospital 8 Macquarie St, Sydney, 10.00am - 6.00pm Monday to Friday in the quadrangle 'bicentennial clinic'. Outside of these hours, you can attend the Emergency Department

Prince of Wales Hospital 10.00am - 8.00pm daily - access via Building 14B Avoca St, Randwick

Redfern Health Centre, 103 – 105 Redfern St  9.00am – 4.00pm Monday - Friday

St George Hospital  8.00am - 6.00pm daily - Gray Street Kogarah  

Sutherland Hospital  8.00am - 8.00pm daily,  Ground Floor, old Emergency Department, Kareena Road entrance, then follow signs from ED.

Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick - clinic available - 5.00pm – 9.00pm Monday – Friday, 1.30pm – 9.00pm Saturday, Sunday

The services are staffed by Emergency Department clinicians for patients suspected of COVID-19 infection. Patients should meet testing criteria as specified under triage. Reference number may be required from Coronavirus Help Line 1800 020 080

More clinics are being established across the region and we will update you when this happens. Note that once a patient has been tested at ED or an associated coronavirus screening clinic the clinic will contact the patient regarding their results.

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Infection control advice

• For detail on recommended testing and infection control measures see the latest Advice from NSW Health:
   https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus-update.aspx 

• Downloadable fact sheet from Australian Department of Health https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/interim-advice-on-non-inpatient-care-of-persons-with-suspected-or-confirmed-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-including-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-ppe.pdf

• How to put on and take off PPE https://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/PPE_EN_A1sl.pdf?ua=1
• Hand sanitiser available to GPs, allied health workers and medical specialists: Download form here                                           https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScay8vYInYyvY6iVQ_USBGAMAQtjEbM5WOrR6WsqvpiJQjoWg/viewform   

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Home isolation

All people who have travelled in or transited through mainland China, Iran, Italy or South Korea should be isolated at home for 14 days after leaving the country. As of 16 March 2020 any people arriving in Australia from any country must self isolate for 14 days.   

Healthcare workers who develop fever and respiratory symptoms must isolate themselves immediately and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus-healthcare-staff.aspx

Returned travellers who returned prior to 16 March 2020 should self-monitor for symptoms, practice social distancing and immediately isolate themselves if they become unwell. 

Isolated at home means no activities outside the home, except for seeking medical care.

People who are isolated at home should not go to work, should not go to school, should not use public areas, and they should not use public transportation or taxis. Should a person isolated at home require medical care, wherever possible they should call first. Appropriate contacts are their GP, local emergency department, coronavirus helpline 1800 020 080 or the Healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222.

There are links to home isolation fact sheets for patients in both English and Mandarin on the NSW Health coronavirus web page:

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Telehealth MBS Items

 29 March Update

At a press conference on 29 March the Prime Minister, the Hon. Scott Morrison MP, announced a $1.1 billion package to boost mental health services, domestic violence support, Medicare assistance for people at home and emergency food relief. Here is an update on Telehealth services that will come into effect from 30 March 2020.

Medicare support at home – whole of population telehealth

General Practices

• From 13 March 2020 to 30 September 2020 (inclusive) Medicare-subsidised telehealth services will be expanded for all Australians
• The GP bulk billing incentive will double for GPs to look after pensioners, under-16s and concession card holders
• The Quality Improvement Practice Incentive Payments (PIP QI) will also be doubled to ensure practices stay open to provide face to face services where they are essential for patients with conditions that can’t be treated through telehealth. 
• Bulk-billed-mbs-telehealth-services-gps-and-omps

Mental Health Services

• From 13 March 2020 to 30 September 2020 (inclusive) Medicare-subsidised telehealth services will be expanded for all Australians
• New MBS items: Group A40, sub-group 3 and Group M18, sub-groups 1-4:
• 4 new psychological therapy items for clinical psychologist services; and
• 20 new Focussed Psychological Strategies items for services provided by a psychologist, GP, non-specialist medical practitioner, occupational therapist or social worker. 
• Bulk-billed-mbs-telehealth-services-mental-health

Fact sheets explaining all the changes can be found here on MBS Online

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN will provide further updates and resources when more information is released by the Australian Government. 

For any enquiries please email us at telehealth@cesphn.com.au and our Telehealth Support team will quickly respond. We are here to assist you with expert practical advice. 

Telehealth resources

• Getting started with telehealth - checklist
• Telehealth for Skype - How to set up a telehealth consultation using Skype’s free conference call feature
• Agency for Clinical Innovation telehealth resources.
• Information on telehealth counselling

 

See our Education: Videos and Webinars section for any Telehealth webinars                                                                                                                                                 

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Resources for General Practice 

HPOS and documents for patients' schools, employers, Centrelink

How to create and submit Medical Certificate forms using HPOS

https://www.cesphn.org.au/documents/ehealth-1/digital-health/3032-guide-to-create-and-submit-medical-certificate-form-in-hpos/file

Medical Certificate in HPOS to help reduce Centrelink queues

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/organisations/health-professionals/services/medicare/hpos/log

Medical clearance template from RACGP to assist GPs issuing letters to employers/school principals/day care managers

https://www1.racgp.org.au/getmedia/b5d5ab8c-4177-4e3e-a11f-9b42efaa9bbd/Medical-clearance-letter-template.docx.aspx

Checklist - guide for General Practice preparedness for pandemic

• pdf Click here (292 KB)  to download the PDF
• document Click here (111 KB)  to download Word Doc

Supporting women

Pregnancy Support Services
https://www.cesphn.org.au/preview/antenatal-shared-care-1/gp-resources/3028-20200324-antenatal-postnatal-update/file 

 

Update for gynaecology services at RPA Hospital

Due to further escalation of COVID 19 pandemic, RPA have restricted their gynaecology ambulatory activities further.
Effective from 30/03/20:

• Monday and Wednesday semi urgent/urgent gynaecology clinics will be stopped.
• Urgent gynaecology patients will be seen in parallel with Early Pregnancy Assessment Service (EPAS) clinic daily. Maximum number should not exceed five.
• All IVF procedures will be stopped, and consultations provided via telecommunication only

MESH clinic will provide consultations via telecommunication only.

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COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program

The COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program  will reimburse eligible aged care providers for eligible expenditure incurred on managing direct impacts of COVID-19. The Program will run over 2 years from 2019-20 to 2020-21. The Program will assist Residential Aged Care,  National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program and Home Care Package providers that are subject to direct COVID-19 impacts  to deliver continuity of safe quality care for consumers.                                                                                  For information please see the grant connect web site.

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