The Victorian State government has reached an agreement with Victorian private hospital organisations that will ensure that all sectors of the state health system will work together during the crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The state’s Minister for Health and for Ambulance Services, Jenny Mikakos, announced today (Thursday, 2 April) that she had finalised an agreement with Victoria’s private hospitals that will ensure that the state’s health system will work in unison and at full capacity during the current crisis. The private hospitals that were part of the
Under the agreement public and private hospitals will work together to relieve the pressure on the state’s public hospitals.
Ms Mikakos said: “This agreement we have secured will ensure our health system is working at full capacity during the pandemic.”
“Our whole healthcare sector has a vital role to play in fighting coronavirus – and this deal ensures we have one system of care.”
“We look forward to working in partnership with our private and public healthcare providers to ensure Victoria is ready to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.”
In a statement issued by her ministry, the agreement would ensure that the private hospital medical workforce and staff that included porters, cleaners, cooks and security guards would keep their jobs “… and remain in the healthcare system for the duration of the pandemic – when we need them most.”
“The deal follows a guarantee from the Commonwealth to ensure the viability of all private hospitals after the suspension of all non-urgent surgery tomorrow (Friday, April 3),” the statement said.
The minister said that much work was being done to ensure Victoria’s hospitals were prepared for the expected prolonged increase in demand as the number of cases rise daily.
The state has employed 200 nurses from Epwork and Cabrini hospitals for contact-tracing for Covid-19 cases. This was work that would help to identify public exposure sites and close contacts.
To maximise efforts to contain the spread of the virus, the ministry had also called on retired doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics and allied health professionals to return to work.
Smaller private hospitals and day-procedure centres are in talks with the state government over the creation of extra capacity that they could provide when the pandemic reaches its peak.
The state health system has received $1.3 billion to quickly set up 4,000 extra Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and to buy more medical masks, gloves and gowns.
“The package is in addition to the $537 million the Victorian Government has already invested in our health system as part of our coronavirus response to keep our dedicated health care workers safe,” the statement said.