Data from the Health Department indicate that at least 659 individuals in Victoria have died after contracting COVID-19 while receiving treatment for other conditions in hospitals, The Age revealed in an exclusive report.
The data, covering the period from 2020 to April 2023, reveals that 5,614 people were suspected to have acquired COVID-19 within the state’s public hospitals. Alarmingly, more than 10 per cent of these patients either confirmed or suspected that their hospital-acquired infection resulted in their death.
Medical professionals are raising concerns about the risks faced by patients admitted to hospitals, who are often older and have preexisting health conditions that make them more susceptible to severe illness or death from COVID-19, The Age reported.
Australian Medical Association Victorian president Jill Tomlinson stressed the need for community awareness regarding the increased vulnerability of certain individuals to the virus, stating that, for some, a COVID infection can be a “death sentence.”
“There needs to be broad recognition in our community that some people are more susceptible to COVID,” she said. “For some people, a COVID infection can be a death sentence.”
Tomlinson expressed concerns that fear of contracting COVID-19 has deterred people from seeking necessary medical care, potentially leading to detrimental consequences.
The removal of the requirement for health services to report hospital-acquired COVID-19 infections resulting in serious harm or death by the state’s health safety watchdog has drawn criticism.
This change means that such cases are now reviewed internally, which has prompted calls for greater consistency in infection control measures. Andrew Hewat, executive officer of the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association, labeled the deaths as a tragedy and criticised hospitals for failing to adequately protect patients and staff.
Hewat argued for the retention of protective measures, such as mask requirements, to prevent infections and emphasized the importance of not compromising on safety measures.
The Age’s report also highlights the personal stories of those affected by hospital-acquired COVID-19 infections.
Bruno Treglia, a radiographer who contracted the virus while working, experienced severe illness and continues to suffer from long COVID and permanent injuries. Treglia’s case is not isolated, as WorkSafe reported accepting 403 claims from hospital workers who contracted COVID-19. The long-lasting impacts and lack of answers regarding side effects are among the challenges faced by survivors.
The Victorian Health Department responded, stating that infections in hospitals align with community trends and may appear higher due to increased testing rates. The department expressed condolences for lives lost during the pandemic and highlighted the implementation of comprehensive surveillance, prevention, and control measures to limit COVID transmission in healthcare settings.
“Our thoughts are with anyone that has lost their lives throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” a Victorian Health Department spokesperson said.
“We continue to undertake comprehensive surveillance, prevention and control measures to limit COVID transmission in Victorian health services.”
The removal of the reporting requirement for hospital-acquired COVID infections by Safer Care Victoria was defended by a department spokesman, who explained that treating COVID-19 like other communicable diseases allows health services to address local issues and risks more promptly.
Heartbreaking accounts from individuals who have lost loved ones to hospital-acquired COVID-19 infections demonstrate the tragic consequences of this phenomenon. Despite infection control measures in place, the devastating impact of COVID-19 within hospitals is a matter of grave concern.
