Southern DHB Media Update - Friday 20 August 2021
Twin focus on swabbing and vaccination, plus planning around the continued safe delivery of planned care
As we move into the weekend, the twin focus in Southern continues to be on swabbing symptomatic people and vaccinating the general population for COVID-19.
SWABBING – Attributable Dr Susan Jack, Medical Officer of Health, Southern
Southern Medical Officer of Health, Dr Susan Jack said that yesterday (Thursday) over 1,800 COVID-19 tests were taken in the Southern District. She thanked those involved for getting tested, and the general practice, WellSouth staff who conducted the testing, and Southern Community Laboratory staff who are working tirelessly to process the swabs as quickly as possible. “This is the front-line of our COVID-19 response, and this testing will be part of the information used to inform decision making.”
Anyone in Southern who has cold or flu symptoms should call 0800 VIRUS-19 (0800 847 8719) to arrange a COVID-19 test. People need to wear a mask when leaving the house, maintain social distancing, good hand hygiene and to use the COVID-19 tracer app.
VACCINATION – Attributable Hamish Brown, Southern COVID-19 vaccine programme lead
With some providers opening yesterday, the Southern district COVID-19 vaccine programme delivered more than 2,000 doses, contributing to the 29,917 doses administered nationally. Today, most scheduled clinics have reopened, including the vaccination centres in Invercargill and Dunedin. The Meridian vaccination centre in Dunedin had vaccinated more than 120 people before 9am today.
With vaccination sites operating under Alert Level 4 conditions, our capacity will be reduced due to physical distancing requirements and other safety measures. The reduced capacity means we may need to postpone some appointments. If we need to postpone your appointment you will be contacted by the Ministry of Health, your DHB or healthcare provider. If you don’t hear from us, please come to your appointment as scheduled.
Swabbing in the community is a vital part in tracing and halting an outbreak of COVID-19 so some general practices have reduced their vaccinating capacity, and any affected clients can expect direct communication about their appointment, supporting them to rebook at another available time or location.
Southern COVID-19 vaccine programme lead Hamish Brown thanked the public for their patience as the whole country adapted to provide booking availability and vaccinations under Alert Level 4
“Isolation is most important in stopping the spread of the virus, next in our line of defence is testing and we are hugely grateful to the practices undertaking this important work,” he said.
“Our ultimate line of defence is the longitudinal protection offered by vaccination and we are working with practices to enable them to operate under Level 4 where possible, including looking at alternative modes of delivery such as car-based models.”
The Southern District rollout plan uses multiple delivery streams that have flexibility to lift production in some areas, such as pharmacies, whilst others pivot into swabbing.
HOSPITAL AND OTHER SERVICES – Attributable Chris Fleming, Chief Executive, Southern DHB
As we head into the weekend both Dunedin and Southland hospitals are busy. Emergency Departments are reporting steady rates of presentations – and we ask that people keep ED for emergencies.
Patients are being screened either prior to, or upon entry, to Southern hospitals to ensure the appropriate infection prevention and control procedures are used for each patient. Those with outpatients’ appointments, or other planned attendances, are being screened prior to arrival, and those attending ED are screened upon arrival. This takes time, so there may be a short wait as people enter the hospital buildings.
Visitor restrictions remain in place. Everyone entering our hospitals is required to wear a mask.
While in Alert Level 4, this week Southern DHB has continued to carry out urgent surgical and medical care, and also planned care, particularly through the use of telehealth.
Oncology treatment has also continued across the district.
Southern DHB Surgical and Radiology Services have planned care procedures scheduled next week at Dunedin and Southland hospitals.
Services are also working on how much planned care can be safely delivered in the weeks ahead, should alert levels remain elevated, so some Southern patients requiring non-urgent care can continue to be treated. Obviously, the extent to which this can be done will depend on the presence and prevalence of COVID-19 in the Southern community.
In terms of PPE, Southern DHB has adequate stocks of PPE held locally. SDHB Supply Chain have an established replenishment process in place to order supplies from the Ministry of Health’s centrally held and managed reserves. This supply chain has been in place for around 16 months and is reliable.