Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, we have been extremely impressed by the response of all of our dedicated staff – who have all been model examples of how we incorporate one of our new values into our everyday work – Together.

This afternoon, Siva Sivarajah, Chief Executive, led a Virtual All-Staff Forum to provide an overview of the issues we are facing with COVID-19 as an organisation, and how our staff continue to meet and respond to these ongoing challenges.

“We continue to face many challenges, and have had to adapt our operations and learn how to work differently. But none of this would be possible without us supporting each other and working collaboratively together across the entire health service. All while we continue to provide the best possible care and treatment to our patients,” Siva added.

Over the past five months, Northern Pathology Victoria has completed over 58,000 tests and are registering up to 1,000 COVID-19 tests a day – an extraordinary accomplishment by many staff in different areas across Northern Health.

Our staff are working across multiple testing sites and three COVID-19 wards have been set up at Northern Hospital to care for positive patients who require inpatient care.

Staff members have stepped into new and different roles to assist in our response, undertaking additional training and learning new protocols, along with quickly implementing new models of care for our patients such as Telehealth.

“We’re very proud of our staff and how they are responding to the rapidly changing situation. Staff have been brilliant at being adaptable, flexible and patient – and continue to do the absolute best they can to care for our community,” Siva said.

“Every day, I see examples of our staff working safely, being kind to their patients and colleagues and working together,” Siva added.

We continue to work collaboratively with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and provide support to local aged care facilities that are experiencing increasing COVID-19 cases. A number of our staff are working in these facilities to deliver care to residents and our Residential In-Reach team continue to step up and play a key role in helping manage this difficult situation.

Recently, our community services team launched a new telephone-based COVID-19 Positive Community Monitoring Program which provides expert support, guidance and medical advice to people within our local community.

“We extend our sincere thanks to all of our staff across Northern Health. Whether you are working in frontline clinical areas, wards, finance, allocations, front-of-house, support services or in administration – each and every one of you are playing an important role in helping us fight COVID-19 together,” Siva said.

“Please know – we see you, we appreciate you, and we are so very grateful.”