As winter approaches, Dave Peffer, CEO of Canberra Health Services, expects it will bring the dual challenges of COVID-19 and influenza – putting further strain on the overburdened public health system.
“The demand is already here,” Mr Peffer said. “We’re feeling it at the front door of all of our services, particularly the emergency department and our walk-in centres, but also in every aspect of the health service, we’re certainly feeling the strain at the moment.”
As of last week, 7,267 new COVID cases had been reported – including the ACT’s 1,000th COVID-positive patient cared for in public hospitals.
“Obviously, that’s not a milestone that you look forward to, but it does talk to the effort, the commitment of all of our team members, our health care workers across the territory, and all of those in support who have cared for some critically unwell individuals.”
Case numbers have eased slightly, Mr Peffer said, slowing demand for beds occupied by COVID patients.
But there will likely be a further peak in COVID cases during the colder months. Trauma cases increase during winter, whether patients brought by chopper from the snowfields or motorists injured in car smashes.
Compounding the problem, Canberra Health Services, like the rest of Australia, faces a nationwide workforce shortage.
“This is our greatest challenge at this point in time, right across the health system,” Mr Peffer said. “It’s not unique to the Territory.”
Hundreds of healthcare workers have been recruited in the last couple of years, but CHS still experiences shortfalls.
“There is no ready workforce that we can tap into,” Mr Peffer said.
To tackle the problem, Mr Peffer said, CHS is ‘load shedding’: closing specialist clinics when senior medical staff are needed; postponing or deferring elective surgeries; or shorter operating or opening hours for services.
“These are really tough decisions to make,” Mr Peffer said. “The other side of each one of these decisions is a patient who’s prepared for a visit to the hospital or to one of our health services… This is enormously disruptive, and we do have to acknowledge the impact that has, and thank them for their understanding.”
During winter, Canberra Health Services will adjust its service levels up and down in response to workforce and bed pressures, Mr Peffer said.
“We should be rightly proud as a community of what our health services have been able to achieve over the last couple of years during the pandemic. We certainly asked them to step up, and all of our workforce has contributed to what has been a nation-leading response here in the Territory.”
Mr Peffer reminded Canberrans that the emergency department was for emergencies only. If people do not need emergency care, they should consult their GP, or visit a walk-in centres or the Garran Surge Centre for free treatment.
