Broken Hill Health Service Visitor Rules Changed
The Broken Hill Health Service is restricting visitors to one person per patient per day, as of Friday, 18 March 2022 until further notice.
There will be exemptions to this rule which are:
- Patients who are in End-of-Life phase will be allowed additional visitors per day.
- Visiting on compassionate grounds will be allowed subject to a risk assessment.
- Participants in care in maternity services who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or who have been told they are a close contact may be supported, in specific circumstances, e.g. living together in the same household with the mother, to attend during labour and birthing room to provide care.
- One support person allowed during birth and one other person allowed to visit during hospitalisation. Participants in maternity services who have COVID-19 positive partners, will be risk assessed on an individual basis.
The change is necessitated by the significant surge in the number of positive COVID-19 cases recorded in the community which in turn has increased the risk of infection in the hospital. We expect these numbers to increase in the coming weeks due to the omicron variant.
Visiting hours remain at 10am to 12 noon and 5pm to 7pm each day.
The Emergency Department (ED) remains a RED zone. This means that there must be minimal people in ED other than staff and patients. ED patients can have a carer with them, or if the patient is a child, a parent may be present in ED. Any other exemptions must be risk assessed.
Unvaccinated siblings under 12 years of age are unable to visit. An exemption may be possible to allow visitation for this group, to visit long stay patients (more than 9 days in hospital). This will be risk assessed on an individual basis.
It is vital that the health service continues to adhere to a strict screening process at the hospital entry (concierge) to prevent any facility outbreaks of COVID-19.
All visitors must at all times adhere to the following:
All people entering the BHHS will continue to use QR code for contact tracing purposes.
All visitors must befully vaccinated, must have received the recommended dosing schedule of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine.
Visitors must show evidence of their vaccination status upon entering the facility.
Unvaccinated people may be allowed to visit under certain circumstances following a risk assessment.
Visitors will not be permitted to visit if they have tested positive to COVID-19 within the last 7 days,
Visitors will not be permitted if they are a high-risk contact of someone who has COVID-19 in the previous 7 days.
Visitors will not be permitted if they have COVID-19 symptoms.
Visitors will not be permitted if they are waiting for a COVID-19 test result or have arrived from an international location within the last 7 days,
Visitors will not be permitted to visit if they are under 12 years of age unless it is an end-of-life visit.
Visitors must wear a surgical mask for the entire time they are in the facility.
Our concierge staff are required to ask mandatory questions during this screening process when visitors present at the hospital.
All visitors are asked to be patient and considerate with staff so they are able to properly screen people.
These measures are in place to ensure the safety of patients, staff and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.