Statement - Emergency and Specialist Services in FWLHD during COVID-19
The Far West Local Health District wishes to assure the public that all emergency services in the District are being provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.
All emergency patients requiring transfer to a higher level of care, including to a tertiary hospital in South Australia, are being transferred for that treatment.
All Category 1 (Urgent) elective surgery procedures are currently being carried out at Broken Hill Health Service within the clinically recommended timeframe.
Any Urgent category elective surgery procedures that can't be done in Broken Hill Health Service, are currently being transferred to other tertiary hospitals, including to hospitals in Adelaide (South Australia).
No one is being put at risk due to SA Health reintroducing quarantine restrictions on medical staff returning to that state.
The Far West LHD has developed safe means of managing these restrictions, including those relating to the provision of visiting specialist clinics at Broken Hill Health Service.
To continue the delivery of specialist clinics, the LHD is implementing measures including increased use of telehealth and phone consultations where possible, switching from face to face service to a mixed model incorporating telehealth to ensure it can continue to meet clinical service requirements.