Frankston Hospital continues to battle a major COVID-19 outbreak, with more than 600 staff self-isolating on leave and several wards suspending admissions. Peninsula Health chief executive Felicity Topp said 618 staff have now been furloughed, and 44 staff have tested positive for the disease.
The hospital’s acute medical surgical unit, the surgical short stay unit and the 5GN wards will stop taking admissions. However, the cardiology, mental health, ICU, maternity and acute medical surgical wards are continuing to accept patients.
“The safety and well-being of our staff, our patients and our community is our utmost priority and we are doing all we can to help slow the spread of this virus,” Ms Topp said. “Following the Frankston Hospital outbreak, Peninsula Health has been working with a team of highly skilled infection prevention experts to provide additional assistance in undertaking a review of our COVID-19 practices.
“We have further strengthened our infection prevention measures, including the extension of our contact tracing of both staff and patients. As such, we are casting a very wide net on our contact tracing process, resulting in the furloughing of 618 staff across the service.”
Ms Topp said Peninsula Health was being supported by several nearby public and private hospitals, GPs and primary care providers to “ensure we continue to provide our community with seamless care”.
There are currently 57 active cases of COVID-19 in Frankston and 52 on the Mornington Peninsula.
