Dunstan Hospital in Clyde is adapting to new ways of service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the majority of people with symptoms are being managed in the community, supported by Public Health, the hospital continues to maintain inpatient services for non-COVID-19 patients along with managing any suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients referred by local medical practitioners to the hospital. 

Central Otago Health Services chief executive Kathryn de Luc said the clinical staff, many of whom are now working remotely, have become inventive in the way they deliver services.

During the next few weeks the hospital staff will continue to develop their ideas on how to deliver services so that individuals can ‘attend’ from their home, or so that services can be delivered remotely to the ward at Dunstan for either COVID positive or non-COVID patients, she said. 

“The [alert] level four measures and the role everyone plays in keeping to their bubble are vitally important.

“All our staff have their bubble people and I want to acknowledge the hugely important role they play in protecting our staff so that they are in turn able to protect others. It is critical that we do all we can to keep our hospital and community staff free of the virus so they can continue their work.”

The hospital has a good supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect staff against COVID-19, Kathryn said.

The hospital continues in lockdown with restrictions on people visiting the site. Those who come to the hospital are thoroughly screened as they arrive and visitors are not permitted unless there are exceptional circumstances. The guidelines are in place not only to protect vulnerable patients but also the health professionals and staff.

“These are challenging times but Central Otago Health Services and Dunstan Hospital remain committed to delivering services to our community,” Kathryn said. 

“Kia kaha, stay at home and safe.”

PHOTO: Supplied