Southern Highlands Private Hospital has reached out to Bowral and District Public Hospital to offer to take on some of the public sector's planned surgeries, as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Australia continues to increase.
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Southern Highlands Private Hospital CEO, Prue Buist, said the facility was on standby to ease the surgical burden at Bowral and District Public Hospital to ensure the area's main public health facility had the capacity to cater for COVID-19 patients.
"We are willing and able to perform a range of cases to lighten the load on Bowral & District Public Hospital as the impact of the coronavirus continues to evolve and develop," she said.
"While we face the unknown in terms of the extent of the impact of COVID-19 in the Southern Highlands, it's vital that health providers work together to deliver the best care and treatment to people within our community."
"As Bowral and District Public Hospital readies itself for an influx of confirmed coronavirus cases, Southern Highlands Private Hospital is willing and able to help to lighten the region's public elective surgery lists to prevent a backlog of cases down the track."
Ms Buist said Southern Highlands Private Hospital was well-resourced and well-prepared to manage the impacts of COVID-19.
"All Ramsay Health Care facilities have strict infection control and prevention protocols along with well-established systems and staff to protect healthcare workers, patients and visitors," she said.
"These measures are enabling Southern Highlands Private Hospital to continue to provide world-class care and treatment to patients."
Ms Buist said Ramsay Health Care was closely monitoring updates from the Australian Department of Health to ensure its facilities could respond swiftly and decisively to any changes in protocol requirements.
"Ramsay Health Care has created a COVID-19 response team to keep up to date with the evolution of the outbreak and we are also working closely with local public health units in each region," she said.
Any patients who are feeling unwell should first check their symptoms against those listed for COVID-19 on the Australian Government's Department of Health website (www.health.gov.au/) and to phone their GP or 13 HEALTH for advice if concerned.
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