Bowral and District Hospital will remain a COVID-19 free hospital as the region prepares to open at the 70 per cent fully vaccinated mark slated for some time in October.
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It was previously reported in the Southern Highland News that COVID-19 patients would be transferred to other hospitals in the NSW Health network if they required specialist care.
A South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) spokesperson said Local Health Districts and hospitals worked together to ensure the optimal delivery of healthcare services, including the care of COVID-19 patients.
"Bowral and District Hospital continues to meet the health care needs of the community during the pandemic and provides a wide range of acute and sub-acute services," they said.
"Patients requiring specialised care for COVID-19 are transferred to other hospitals in the NSW Health network, including Campbelltown, Liverpool and Wollongong Hospitals."
Southern Highlands Division of General Practice spokesman Dr Vince Roche said he was concerned about how the health system would cope.
"We have planned for a heavier workload and we are still not close to capacity," he said.
"The key to how hard we are pushed is in the number who are fully vaccinated.
"At the moment, we have more people wanting vaccines than we have vaccines to give them. When we have a pile of vaccines sitting in front of us and no one queuing to get them, we will finally know how many non-vaxers there actually are.
"Until then, we are just speculating. And then we will know how stressed out the health system will get."
Dr Roche said it would be nice if Bowral and District Hospital remained COVID free.
"There remains the option to use the hospital," he said.
"Once hospitalised with COVID-19, patients do not get to be visited by their families, so it does not matter which hospital they are in."
Dr Roche said anyone infected should seek medical help when they are breathless and feel very unwell.
Wingecarribee Shire Council interim administrator Viv May believes the shire's local health services, practitioners and pharmacists had made a "magnificent effort in promoting and rolling out the vaccination."
"The council is confident they can meet any future challenges," he said.
"The council fully supports the efforts of NSW Health and encourages all Highlanders to get vaccinated.
"While our existing rates are above the state vaccination average it's important we maintain momentum to help keep everybody safe and help re-open the shire and state as soon as safely possible.
"The council is undertaking extra precautions such as practising physical distancing and good hygiene and implementing additional cleaning rosters across council facilities."
Mr May said that in line with the NSW Premier's mandate, high vaccination rates would allow the shire to re-open.
"It will provide a much-needed boost for Highlands businesses and the local economy.
"Most importantly, it will allow freedom of movement and the opportunity to re-connect with family and friends in person."
Mr May added that the council had provided alternate methods for residents to contact them or conduct businesses through electronic or online options.
For a list of all council-affected services, replacement options and assistance available, visit https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Community/Coronavirus-COVID-19.
According to NSW Health, 81.7 per cent of residents in the Wingecarribee local government area have received their first vaccination and 54 per cent of the community are fully vaccinated.
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Vera Demertzis
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
