Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Quickstatus]

quiet periods

One quiet period was supposed to be Jan 2022

the last two years should have been addressed to fixing that

Equipment such as ventilators were stockpiles in vast quantities.
However the one area they were unable to fix was nursing. Nursing is highly dependant on new graduates and migrant workers coming through. Those who leave the profession don’t come back.

But much could have been done to make the existing nursing pool more resilient :
1) pandemic uplift in pay
2) support for nurses who have families
3) non public transport to/from home
4) accomodation closer to hospitals
5) ensure nurses work only in one facility by guaranteeing their hours.
6) employing muscle - lots more orderlies, more cleaners

 

[MooTime]

TBF, the primary reason for lockdowns commencing mid 2021 was to allow the health system to prepare?

I think the primary reason for lockdowns were to reduce the covid cases in the community.

I never heard anywhere we were locked down to get the hospital / health systems prepared.

 

[jb747]

I believe Australia has been a net importer of healthcare workers.

But has the total within the workforce increased at all. Or, have the various health organisations made it one of those jobs that people pass through. I know a surprising amount of people who ’used to be’ nurses. I’m sure you get the drift.

Omicron in essence 'broke through' vaccination - would you expect at least 5% of your workforce to be out of action if 100% of them are vaccinated???

Actually I’d be surprised if less than 5% of pilots were unavailable due to things medical in normal times. Seems a low base number. Given two whole years, and unbelievable debt, I’d have hoped the system would have some level of integrity.

I guess the upshot is that the collective governments of this country have spent the last two years treading upon the little guy, whilst totally failing to harden the medical or supply systems.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I think the primary reason for lockdowns were to reduce the covid cases in the community.

I never heard anywhere we were locked down to get the hospital / health systems prepared.

I think that was a reference to flattening the curve.

A random article.

COVID-19: Flattening the curve - Mayo Clinic News Network

Media coverage of COVID-19 often includes the phrase "flattening the curve." Dr. Clayton Cowl, chair of Mayo Clinic's Division of Preventive, Occupational and Aerospace Medicine, says the phrase refers to an attempt to stop a spike in the number of new cases. "When we refer to the term...

newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

But has the total within the workforce increased at all. Or, have the various health organisations made it one of those jobs that people pass through. I know a surprising amount of people who ’used to be’ nurses. I’m sure you get the drift.

Actually I’d be surprised if less than 5% of pilots were unavailable due to things medical in normal times. Seems a low base number. Given two whole years, and unbelievable debt, I’d have hoped the system would have some level of integrity.

I guess the upshot is that the collective governments of this country have spent the last two years treading upon the little guy, whilst totally failing to harden the medical or supply systems.

Just to address the middle comment - that's at least 5% on top of the normal sick/personal/medical leave of the rostered personnel (ie not on annual leave and scheduled to work). The historical count of infections has gone from 250k about a month ago and should pass the 2 million milestone tomorrow.

 

[Solid]

I think that was a reference to flattening the curve.

Isn’t a byproduct of flattening the curve less hospital admissions.

Irrespective I don’t think anyone here is arguing that the health system is and has been under pressure, more that what has been done in the last 2 years to address that?

 

[N860CR]

So as an example, everyone's leave in a public hospital in NSW, Vic, Qld, SA and ACT (the ones with current suspension of some surgery) should have been cancelled on day 1 of Omicron???

It’s a once in a generation pandemic. These people chose to work in public health. This is their one call to arms in their career. Sorry, but yes cancelling their summer off should definitely have occurred.

I’ve seen countless reports on ABC of late complaining about “understaffing” and pressure on GPs, but it usually ends with someone being interviewed and saying “it’s hard because so many people are on holidays at this time of year”.

It’s a weak excuse.

 

[Must...Fly!]

“it’s hard because so many people are on holidays at this time of year”.

This, this and this.

I do not seek to downplay the significant emotional and physical impact this must be having on healthcare workers. Not every job is amazing all the time, every occupation has its pitfalls and bad times.

 

[OATEK]

One quiet period was supposed to be Jan 2022


Equipment such as ventilators were stockpiles in vast quantities.
However the one area they were unable to fix was nursing. Nursing is highly dependant on new graduates and migrant workers coming through. Those who leave the profession don’t come back.

But much could have been done to make the existing nursing pool more resilient :
1) pandemic uplift in pay
2) support for nurses who have families
3) non public transport to/from home
4) accomodation closer to hospitals
5) ensure nurses work only in one facility by guaranteeing their hours.
6) employing muscle - lots more orderlies, more cleaners

I do wonder if our move to making nurse education more an academic than on the job learning has played a part. There is no way under current arrangements that we can ramp up nurse training sufficient to increase he number in the workforce quickly. But if it was more on the job training as when my late Mum went through this in the 1940s, then they are on the wards every day from early on. I don't know, I just wonder.

 

[Pushka]

I do wonder if our move to making nurse education more an academic than on the job learning has played a part. There is no way under current arrangements that we can ramp up nurse training sufficient to increase he number in the workforce quickly. But if it was more on the job training as when my late Mum went through this in the 1940s, then they are on the wards every day from early on. I don't know, I just wonder.

It's also the lack of trained people not being able/willing to come to Australia from overseas of recent times.

 

[antycbr]

It's also the lack of trained people not being able/willing to come to Australia from overseas of recent times.

Lest they be held captive inside Australia or in a state within Australia and be prevented from seeing their family.

 

[Lynda2475]

So positives, hospitalisations and ICU all down today.

Its been over a week now since the inclusion of RAT results caused a huge spike (somewhat delayed due to inclusion of tests back to 1st Jan), if trend continues we have passed peak infection. 2k of todays RAT positives are also over a week old.

If hospitalizations continue to trend down this would point to the real peak of cases being about 2 weeks ago.

 

[Lynda2475]

Saw a tv segment on using heparin as a nasal spray to prevent covid transmission a couple of months ago on the ABC, there is now going to be a trial in NSW and Vic:

SMH reports:

Blood thinner could be used to treat and stop transmission of COVID-19

Initial results of an Australian study indicate the drug Heparin could be “a promising treatment” and also “a possible preventative against the virus” when inhaled.

www.smh.com.au

 

[nutwood]

So as an example, everyone's leave in a public hospital in NSW, Vic, Qld, SA and ACT (the ones with current suspension of some surgery) should have been cancelled on day 1 of Omicron???

I'm very cynical about blaming everything on Omicron, the "game changer". Before that it was Delta and before that it was Covid; "so contagious you'll catch it from a flat surface 36 hours later". The reality is that none of them have come anywhere near the doomsday modelling, so logically, the health system should be cruising. The fact that it's not is an indictment on those responsible.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I'm very cynical about blaming everything on Omicron, the "game changer". Before that it was Delta and before that it was Covid; "so contagious you'll catch it from a flat surface 36 hours later". The reality is that none of them have come anywhere near the doomsday modelling, so logically, the health system should be cruising. The fact that it's not is an indictment on those responsible.

The thing is no one (even on this thread) was saying bring back healthcare workers from planned leave - not Day 1, not Day 15 even. None of the modelling shows healthcare resources compromised. Everyone seems to take for granted that there will be a baseline healthcare capacity and ability to increase (by taking over private hospitals and pausing certain surgeries).

 

[MooTime]

Lot of hindsight experts, that's for sure.

 

[Pushka]

The thing is no one (even on this thread) was saying bring back healthcare workers from planned leave - not Day 1, not Day 15 even. None of the modelling shows healthcare resources compromised. Everyone seems to take for granted that there will be a baseline healthcare capacity and ability to increase (by taking over private hospitals and pausing certain surgeries).

Listening on the radio just now, a day surgery Dr was just saying they have been directed to stop all procedures and their nursing staff have all been directed to operate in the Vaccination clinics if they want to receive a wage. They are not allowed to work in the day surgery. There is no end date.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Listening on the radio just now, a day surgery Dr was just saying they have been directed to stop all procedures and their nursing staff have all been directed to operate in the Vaccination clinics if they want to receive a wage. They are not allowed to work in the day surgery. There is no end date.

There would be an exception for IVF (which I understand is a day surgery) surely after all the recent publicity.

 

[Pushka]

There would be an exception for IVF (which I understand is a day surgery) surely after all the recent publicity.

I haven't heard about that in SA as yet, unlike Victoria.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Listening on the radio just now, a day surgery Dr was just saying they have been directed to stop all procedures and their nursing staff have all been directed to operate in the Vaccination clinics if they want to receive a wage. They are not allowed to work in the day surgery. There is no end date.

Why we we using highly trained clinical nursing staff to jab arms so far in to this thing

It's absurd