Sydneys Westmead Hospital forced into emergency operations due to COVID-19 cases

A major hospital at the epicentre of Sydney’s outbreak has been forced into “emergency operations”, reducing the number of COVID-19 cases arriving by ambulance for 24 hours and transferring several critical patients to other hospitals.

On Tuesday, Westmead Hospital announced to staff it was doing so to “support an internal disaster management response” as it deals with an increasing number of coronavirus infections.

Westmead Hospital has entered an emergency state to deal with a rising number of COVID-19 patients.Credit:Louise Kennerley

The hospital is working to open 100 beds at Westmead Private Hospital for its use.

“We acknowledge that we are no longer operating in a business as usual environment and careful assessment and response is required to manage future demand for our services,” the hospital’s acting general manager, Jenelle Matic, said in an email seen by the Herald on Tuesday.

An urgent review is being conducted of the hospital’s critical care capacity, emergency department flow, COVID-19 wards and ambulance offloading, the email said. It said the hospital was “standing up an Emergency Operations Centre to support an internal disaster management response”.

Western Sydney Local Health District chief executive Graeme Loy said the measures were implemented following “unprecedented high demand” for the hospital’s services during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We are continuing to receive ambulances and emergency care continues to be available to everyone who needs it,” he said.

There are 608 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital in NSW, including 107 people in intensive care. Thirty-four people require ventilation.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Tuesday said she was comfortable with the state’s rate of hospitalisation at around five and a half per cent, adding the system was coping well.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.Credit:Kate Geraghty

NSW reported 753 new local cases on Tuesday and health authorities confirmed the death of a woman in her 30s from Sydney’s west, who died at home after contracting COVID-19. It marks the 75th death in the state since the outbreak began in June.

Me Berejiklian said 30 per cent of the state’s population was fully vaccinated and 60 per cent had received one dose, giving her confidence to announce an “extra degree of freedom” later this week.

About two-thirds of the state’s milestone six million jabs have been administered at GPs and pharmacies, with the rest delivered at state-run vaccination hubs and clinics.

Sydney’s worst hit areas from the latest outbreak are recording some of the highest rates of vaccination, with councils like Cumberland, Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown increasing first dose jabs by about 50 per cent in less than four weeks.

Ms Berejiklian called out areas like Burwood, Fairfield, Canterbury and Bankstown as recording some of the highest inoculation rates over the past week, while also recording the highest daily case numbers.

She said Blacktown, which had one of the lowest rates of vaccination, now had one of the highest in the state, after increasing first dose coverage from 53.6 per cent to 64.8 per cent in one week.

“The 12 local government areas of concern and all the suburbs within them are now having some of the highest rates of vaccination and that is something we should all feel really positive about because it will help us control the spread,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Fifty new cases were reported in NSW’s west and far west, including 23 in Dubbo, as well as cases in Parkes, Wellington, Gilgandra and Narromine. An additional 14 cases were recorded in Wilcannia, in the state’s far west.

Data published by the federal government on Monday showed regions of western and south-west Sydney have the fastest growing rates of vaccination coverage in the country.

Regions in NSW took out nine of the top 12 rankings for statistical areas nationwide.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard called on Greater Sydney to learn from communities in hotspots, who were receiving a jab while facing the highest daily case numbers and living under the most stringent lockdown measures.

“I think the challenge now is for those who are not having as tough a time to get out and do what these hardworking of south-west and western Sydney have done,” he said.

Almost 300,000 jabs have been administered at Qudos Bank Arena at Olympic Park as part of the state’s push to vaccinate more than half a million 16 to 39-year-olds in hotspot areas.

NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce said there were about 200,000 appointments remaining, calling on disability and childcare workers in hotspots to take up a priority first dose, which is mandatory by next Monday.

The Premier said she would make an announcement on Thursday or Friday about “the additional thing” fully vaccinated people can do in September and October.

Ms Berejiklian said she would also outline plans for the rest of the school year, including whether vaccinations would be mandatory for teachers.

“It’s fair to say that in all categories of workers that we’ve encouraged back to the workplace we’ve said you have to be vaccinated,” she said.

“There is already a call-out to teachers as well as every other frontline worker, every other worker who has contact with people, we’re urging to get vaccinated ... and when we outline our schools plan, towards the end of this week we’ll be able to talk about that.”

The Premier would not be drawn on whether any new freedoms would also apply to people in the 12 hotspot LGAs of south-west and western Sydney, saying only “those conversations” were under way.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro (left), Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant (centre) and Premier Gladys Berejiklian Credit:Kater Geraghty

Ms Berejiklian said she was comfortable with the state’s rate of hospitalisation at around five and a half per cent, adding the system was coping well.

Ms Berejiklian added that the state “absolutely” had capacity to handle increased hospitalisation rates forecast under the Doherty report’s modelling of 80 per cent vaccination.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said reaching 80 per cent would give NSW options and choices, but it would not necessarily remove the burden of all settings.

“It may be that we actually have indoor mask-wearing for years in certain settings. We may have factors that you’re only permitted to go to certain high-risk venues if you are vaccinated,” she said.

“The world is grappling with how we coexist with COVID. And this virus may throw us curveballs.”

Dr Chant said she wanted a “strong equity focus” in the state’s ongoing vaccination drive, ensuring high rates among all vulnerable groups.

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.

Lucy Cormack is a state political reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.

Mary Ward is a health reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.

Lucy Carroll is a reporter covering health for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Share this post