News

Keeping up with COVID-19 and what this means for Ipswich

Sep 17, 2020

Staff at St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital Emergency Department have enhanced safety measures in response to changes in public health guidelines, and in light of COVID-19 cases in the region.

Emergency Department Physician, Dr Graham Ireland (pictured), is encouraging the Ipswich community to seek medical attention should they need it.

“There is a perception amongst the community that waiting rooms will be overly busy because of the Ipswich cluster and the pandemic in general, but I want to reassure the community that we have sufficient room and robust processes for patient assessment allowing us to see our patients quickly.

“I understand this is an unnerving time for people, particularly those in a vulnerable situation, but caring for our health is vital. We need to remember that our case numbers are low, and we can continue to get through this,” Dr Ireland said.

To abide by public health guidelines, visitors cannot enter the Emergency Department unless caring for a paediatric patient or confused elderly patient, however, the Emergency Department has introduced a text-messaging service so family can stay up to date on patient progression.

St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital is part of Australia’s largest private hospital group Ramsay Health Care, which has implemented comprehensive screening of all people who enter the hospital, as well as additional support measures for frontline workers to support them during this challenging time.

Dr Ireland, who has worked at St Andrew’s Ipswich Private for almost two years, said the Emergency Department continues to care for a wide variety of patients, including general medical and surgical, to paediatric, child injury, sporting injury, senior falls and sometimes those with critically ill conditions.

The experienced Emergency Department team at St Andrew’s Ipswich offer a personal service to the 1,000 patients who come through the doors each month. With incoming emergency department patients coming from over half an hour away, the department carries all the x-ray, CT scanner and blood testing requirements on site to ensure prompt assessment and treatment.