COVID-19 Response
Good morning,
I am sure you are very aware of the global spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19 and the national pandemic that we find ourselves in. We want to take a moment to reassure you that here are Rural Nursing Services we are taking steps to ensure that as much as possible, it’s ‘business as usual’ regarding service delivery.
However, these are unprecedented times that require all staff and consumers to consider how to maintain and manage the delivery of care and services during this time, particularly if you or someone close to you is in self-isolation or becomes unwell.
We will continue to actively follow the guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), with the department of health, NSW Health and our local health District for the latest factual information and guidelines. I would like to stress that there remain no confirmed cases in the Mudgee/Gulgong regions.
There are many informative Fact Sheets available to educate you about the more formal aspects of COVID-19. Information is available on radio, television and online at this link: https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert
Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our consumers, families, and staff, and to minimise the disruption to our consumers’ essential care and services. We are striving to meet the best practice in how we approach infection management and control. Various measures proposed by the regulators in our aged and disability care industry have been implemented at Rural Nursing Services, including:
- The provision of training and information for consumers and our staff to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19
- Following good hand-hygiene and social distancing practices
- Provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff, where required/indicated
- Support for our staff and our consumers to maintain emotional and mental wellbeing.
The best way to prevent transmission of the Coronavirus COVID-19 is by practising good hygiene.
Good hygiene includes:
- Covering your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue
- Disposing of tissues properly
- Washing your hands often with soap and water, including before and after eating and after going to the toilet
- Using alcohol-based hand sanitisers
- Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces
Another area of focus that is recommended to prevent transmission is ‘social distancing’ – that is less contact between you and other people. We encourage everyone to practice this.
We all need to be vigilant in identifying and reporting to Rural Nursing Services, your General Practitioner and the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080 if you or a close one:
- Has symptoms of an influenza like illness
- Returned from any country overseas and have fever OR symptoms of acute respiratory infection (e.g. shortness of breath, cough, sore throat).
- Have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19
- Returned from a higher risk country within the past 14 days
To ensure the health and safety of all staff and consumers Rural Nursing Services will require all parties with a fever ≥ 37.5 degrees Celsius AND symptoms of an acute respiratory infection (e.g. shortness of breath, cough, sore throat) to contact Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080 AND Rural Nursing Services. We may refuse service until clearance is made.
We thank you for your continued support in this complex and changeable environment and will continue to work together with you to eliminate the threat of this virus
Kind Regards,
Rural Nursing Services management team.