A message from our Executive Officer – Michelle Wood

To all of our clients, carers and stakeholders,  

Please see following information related to service delivery from Banksia Palliative Care Service (Banksia) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Firstly, as a health service that provides care to a vulnerable community, Banksia supports and encourages full COVID-19 vaccination (wherever medical exemptions do not apply) to protect our clients and carers, our staff and the general community from significant illness should the virus be contracted. To date, 96% of our staff have had one dose of COVID-19 vaccination and 89% are fully vaccinated – our whole team must be fully vaccinated by 15 December according to the Chief Health Officer’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Specified Facilities) Directions, and we assure you that we will meet this target.

Throughout the entire pandemic, Banksia has continued to visit clients in our care. Our management team has continually monitored the COVID-19 situation, including daily numbers, location of cases and government and health directives. Internal processes are continually reviewed, updated and implemented to ensure we continue to provide expert palliative care support whilst keeping our team, and you and your family/carers safe and healthy.

 SAFETY

The safety of our clients, and that of our staff and volunteers remains very much at the forefront of our minds and actions. In an effort to ensure the highest possible level of safety for our team, clients and carers, we have:

• Provided additional PPE for our staff, and ensured every staff member has been repetitively trained in its use.
• Provided every staff member with a checklist for safe home visits.
• Changed to telehealth appointments where appropriate.
• Suspended our volunteer visits.

We also:

• Phone clients before visits to ask questions about COVID-19 symptoms in the home and any possible COVID-19 exposure they may be aware of, including attendance at declared exposure sites. Answers being accurate is extremely important.
• Request that during our visits there will be a maximum of 2 people in attendance – our client and their main carer only.
• Have staggered staff work hours to limit the number of staff together in the office at one time.

COVID-19 testing

Any person in our community who shows any symptoms aligned to COVID-19 (fever, sore throat, cough, etc), is still being asked by our Government to be tested for COVID-19. It is essential that our whole community are tested when appropriate to ensure we all keep each other safe and well. We encourage you to have a test should it be appropriate – being tested will not prevent us from visiting if we are needed, HOWEVER it is essential that we are informed that a test has been conducted BEFORE the visit takes place, so please call our office on 9455 0822 to let us know.

Where to from here….

I want to assure you again that Banksia is here for you – it is ‘business as usual’. We will continue to support you and your family in your home throughout the pandemic. If you have any questions in regards to the COVID-19 Pandemic that relates to the Banksia service, please do not hesitate to call our office on 9455 0822 for advice and clarification.

We want to thank you for all your support and consideration – please take care of yourselves and stay safe.

 Michelle
Executive Officer