A message from the Secretary, new booster dose recommendations and NSW Health Awards now open.
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As we work through the winter months, our health services are under ongoing pressure, heightened by increasing levels of transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. This not only impacts activity in our hospitals, community services and our emergency departments but staff availability too.
I again want to acknowledge our remarkable staff in every area of NSW Health who continue to provide high quality care to the community despite these challenges. Especially as COVID and winter illness impacts us not only at work, but within our home, family and community.
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There have been some major announcements around changes to COVID-19 testing advice, winter vaccine booster eligibility and expansion of antiviral eligibility. More information on these changes can be found in this edition.
On another note, this Sunday, 24 July, marks International Security Officers Day.
I would like to recognise the contributions that our security staff, which includes our Health and Security Assistants, make every day in hospitals across NSW. You are an important part of our healthcare team, assisting clinicians and working to keep our staff, patients and visitors safe.
The value of your role has never been clearer than over the last two years of the pandemic, as you stepped up to support us with compassion and expertise, and I am thankful for your ongoing dedication.
Please join me in thanking your local security staff, I wish you all a happy International Security Officers Day.
Kind regards,
Susan Pearce
Secretary, NSW Health
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Changes to testing advice
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The COVID-19 reinfection period has been reduced from 12 weeks down to 4 weeks.
This follows advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, based on the enhanced ability of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants to evade immunity gained from previous COVID-19 infection and vaccination.
The change means that people who have previously had COVID-19 but develop new symptoms need to test if it has been longer than four weeks since their previous isolation ended. If they test positive again, they will be treated as new cases and will need to isolate for seven days.
The change in reinfection period does not change the advice on vaccination post infection, which remains three months.
More information is available on the NSW Health website.
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NSW Health Awards - nominations now open
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Nominations are now open for the 24th Annual NSW Health Awards.
The NSW Health Awards recognise innovative and sustainable health programs that deliver outcomes that matter to patients and invest in the wellness of the NSW community.
We encourage you to think of projects or colleagues in the workplace that have demonstrated the great work being done by NSW Health.
For more information, contact your local liaison officer.
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Antiviral eligibility expansion
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Antiviral medicines can reduce the risk of severe disease and hospitalisation from COVID-19.
Eligibility for antivirals has now been expanded to include:
- all people aged 70 years and over
- people aged 50 years and older with two or more risk factors for severe disease
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged 30 years and older, with two or more risk factors for severe illness.
People who are immunocompromised and 18 years and older may also be eligible.
Antiviral medicines only work within the first few days of symptom onset, so it’s critical that eligible people get tested and diagnosed quickly. PCR tests are advised for all people at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
Detailed information on antiviral eligibility is available on the federal government website.
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First baby welcomed in new birthing suite
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It was a big day for Nepean Blue Mountains midwifery staff, and an even bigger day for proud first-time parents, Amanda and Nick. The couple welcomed baby Everleigh, who is the first baby born inside the new Nepean Hospital.
The new birthing rooms have opened in the Nepean Hospital Clinical Tower.
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The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has expanded the eligibility for additional (second) COVID-19 winter boosters to help reduce serious illness from COVID-19.
Winter boosters are now available for everyone aged 30 years and over and recommended for everyone aged 50 years and over.
The interval between booster doses or following a recent COVID-19 infection is three months.
People who were previously recommended to get a winter booster remain at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and are strongly encouraged to have their winter booster as soon as possible.
Read more on the ATAGI website.
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NSW respiratory surveillance reports
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The latest NSW respiratory surveillance reports - COVID-19 and influenza is now available:
In the week ending 9 July 2022:
COVID-19 summary
- NSW is experiencing a new wave of transmission driven by BA.4 and BA.5 COVID-19 subvariants, with an increase in the number of notified cases in the last week. Reported rates of COVID-19 are likely to underestimate true incidence in the community.
- PCR testing for COVID-19 is stable, with 203,451 PCR tests reported this week, similar to the previous week. The proportion of PCR tests that were positive for COVID-19 has been stable at about 17%.
- The number of people in hospital has been increasing with 1,946 people in hospital with COVID-19 at the end of this week compared to 1,658 at the end of last week. There were 769 people with COVID-19 admitted to hospital and 75 admitted to ICU this week. The seven-day rolling average of daily hospital admissions decreased to an average of 110 daily admissions from 113 last week and ICU admissions increased to an average of 11 admissions by the end of this week, compared with 8 admissions at the end of last week. Hospital admissions include people with COVID-19 who are admitted for other reasons.
- There were 95 COVID-19 deaths reported this week. Of these, 95 were eligible for a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine but only 62 (65%) had received three or more doses. Six of the deaths reported were in people aged under 65 years. Deaths may not have occurred in the week in which they were reported.
- BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants are currently the dominant strains, rising to 83% at the end of this week from 70% at the end of the previous week. There is no evidence of a difference in disease severity but this is being closely monitored. The timing of the peak is likely to sometime in late July or early August and will depend on a combination of factors, including the growth advantage, immunity levels in the population, and environmental and behavioural factors (e.g. social mixing, mask wearing, ventilation, isolation when unwell).
- To help reduce severe disease from Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariant infections, adults aged 50 to 64 years are now recommended to receive a winter booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and adults aged 30 to 49 years can receive a winter booster dose.
- NSW Health is monitoring the international situation in regard to the BA.2.75 subvariant which has recently emerged. Three cases have been reported in returned travelers in NSW which have been confirmed by whole genome sequencing.
Influenza summary
- Hospital and laboratory surveillance continues to show a high level of influenza activity across NSW.
- Notifications of influenza cases decreased this week. The recent trend in reported influenza cases suggests that the influenza season has peaked; however, there could be subsequent peaks given the early start to the 2022 influenza season. Influenza vaccination is strongly advised.
- Hospitalisations and the percentage of tests that are positive are the most useful indicators for comparison of influenza activity across years. These indicators are not impacted by overall testing in the community, which is currently elevated due to increased respiratory virus testing.
- Of the 76,684 tests conducted for influenza at sentinel laboratories, the proportion of positive tests remains stable at around 4%.
- Emergency department presentations for ‘influenza-like illness’ (ILI) requiring an admission have decreased to 84 compared to 113 admissions in the previous week; 17% of all ILI emergency department presentations required a hospital admission this week, which is a slight increase from 15% in the previous week.
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New resources are now available to help provide information to the public on key health concerns. These include:
- a factsheet covering common respiratory illnesses such as rhinovirus, adenovirus and RSV
- a webpage from the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network on managing children’s winter illnesses and when to seek help.
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Meet DJ Nurse Manager at Sutherland Hospital
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When talking with patients, Acting Nurse Unit Manager Andrew Nielsen from Sutherland Hospital never struggles for conversation topics, as patients find the 26 year old nurse fascinating.
“I’m a male nurse, which is a talking point in an industry dominated by women, I’m six foot five inches tall, which people always notice. I work as a DJ as my second job, so there is always something interesting to talk about,” Andrew said.
Becoming a nurse was a natural choice for Andrew, who became interested in health while
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learning first aid as a volunteer surf life saver. He was drawn to nursing due to his caring nature. However, nursing wasn’t his first career. Andrew began working as a DJ while he was in high school.
“Nursing and DJ-ing are so different from each other but they are both passions of mine and I love them both,” Andrew said.
Luckily for Andrew, he has been able to bring these two roles together at Sutherland Hospital.
“It started when the hospital organised a huge farewell event and after that more people in the hospital knew I was a DJ.
From then I was asked to DJ at hospital barbeques and events, including the Music on the Lawn events.”
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Andrew recently returned to spin his decks at another important event for Sutherland Hospital. Andrew was a part of the entertainment at the hospital’s Fundraising Gala event at the end of June, which raised an incredible $1.05 million for the hospital.
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Matthew Daly appointed as Deputy Secretary, Patient Experience and System Performance
This week, Matthew Daly commenced as Deputy Secretary, Patient Experience and System Performance.
Matthew brings his deep and nuanced understanding of health system operations and his passion for improving patient and clinical outcomes to the Ministry.
Thank you to Joanne Edwards for acting as the Deputy Secretary, and for all the commitment and dedication she has shown to the patients and staff of NSW Health in this role.
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Beard wrapping can improve safety for health staff unable to shave
The Clinical Excellence Commission's (CEC) Infection Prevention and Control team played a key role in research and guidance development to improve the safe use of P2/N95 respirators among health workers in the Sikh community.
Published in this month's Journal of Hospital Infection, the research saw the CEC staff work with doctors from the Sikh community to assess the efficacy of under-mask beard covers to achieve an adequate seal with tight-fitting P2/N95 respirators and fit testing.
You can read more on the CEC website.
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International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare Australasia 2022
The International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare Sydney 2022 will be taking place from 24 to 26 July 2022.
This year’s theme is New horizons: Quality improvement shaping the future. It focuses on uniting healthcare professionals and consumers from across Australasia to design new ways of delivering care.
You are invited to share your passion and your ideas with a global community like no other, to rebuild old connections and make new ones.
Find out more about how to register on the NSW Health Intranet.
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'Together for Healthier Tomorrows' - JHFMHN prepares for the future
The Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network is putting best practice collaborative care first, as it works to shape its direction and purpose into the future.
Under the vision 'Together for Healthier Tomorrows', staff are at the heart of a new 10-year strategic plan that will provide a catalyst to transform the Network and create a unifying vision for the future.
The Network cares for a highly vulnerable patient population whose health needs are often numerous and more complex than those of the wider community.
The 10-year plan will help tackle current and future challenges in the delivery of patient-centred care to adults and young people in contact with the forensic mental health and criminal justice systems across community, inpatient and custodial settings.
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Our NSW Health Awards winner
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Meet the Agency for Clinical Innovation's Alcohol and Drug Cognitive Enhancement program team, the winner of NSW Health's 2021 Keeping People Healthy Award.
Taking on drug and alcohol treatment is a huge step. However, staying in and benefiting from treatment can easily be derailed by impaired brain function. Our Alcohol and Drug Cognitive Enhancement (ACE) program is tackling this challenge, with impressive results.
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From the Critical Intelligence Unit
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The Critical Intelligence Unit has produced and/or released a new evidence brief on:
In the past weeks, the Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Evidence Digest features:
The Evidence Digest is available via the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) website. To receive the Digest on Friday mornings, sign-up by emailing Critical Intelligence Unit.
The Critical Intelligence Unit continues to provide:
- living evidence tables capturing emerging evidence on vaccines, variants of concern, transmission and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (long COVID)
- an integrated dashboard to support risk monitoring in healthcare settings.
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