Queensland Health’s nation-first COVID-19 Healthcare Support Service

Published Friday, 04 September, 2020 at 11:09 AM

Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services
The Honourable Steven Miles

 

Queensland’s specialist COVID-19 Healthcare Support Service launched today ensuring thousands of interstate residents who access healthcare in Queensland each month are supported when they enter the state.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said the dedicated unit for people needing to access essential healthcare in Queensland could be contacted by calling a new hotline.

The new team will also provide a unique case-managed approach to those entering mandatory quarantine who have complex healthcare needs.

“While our border restrictions have been in place in some way since March, we have always allowed interstate residents to enter the state for medical care. But we must do this in a way that keeps everyone safe and protects our regions.

“The Hospital and Health Services closest to the New South Wales border – Gold Coast, Metro North, Metro South, Children’s Health Queensland, West Moreton and Darling Downs – treated more than 9,700 interstate residents in the last two months as inpatients, outpatients or emergency patients. The 75 percent of these patients are NSW residents, that’s more than 900 NSW patients treated in our hospitals each week.

“It is critical to remember that those requiring medical care do not need, and have never needed, to apply for an exemption to cross the border, but may have different quarantine requirements. 

“The Healthcare Support Service ensures everyone who is suitable for medical care, further support, needs an exemption, or is looking for the right information, gets access to what they need at the right time.”

Anyone can enter Queensland by road, rail or air for emergency healthcare without an exemption. People can also continue to receive essential healthcare in Queensland where they either have an ongoing relationship with a healthcare provider or if the healthcare cannot be provided close to their home.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said nurses, doctors, social workers, paramedics and representatives from other key state government departments are all part of the new service.

“We know the situations in which people apply for these exemptions can be deeply personal and we want to make sure we have the right people in place to support the applicant,” Dr Young said.

“I have set the rules for how exemptions are assessed and every exemption request relating to medical needs will be assessed by a clinician.

“The Healthcare Support Service will help to speed up the assessment process and people going through the exemption process with medical needs can be assured that their request is being assessed by a team of experts.

“We’re very aware of how hard the quarantine process can be for those who do not get granted an exemption. That’s why we also have a pilot program in place to make quarantine easier for people with existing medical needs and disabilities and those caring for very young children.

As part of the new Targeted Care Accommodation Program, selected hotels or alternative accommodation will have additional health and social support on site or close by for specific groups of individuals during their 14-day COVID-19 quarantine period.

Stage 1 of the program is being conducted on those in quarantine and currently COVID-19 negative, by Metro South Hospital and Health Service in conjunction with Queensland Police Service.

Those who may be suitable for the additional support will be identified by various Queensland Government and community services teams – this process will be further strengthened by the new Healthcare Support Service.

“This builds on the existing health support that exists for those in the quarantine process and I am very proud to see the ways we can continue to improve,” Dr Young said,

“I would also like to thank the Queensland Police Service and our other Departmental partners for their ongoing support throughout this pandemic."

Anyone who needs further information or support on entering Queensland for essential medical care, exemption requests from people overseas, in a hotspot or from hotel quarantine can contact the Healthcare Support Service by calling 134 COVID (13 42 68).

ENDS 

Media contact:  Katharine Wright – 0428 957 903