NSW Health is deploying a specialist Medical Assistance Team to North Richmond to help provide emergency care for people cut off from hospitals due to flooding.
“We are stepping up our response to ensure patients in flood-affected areas who call Triple Zero are able to receive treatment, where road closures have cut off access to emergency care in hospitals,” NSW Health Deputy Secretary Deborah Willcox said.
“The critical care team will be based in North Richmond and will be able to help stabilise patients, while arrangements are made for them to be transferred to an emergency department as early as possible.”
The Medical Assistance Team will consist of two emergency medicine and retrieval specialists, two paramedics, two registered nurses and one logistician.
“It is expected the team will be deployed for a period of seven days, but this will be continually assessed based on the needs of the surrounding communities,” Ms Willcox said.
NSW Ambulance’s State Manager of Health Emergency Response Capability and Countermeasures, David Koop said the team will be able to provide essential emergency department care diagnosing, as well as treating acute and urgent illnesses and injuries.
“Our primary job will be to provide temporary high-level care to unstable patients, as well as facilitating evacuations by air if needed,” Mr Koop said.
“Many residents have been left isolated due to flooding on roads, so we need to be able to get patients safely from the regions to the emergency department.”
The North Richmond facility will not be open for patient walk-ins, with people with non-urgent care needs advised to attend their local GP service or pharmacy.
NSW Health would like to thank St John of God Hospital at North Richmond for providing the space to accommodate the team.
Residents are advised to call Triple Zero (000) if they need emergency medical care.
If you need emergency assistance in a flood or storm, call the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500.
Health advice is also available 24 hours a day from Healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222.
Mental health support is available on the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
