COVID-19
Parkes Hospital’s maternity ward is being prepared to perform a major role if required in the region’s response to COVID-19.
Lachlan Health Service Manager Liz Mitchell said all health services in the Western NSW Local Health District could potentially have a role to play if numbers of COVID-19 people needing hospitalisation increase.
“At the moment, the vast majority of COVID-19 patients are able to be cared for in their home with support put in place by health and other agencies,” she said.
“If at any time in the future that changes, our larger facilities such as Parkes could be required to take care of people who need hospital-level care, either when they’re sick or as a step toward recovery.
“To prepare for that possibility, we’re doing some minor works in the maternity space to make sure that we have the right precautions in place to keep patients and staff safe.
“This work is having a minimal disruption on services, including the pre and post-natal service which is continuing to operate as usual both in the community and from the hospital.”