Keeping you safe during COVID-19

COVID-19 ALERT – 27th July 2021

All patients attending Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, regardless of appointment type, must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19, test taken within 48-72 hours prior to your attendance. This is for all appointment types including pathology, medical imaging (MRI, CT-Scan, X-Ray, radiology), chemotherapy, radiation therapy & surgery.

Visitors are by pre-approved exemption only and must also provide a negative COVID-19 result. Thank you for your understanding.

COVID-19 ALERT – Effective 4:00pm, 23 July 2021

PATIENT AND VISITOR POLICY UPDATE 

To ensure the safety of our patients and staff, from 23/07/21, ALL patients, regardless of where they live must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 48-72 hours prior to attending the hospital.

VISITING EXEMPTIONS

We continue to be compassionate towards our patients and their families during this difficult time. Visitors to the hospital continue to be by pre-approved exemption only on a case-by-case basis, and must provide a negative COVID-19 result taken within 48-72 hours prior to attending the hospital. Currently approved visitors will be asked to obtain a surveillance COVID-19 swab but can continue to visit provided they show no signs or symptoms.

These exemptions will be provided at admission and the nominated visitor(s) will receive a confirmation text to be shown on entry to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse reception. If you require consideration of a visiting exemption, please call (02) 8514 1444.

Visiting access will be provided for cases where there is:

• Acute patient deterioration
• One nominated visitor for patients under 21 years of age
• The family of cases where there are end of life concerns (there is no restriction on visitor numbers in this instance, however social distancing when staff enter the room is required)

Inpatient visitors are  restricted to :

• A nominated visitor of patients under 21 years of age
• The family of patients at the end stage of life (there is no restriction on visitor numbers in this instance, however social distancing when staff enter the room is required)

Visitors of patients attending Chemotherapy /Radiotherapy/ Out-patient Clinics

• Where possible visitors who accompany patients should remain outside the facility to minimise foot traffic
• Where a  visitor is providing support during the treatment or appointment (eg physical, emotional, or as an interpreter), they must remain in the department of the treatment only

These strategies are aimed to ensure we continue to provide essential cancer services and protect our patients and staff . We understand how difficult this is and thank our community for helping to keep us safe.

COVID-19 ALERT – 5:45pm, 22 July 2021

This afternoon, NSW Health notified Chris O’Brien Lifehouse a patient who attended an appointment on Tuesday (20/07/21) has since tested positive for COVID-19.

We have assessed CCTV footage have recorded this patient’s movements throughout the hospital. We can confirm the patient visited the below locations:

Timeline of patient movements:

11:25am – 11:29am: Patient entered the hospital through the car park lifts

11:30am – 11:51am: Patient visited Pathology on Level 1 via the front lifts

11:52am – 11:57am: Patient left Pathology to go to Clinic C

11:57am – 12:39pm: Patient checked-in to Clinic C and waited in the waiting room, was seen by their doctor, and then left Level 2 to go to Pharmacy

12:40pm – 12:59pm: Patient attended Pharmacy

12:59pm -1:03pm: Patient took the front lift to Ground Floor and waited in the Patient Waiting Area opposite Main Reception

1:03pm: Patient leaves through a side exit and was picked up

Contact tracing is underway, with all close and casual contacts instructed to immediately undergo testing, to isolate, and to follow the directions of the public health unit. We are working closely with NSW Health, and are taking all safety precautions.

The wellbeing of our patients and staff always remains our priority, and we will be continuing all services at this time. Over 90% of our clinical staff are vaccinated, so we hope this is contained quickly. If you have any questions or concerns, please call (02) 8514 1414 or email communications@lh.org.au.

COVID-19 ALERT – 5:00pm, 17 July 2021

Patients attending for surgery

Regardless of where you live, if you are having surgery at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, you are required to have a COVID-19 test 48-72 hours prior to your surgery.

If you are unwell with any cold or flu-like symptoms and are scheduled for a procedure, please contact us by phone and do NOT attend the hospital.

We remind you to review the frequently updated COVID-19 hotspot lists to ensure you have not frequented these venues or regions. You can access these hotspots by clicking here and the NSW Health website for further information.

Patients attending day appointments

As of July 17th, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse requires all patients and visitors who reside in the local government areas of Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool and Fairfield to provide evidence of a surveillance COVID-19 swab 72 hours prior to attending their appointment at the hospital.

Please see a list of postcodes and suburbs that fall into these local government areas below:

COVID-19 ALERT – 1:00pm, 15 July 2021

We wish to reassure you. As of 2:15pm today, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse has received notification from NSW Health that the re-testing of the staff member who received a preliminary result has returned a negative result for COVID-19.

We are grateful for the rapid communication from NSW Health and wish to thank our community for their support and patience.

Continued services

We are working closely with NSW Health with the goal to maintain services and surgery in a way that is safe for you, our staff and the entire community, as a result, we have implemented the following:

• All patients must have a COVID test no more than 48hrs prior to their surgery and then strictly adhere to the stay at home orders
• You will be contacted the day prior to your planned admission by our team by telephone and we can gain rapid result access with your permission
• Your procedure may be deferred if you do not comply with this requirement

Visitor restrictions

• Due to current COVID-19 restrictions NO visitors are permitted entry to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. Exemptions may be granted by management on compassionate grounds only. If you have questions please call (02) 8514 1111 between 8am and 4pm
• Screening on arrival is mandatory including QR code on entry, temperature check and masks must be worn
• Please check the HOT SPOTS before visiting the hospital
• Patients attending appointments, please come alone unless you need assistance getting to the appointment
• Your appointment may be moved to Telehealth. We will contact you directly to let you know if this is the case
• Deliveries for patients, e.g. flowers, gifts etc. will be ceased to eliminate the attendance of non-essential people in the hospital

If you have any questions, call our COVID-19 help line on (02) 8514 1111.

Keep up to date with COVID restrictions and current hotspots at NSW Health.

Thank you for being patient with us. Your actions during this time not only protect you and your loved ones, but they also keep our staff safe so that we can continue to care for you.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Cancer

If you or a loved one is affected by cancer, you will have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and whether it is advisable or safe to receive it. These FAQs from Cancer Australia provide answers including when people affected by cancer can receive the vaccine, if it’s safe and effective and what risks and side effects there may be. These are based on information and evidence currently available in Australia and internationally and are updated as new information emerges.

If you would like personalised advice on whether you should get the vaccine, speak to your oncologist, surgeon or GP about your situation.

Keep up with information on COVID-19, including vaccination centres, on the NSW Health website.

What we’re doing to keep you safe