COVID-19
Information for health professionals working in South Western Sydney
Updated: 27 November 2020
Find local COVID-19 information for health professionals below:
- Pathology collection & testing in SWS
- Testing options in SWS: Patient information in multiple languages
- GP Updates
- PPE
- Collection of nasal & throat swabs - guidance
- Data: COVID-19 cases in SWS
- COVID-19 Infection Control Online Training for clinicians. The training takes approx. 30 minutes.
- Infection Prevention & Control - in Healthcare settings
- Infection Prevention & Control - Response & Escalation Framework
- Information helplines
- Telehealth during COVID-19
- Aged Care
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander healthcare
- Mental Health
- News, Updates & Media Releases
- Resources for general practice (in multiple languages)
Information pages for Primary Healthcare Providers
NSW Health
- COVID-19 information for GPs (NSW Health not producing COVID-19 PDF alerts but updating this webpage regularly)
Department of Health
- COVID-19 Health Sector Information
- COVID-19 National Health Plan Resources (Factsheets)
- COVID-19 National Health Plan Resources – A Guide for Prescribers
- Australian Health Sector - COVID19 Emergency Response Plan
Other useful links
- RACGP - COVID-19 information for GPs
- RACGP - Caring for adult patients with post-COVID-19 conditions
- WHO - information & guidance from the World Health Orgnaisation
- HealthPathways - South Western Sydney: New COVID-19 pathways
Updates for Primary Healthcare Providers
- COVID-19 SWSPHN GP Newsletter - Updates
- NSW Health moves to Green Alert - COVID-19 Infection Prevention & Control Response - 18 November
- Distribution of PPE through PHNs Tranche 4 - for General Practice - 5 August
- Updated advice for GPs - COVID-19: SWS cluster - 15 July
- NSW Health - COVID-19_Advice _Melbourne - 2 July
- Public Health (COVID-19 Interstates Hotspots) Order 2020 - 1 July
- Distribution of PPE through PHNs: Tranche 4, surgical masks and P2/N95 respirators for general practice, community pharmacy, and allied health - 13 May
- Accreditation - Responding to circumstances arising from COVID-19 pandemic - 30 March
- Update from ACI - Aerosol generating respiratory therapies - Nebulisers - 23 March
- COVID-19 and your Asthma Patients - information for clinicans and patients - 16 March
- Safe testing through General Practice for COVID-19 - 13 March
PPE
Mask distribution in South Western Sydney
Our PHN is committed to delivering masks to practices across all seven LGAs as they become available through the National Medical Stockpile.
If your practice requires masks urgently, please continue to contact your PSO or call us on 4632 3000 to request masks.
Any practices actively testing patients for COVID-19 are asked to contact COVID-19 Response Coordinator Lisa Nguyen at lisa.nguyen@swsphn.com.au so we can flag with the Australian Government Department of Health for future resourcing.
These suppliers currently have stock of PPE for purchase (updated 21 October 2020):
- Australia Post
- Capital Medical Supplies
- Chemist Warehouse
- Eyris Medical Supplies
- HygiMed
- Kmart
- Livingstone
- Medicom
- National Health Australia
- Officeworks
- Safety and Mobility
- Superior Healthcare
- Team Medical Supplies
- The CPAP Clinic
- Plus Medical Surgical Innovation
Collection of nasal and throat swabs - guidance (added 18 June 2020)
- NSW Health advice - Collection of nasal and throat swabs for respiratory virus testing
- Department of Health advice - PHLN Guidance: COVID-19 Swab Collection – Upper Respiratory Specimen
COVID-19 Mental Health Support & Services
For information about mental health services available in South Western Sydney and the referral process - see our Mental Health - information for health professionals page.
Specific COVID-19 mental health information, support, tools and resources for local residents is available on our COVID-19 Community Mental Health page.
Aged Care - information for residental facility staff & health providers
- NSW Health - Advice for aged care services
- Information in multiple languages - for residential aged care staff, residents and families
- Infection Control Online Training - How to protect yourself & the people you are caring for
- Infection Prevention & Control - in RACFS - November 2020
- COVID-19 outbreaks in Australian residential aged care facilities – weekly report
- Dementia Help Sheets for COVID-19 - tips for carers, RACFs, people living with dementia and family
- Department of Health - Advice for the Health & Aged Care Sector
- Department of Health – COVID-19 Aged Care Preparedness - 12 March
- Department of Health – COVID-19 Pathology Testing in Aged Care - 12 March
- Dr Ken McCroary’s article in NewsGP - GPs must help aged care prepare for the coronavirus
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander resources & information
-
Advice to Aboriginal Community Health Services & Aboriginal Medical Services
- Newsletter: COVID-19 updates for Aboriginal & Torres Strair Islander communities
- CAH - Keep our communities healthy_poster
- CAH - Protect community and elders to stop the spread_poster
- CAH - Stay connected to keep our mob healthy_poster
- CAH - Keep our communities healthy_brochure
- CAH - Sorry business and coronavirus - information poster
Updates from the Chief Medical Officer
Latest news from the Australian Government Department of Health - statements from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) on coronavirus (COVID-19), clinical updates and Chief Medical Officer's press releases.
- Subscribe to the GP Update on COVID-19 from the CMO
Subscribe Here
Read the CMO coronavirus (COVID-19) newsletter for GPs:
Friday, 28 August
Friday, 4 September
Friday, 11 September
Friday, 25 September
Friday, 2 October
Friday, 16 October
Friday, 30 October
Friday, 13 November
Friday, 27 November
- Joint Media Release - The Hon Greg Hunt, Minister for Health & Professor Michael Kidd AM, Principle Medical Advisor
- Media Release from ASHM - Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis & Sexual Health Medicine
National taskforce to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on HIV and other blood-borne viruses – 27 March 2020
- Media Release from Brad Hazzard - NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research
Community urged to help prevent Coronavirus - 27 February 2020
Coronavirus Health Information Line
Call this Australian Government Department of Health phone line if you are seeking information on COVID-19. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Liverpool Public Health Unit (South Western Sydney LHD)
(02) 9794 0855
After Hours - Phone: (02) 8738 3000
(Liverpool Hospital) - ask for Public Health Officer on call
healthdirect helpline
Community members can call this number to speak to a registered nurse about their health concerns. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
See COVID-19 information
for community members
