The information on this page is the latest information and resources for General Practices.
Healthdirect Hotline: 1800 022 222
Public Health Unit: 1300 066 055
If you require clinical advice on matters relating to Communicable Diseases or other Public Health issues outside of normal hours, please contact your nearest Public Health Unit.
Bathurst: 0428 400 526
Dubbo: 0428 400 526
Broken Hill: 0419 917 426
Green Alert Issued by NSW Health
Effective immediately, NSW Health services will move from amber alert, or moderate transmission to green alert, or low transmission in line with the COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Response Framework.
This advice applies to hospital and community health settings and came into effect on Wednesday 18 November 2020.
This decision follows discussion at the Risk Escalation Review Panel today which includes representatives from the Ministry, Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, the Agency for Clinical Innovation and the Clinical Excellence Commission. The Panel’s recommendation has been actioned in consultation with the Chief Health Officer.
The decision has been reinforced in the knowledge of no locally acquired COVID-19 cases in NSW in the past week. The Panel has determined that cases in neighbouring states remain low despite a resurgence of locally acquired cases in South Australia.
Current risk levels are monitored on the COVID-19 Risk Monitoring Dashboard.
Green Alert message from Dr Nigel Lyons, Deputy Secretary, Health System Strategy and Planning
COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Response and escalation framework
WNSW PHN Surgical Mask Request FormExpand each section below for further information
COVID-19 Vaccination Information
More than 5000 general practices have applied to join the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, in what will be Australia’s biggest immunisation program.
Training
In preparation for Australia’s vaccine rollout, authorised COVID-19 vaccination providers must complete COVID-19 vaccination training. This will ensure our workforce is competent in the safe management and administration of COVID-19 vaccines.
Access the Department of Health Training Here
Vaccination FAQs
Access the Updated COVID-19 Vaccination GP FAQs here
Access the original COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout FAQs here
More Useful Links
WNSW PHN INFORMATION SESSION FOR GENERAL PRACTICE: COVID 19 VACCINATION ROLLOUT
Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccines information
The National COVID-19 Vaccination Roadmap
The Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
The COVID-19 Vaccines National Rollout Strategy
General Practice COVID -19 Safety Plan
Patient Care
For people with suspected infection:
If a patient calls you, check any recent overseas travel history when assessing symptoms.
If a patient presents to you without calling:
- Ask the patient to wear a surgical mask and move them to a separate room.
- Use standard, contact and airborne transmission precautions, including a P2 (N95) mask, disposable gown, gloves, and eye protection if available, when entering the room.
- Immediately contact your Public Health Unit (1300 066 055) who will arrange a phone risk assessment and advise on next steps. If further assessments and testing are recommended, this will generally be arranged at a hospital emergency department.
COVID-19: IDENTIFYING THE SYMPTOMS
COVID-19 TASKFORCE SUSPECTED CASE FLOWCHART
TALKING TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ABOUT COVID-19
CLINICAL EVIDENCE TASKFORCE - CARING FOR PEOPLE WITH COVID-19
ACTIVATING FAMILY NETWORKS DURING COVID-19
ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES - CULTURALLY SAFE PRACTICES
NACCHO COVID-19 PRIMARY HEALTHCARE GUIDANCe for Indigenous People
Telehealth Services
WNSW PHN MBS Quick Reference Guide - (Issued December 2020)
WNSW PHN COVID-19 Telehealth Items Quick Guide
Telehealth Guidance for Practitioners
RACGP - TELEHEALTH VIDEO CONSULTATIONS GUIDE
RACGP - TELEHEALTH FACTSHEETS AND TEMPLATES
BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES OF USING TELEHEALTH IN YOUR PRACTICE
Approved COVID-19 Testing Practices
COVID-19 TASKFORCE SUSPECTED CASE FLOWCHART
WNSW PHN urges all Health Professionals to abide by advice from NSW Health in relation to testing for COVID-19.
COVID-19 PATIENT JOURNEY & TESTING OPTIONS
NSW Health COVID-19 Testing Clinic Information for Patients
NSW HEALTH COVID-19 CASE DEFINITION AND TESTING ADVICE
NSW HEALTH COVID-19 TESTING CRITERIA
COVID-19 CDNA NATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH UNITS
When considering methods of testing it is important to understand the pre-test probability, the sensitivity of the test regarding what you are testing for, the interpretation of results and accuracy of that interpretation. It is easy to get this very wrong, and the ramifications are very serious.
Point of Care COVID-19 Serology Testing:
The current version of the POC Serology Test suffers from an unacceptably low sensitivity for COVID-19, and therefore has no clinical utility and should not be used.
PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY NETWORK STATEMENT ON POINT-OF-CARE SEROLOGY TESTING FOR SARS-COV-2
Self-Swabbing
The process of obtaining an acceptable oro/nasopharyngeal sample is extremely uncomfortable for a patient and requires considerable technical skill. Patients are incredibly unlikely to possess the necessary technical skills to perform the test, and it would be almost impossible for a patient to tolerate a self-collected nasopharyngeal swab.
Self-swabbing would, therefore, increase the risk of false-negative test results due to sampling error, and false-negative test results are worse than not performing the test in the first place. I strongly recommend against self-collection.
Guide to Getting Patient Test Results
NSW Health has provided details on how Testing Services can send, and patients' regular GP can have access to, patient COVID-19 test results.
Any practices experiencing difficulties in accessing patient test results are asked to provide this information to WNSW PHN COVID-19 Coordinator, Tabitha Jones, by emailing: Tabitha.Jones@wnswphn.org.au
Respiratory Clinic Referral Documents
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Template |
Date Effective |
Word Doc |
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Best Practice |
Medical Director |
| Respiratory Clinics | May 2020 | Word |  |
 |
Testing Locations During the Festive Period
WNSW PHN Respiratory Clinics FAQ's
Bathurst Respiratory Clinic Flyer
BROKEN HILL RESPIRATORY CLINIC FLYER
COBAR RESPIRATORY CLINIC FLYER
COWRA RESPIRATORY CLINIC FLYER
DUBBO RESPIRATORY CLINIC FLYER
Latest COVID-19 Information and Updates
AUSTRALIAN COVID-19 HEALTH ALERT DAILY UPDATE
INFORMATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN WNSW PHN-COVID-19
FAQ'S FOR WNSW PHN SERVICE PROVIDERS
NSW HEALTH COVID-19 INFORMATION
NSW HEALTH CORONAVIRUS CLINICS
AUSTRALIAN ADVICE: HOSPITAL CARE
AUSTRALIAN ADVICE: NON-INPATIENT CARE
COVID-19 Guidelines
AHMRC Pandemic Toolkit
The ACCHS Pandemic Response Toolkit may be a useful resource for Member Services in planning for and responding to pandemics.
Access the AHMRC Pandemic Toolkit
Electronic Prescribing
Commencement of Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Prescriptions) Regulation 2020
Community pharmacists in NSW can now dispense a prescription for most medicines using an image of the prescription received by email or fax, rather than requiring a paper prescription.
This temporary measure will better support patients, prescribers and pharmacists during the COVID-19 response, and allow better integration of the prescription and supply of medicines with the Commonwealth Government’s COVID-19 response telehealth reforms.
NSW Health Image-Based Prescriptions for Medical Practitioners Information
Health Conditions + COVID-19 & Elective Surgery
Cancer + COVID-19
BreastScreen NSW services during COVID-19
BreastScreen NSW has recommenced taking bookings during COVID-19.
BreastScreen NSW Information for Healthcare Providers
BreastScreen NSW Screening Centre & Mobile Screening
Enquiries to BreastScreen NSW can be made by calling 13 20 50.
National Cervical Screening Program
The cancerscreening.gov.au website has been updated to provide Healthcare Providers with guidance about managing cervical screening participants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chris O'Brien Lifehouse
Chris O`Brien Lifehouse remains COVID19 free and is NSW’s dedicated cancer-only hospital. GPs can access multidisciplinary cancer teams, including Telehealth consults across all tumour streams for their patients.
Their aim is to ensure access to timely cancer treatment options and plans during this pandemic, we will ensure patients receive care and treatment close to home as we work closely with all medical and radiation oncology teams across NSW.
High-Risk Therapies During COVID-19
The ACI Respiratory Network has responded to queries and concerns raised by clinicians about the use of respiratory therapies that generate aerosolised particles by developing a range of Factsheets.
These therapies are capable of transmitting respiratory viruses including COVID-19; thus they are considered high risk.
Not all will be related to general practice; however, nebulisers might be for some practices.
High-Risk Therapies - Non-Invasive Ventilation Factsheet
High-risk Therapies - High Flow Nasal Pring Oxygen Factsheet
High-Risk Therapies - Nebulisers
Safety of Corticosteroid injections during COVID-19
Dr Joel Riley (Consultant Rheumatologist and General Physician, Dubbo) strongly advises that intra-articular, soft tissue, and perineural steroid injections should be avoided whenever possible during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the risk of reduced immunity to viral exposure.
At present, in his clinical practice, he is not performing or referring for any parenteral steroid injection for degenerative diseases (degenerative disc disease, trochanteric bursitis, facet joint arthropathy, etc). In inflammatory conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, etc) he is attempting to use the absolute minimal steroid dose possible to get disease under control.
This is in line with the British Society of Skeletal Radiologists' advice on corticosteroid injections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
British Society of Skeletal Radiologists Report
Advice for Immunisation Services During COVID-19
Updated advice has been provided by NSW Health to assist with planning and managing vaccinations clinics while coinciding with the COVID-19 response.
Immunisation providers should continue to offer immunisation services with enhanced infection control measures.
NSW Health - Immunisation Services during COVID-19
Advice for Immunisation Services During COVID-19
CLINICAL ADVICE FOR VACCINATION PROVIDERS
2020 SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINES
2020 NATIONAL IMMUNISATION PROGRAM (NIP) INFLUENZA VACCINES
Drive-in Influenza Vaccination Clinics
FAQ'S FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE
Printable Resources for your Patients and Clients
DON’T TAKE THE RISK THIS SEASON Brochure
DON’T TAKE THE RISK THIS SEASON Poster
NSW Ambulance Authorised Care Plans During COVID-19
In response to the current demand on services regarding COVID-19, NSW Ambulance Models of Care Unit is changing the processing, endorsement and return of Authorised Care Plans.
Plans can be submitted via ambulance-authorisedcareplans@health.nsw.gov.au
Plan information can be accessed here
Letter of Notice - Change of Process from NSW Ambulance
NSW Health Secondary Triage Information for RACFs
NSW Health has implemented a secondary triage model for RACF's.
NSW Health Secondary Triage Information - for LHD's
NSW Health Secondary Triage Information - for Healthcare Workers and GP's
COVID-19 Dementia Help Sheets
Dementia Australia has released four Help Sheets outlining tips for people living with dementia, carers, families and friends of people living with dementia, residential care providers and home care providers.
Access the Dementia Australia Help Sheets Here
Advance Care Planning
Education Modules
Masks & PPE and Ordering
The Australian Government, through WNSW PHN, is distributing Surgical Masks for General Practices and, in the case of a lack of local commercial supply, Community Pharmacies.
Medical staff should be using either P1/surgical or P2/N95 masks, and be sure to be utilising the appropriate protection for the relevant circumstances.
PPE APPLICATION AND REMOVAL SAFETY SEQUENCE
CEC COVID-19 PPE TRAINING VIDEOS
PPE Recommendations for Allied Health
Hand Sanitiser Ordering through Practice Managers Network Group
Recent studies into various Mask designs have concluded that Cloth masks do not prevent the wearer from being infected from viral infections.
Health and Hygiene for Professionals and Practices
Advice for healthcare workers, staff, students and volunteers
DHAS Health Care for Health Professionals
Environment Cleaning and Disinfectant Principles for COVID-19
CLEANING & DISINFECTING IN THE WORKPLACE
CLEANING AND DISINFECTION OF PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR
COVID-19 Toolkit for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Professionals
Employee Assistance Program for NGO staff during the COVID-19 emergency
Returning To Work Post-Isolation
A joint statement from the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) and Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN) with the revised Australian criteria for the release from isolation of people who have recovered from COVID-19.
COVID-19 Mental Health Support
The COVID-19 outbreak may generate a range of impacts on the community and individual mental health and wellbeing.
To support the community during this period the Life in Mind team at Everymind has worked with the suicide prevention and mental health sectors, and in collaboration with the National Mental Health Commission to provide a comprehensive list of resources to support those affected.
Access the Life In Mind COVId-19 Mental Health Support Resources
HEAD TO HEALTH COVD-19 MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Black Dog Institute Online mental health case discussion and peer support group for GPs
Financial Support for General Practice During COVID-19
WNSW PHN has collated the latest Government, Financial and Mental Well-Being support information available for General Practices to ensure the ease of access to support.
Financial Support for General Practices Fact Sheet
General Practice Accreditation During COVID-19
To assist general practices and in line with social distancing measures during the Coronavirus pandemic, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is maintaining requirements for accreditation to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Standards for general practices, effective immediately. These changes are being enacted as part of the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme.
View the latest communication from ACSQHC National Standards Progam Team here
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Note: WNSW PHN is monitoring the COVID-19 situation daily and update and develop our pathways and links accordingly.
If you identify any errors or inconsistencies or are aware of any new or emerging critical changes that are relevant, please email the Media & Communications Coordinator.