According to extensive data obtained under freedom of information laws by The Age, a total of 659 Victorians have tragically lost their lives after contracting COVID-19 while being treated for other conditions in hospitals. This revelation has raised concerns among doctors who warn that patients are avoiding seeking medical care due to fears of infection.
The data reveals that between 2020 and April of this year, a staggering 5,614 people were suspected to have acquired COVID-19 in public hospitals across the state. Alarmingly, more than 10 per cent of these patients were confirmed or suspected to have died as a result of the hospital-acquired infection.
The decision by the state’s health safety watchdog to drop the requirement for health services to report hospital-acquired COVID-19 infections that result in serious harm or death has drawn criticism. Instead, these cases are now reviewed internally, raising concerns about transparency and accountability, report said.
Jill Tomlinson, the Victorian president of the Australian Medical Association, emphasises that individuals admitted to hospitals are at a higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 compared to the general public. This vulnerable group often includes older individuals with underlying health conditions such as weakened immune systems, lung and heart problems, diabetes, or obesity.
Concerns raised by healthcare professionals and individuals avoiding seeking medical care due to fears of infection underscore the importance of public awareness and consistent infection control practices in healthcare settings
Tomlinson stresses the need for a broader recognition in the community that certain individuals are more susceptible to COVID-19. She expresses concern that despite life returning to normal for most Victorians, there are people who fear seeking necessary medical care due to the risk of contracting the virus.
Andrew Hewat, the executive officer of the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association, describes these deaths as both a tragedy and an embarrassment. He calls for greater consistency in infection control measures, pointing out that many hospitals have been inconsistent in their mask requirements, often downgrading them and then escalating them again after an outbreak. Hewat believes that removing layers of protection makes no sense and puts both patients and healthcare workers at risk.
Recent changes in mask requirements at Monash Health, where the use of N95 masks was discontinued for emergency department staff, have raised further concerns. Now, workers are only required to wear surgical masks unless they are treating someone suspected of having COVID-19. This shift to a lower level of protection has raised questions about the prioritization of safety in healthcare settings.
The decision to drop the requirement for health services to report hospital-acquired COVID-19 infections that result in serious harm or death has raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the healthcare system
The story also features the personal account of Bruno Treglia, a radiographer who contracted COVID-19 while working at the Austin Hospital. Treglia survived the infection but suffered permanent damage to his heart and continues to experience long COVID symptoms such as breathlessness and fatigue. He expresses frustration at the lack of answers regarding the management of these side effects and how his once active life came to an abrupt halt.
A spokesperson from the Health Department acknowledges that infections within hospitals may appear higher due to increased testing and align with community trends. The spokesperson confirms that Safer Care Victoria dropped the requirement for health services to report hospital-acquired COVID infections that lead to serious harm or death, citing the need for a transition to treating COVID-19 like any other communicable disease.
Jane, who wishes to remain anonymous to protect her family’s privacy, shares her grief over the loss of her father, who contracted COVID-19 at a Melbourne hospital last year. Despite her father being up to date with COVID vaccinations and the presence of infection control measures, including masks, temperature checks, regular rapid antigen tests (RATs), and a visitor ban, he still succumbed to the virus. Jane acknowledges the efforts of the staff and the limitations in preventing the virus from spreading, describing the situation as tragic.
The data and personal accounts presented in The Age shed light on the significant number of COVID-19 infections acquired within Victorian hospitals, resulting in numerous deaths. The concerns raised by healthcare professionals and the impacted individuals underscore the importance of consistent infection control measures and public awareness.
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Hospital-acquired COVID-19 infections in Victorian hospitals claim 659 lives, raise fears of patients avoiding care. Transparency & safety measures questioned. #TheIndianSun #CovidIsNotOver #Covid https://t.co/7YHVrmam2p
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