More than 182,000 items of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) have been distributed over the past week to primary healthcare providers across North Queensland to help protect healthcare workers and the wider community during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Australian Government Department of Health recently tasked Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) to distribute PPE from the National Medical Stockpile (NMS) as part of the Government’s $180 million Living with COVID-19 Primary Care Package.

After receiving the supply, NQPHN has now couriered PPE to 71 local general practices, GP Respiratory Clinics and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) which are treating COVID positive patients.

To date, NQPHN has distributed the following across North Queensland:

• 48,900 surgical face masks
• 48,800 gloves
• 44,320 P2/N95 face masks
• 19,531 surgical gowns
• 19,430 eye goggles
• 978 hand sanitisers
• 355 pulse oximeters
• 100 face shields.

NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said it was important that healthcare professionals have access to the critical PPE supplies they require to continue to safely consult with their patients during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

“The safety of our healthcare workers and the communities to which they provide health services is of paramount importance during a pandemic like COVID-19,” Ms Whyte said.

“After being informed of the PPE being made available, we quickly assembled a team which assisted in taking delivery, opening, sorting, repacking and organising couriers for these items for primary healthcare providers across North Queensland,” Ms Whyte said.

“It was a significant logistical task, and our team did an amazing job to ensure all PPE orders were fulfilled within just a few days.

“I would like to thank everyone in the primary care sector for continuing to work together with NQPHN and the broader health care sector to protect our community here in North Queensland.

“Primary care plays a vital role in saving lives and protecting the health of our communities, and PPE plays a crucial role in achieving that.”

Residents across North Queensland are encouraged to join communities around the world in celebrating the contribution of nurses on International Nurses Day today (12 May).

Townsville nurse Natalie Hardy

International Nurses Day commemorates the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

This year’s theme, ‘Nurses: A Voice to Lead’, focuses on the changes to and innovations in nursing, especially in relation to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and how this will ultimately shape the future of healthcare.

Natalie Hardy, a nurse at Upper Ross Medical Centre in Townsville, is a local example of how nurses are evolving and innovating to improve a patient’s health journey.

Natalie is currently helping to lead the way in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 through her vaccination and education work at the practice’s GP Respiratory Clinic.

“Through the pandemic, I’ve seen my role evolve to much more of a focus on education,” she said.

“People seem to be more at ease when I answer their questions about the COVID vaccine, and what they need know before I administer the vaccine.

“I enjoy the part of my job that is educating people around the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine and how we’re protecting each other as a community.

“Nurses have also had to adapt to the increasing use of telehealth that gives us greater flexibility in how we are able to continue to provide patients with the health care they need.”

Natalie said she had always had a passion for nursing from a very young age.

“My mum says that from about the time I was four, she always knew I was going to end up being a nurse,” Natalie said.

“I would see the nurses pull up across the road to check on elderly patients, and I would run out of my house to go and help.

“My biggest reason for being a nurse is the ongoing relationships I get to have with the patients, for example with their care plans and immunisations.

“I’ve always enjoyed being part of their whole-of-life health journey, and I’m doing what I truly love.” 

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said nurses, as the healthcare profession with the largest number of members, play an integral part in health care for the community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nurses are at the frontline of detecting, managing, and preventing the spread of this virus, as well as playing a key role in education across the spectrum of preventative health,” she said.

“I wish all nurses the very best on International Nurses Day, a day to reflect on the significant and crucial part they play in improving our health.”

For more information on International Nurses Day, visit www.icnvoicetolead.com

Over the past few weeks, NQPHN has collaborated with primary care service providers and Queensland Health to bring together key health professionals in workshops to commence planning the next stage of the ongoing pandemic – living with COVID-19.

The sessions have allowed both face-to-face and online attendance, with an impressive number of total participants in each region to date:

• Cairns (150+ attendees)
• Townsville (160+ attendees from two sessions)
• Mackay (60 attendees)

The workshops have been a great opportunity for health experts to collaborate on a whole-of-system approach to protect the wider community as borders reopen and international travel resumes. A huge thanks to GPs, pharmacies, and local Hospital and Health Services for taking part in these vital, ongoing discussions.

COVID-19 vaccine providers in Sarina are the first to be showcased in a new campaign which highlights the incredible work primary care providers are doing to help protect North Queenslanders during the ongoing pandemic.

A patient receives their COVID-19 vaccine at Awal Medical Centre in Sarina

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network’s (NQPHN) Vaccine Works campaign spotlights the region’s vaccinating general practices and pharmacies, and focuses on the primary care sector’s highly-successful role in increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates in North Queensland.

In Sarina, three general practices and two pharmacies are currently vaccinating the local community:

• Awal Medical
• Sarina Family Practice
• Sarina Clinic
• Terry White Chemmart Sarina
• Sarina Discount Drugstore.

As of today (15 October 2021), these five primary care providers have together delivered more than 7,800 COVID vaccines to the wider Sarina community, which has a population of approximately 7,000 people.

Awal Medical has led the way, administering more than 4,700 doses from its practice since March this year.

Practice Manager Yogita Awal said Awal Medical has been involved in the national COVID vaccination program rollout since day one.

“We felt it was important to us to keep the Sarina community COVID safe,” Yogita said.

“We believe in protecting the community and reducing the burden on the health system. Our message is ‘Get the jab. Vaccine works’.”

Terry White Chemmart Sarina has administered more than 450 vaccines over the past two months after pharmacies joined the vaccination rollout program in August.

Owner Therese Lambert said: “We even opened out of hours last week and did a clinic with over 30 walk-ins.

“I love helping the community by offering them options to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

Ms Lambert said she is also heading to Australia's largest rail freight operator Aurizon next week at their Jilalan depot to offer vaccination clinics for employees and their families.

Dr Shahanaz Meer, Practice Principal at Sarina Clinic, said her practice had administered more than 2,000 AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines to the Sarina community since March 2021.

NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte praised Sarina’s vaccinating GPs and pharmacies, and said the primary care sector is playing a key role in the ever-increasing rate of COVID-19 vaccinations across North Queensland.

“Our Vaccine Works campaign is about showcasing our local primary care providers for all the amazing work they’ve done over the past few months to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates in North Queensland and protect our community,” Ms Whyte said.

“Primary care plays a vital role in the national vaccination rollout program, as it has the capacity to vaccinate in a distributed model by offering place-based solutions in local communities.

“North Queensland, due to its geography, presents unique challenges and opportunities, and the incredible work of general practices and pharmacies in our region will support us to reach our vaccination targets sooner rather than later.”

In North Queensland, there are currently 135 general practices, 115 pharmacies, 10 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, and four GP-led Respiratory Clinics administering COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna).

To book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, including at Queensland Health clinics, people are encouraged to use the Australian Government’s official COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder at https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au

COVID-19 vaccine providers in the Hinchinbrook region are the latest to be showcased in a new campaign which highlights the incredible work primary care providers are doing to help protect North Queenslanders during the ongoing pandemic.

Pharmacist Andrew Gilberto from Hinchinbrook Community Pharmacy vaccinates a patient

COVID-19 vaccine providers in the Innisfail region are the latest to be showcased in a new campaign which highlights the incredible work primary care providers are doing to help protect North Queenslanders during the ongoing pandemic.

Innisfail Family Health Assistant Practice Manager – Annette Ah Shay (left) receives her COVID-19 vaccine from Registered Nurse Michelle McCarthy

GP respiratory clinics in Townsville and Charters Towers are the latest to be showcased in a COVID-19 campaign which highlights the incredible work primary care providers are doing to help protect North Queenslanders during the ongoing pandemic.

A patient receives a COVID vaccine at Townsville GP Respiratory Clinic

Cairns West Medical Centre is the latest general practice to be showcased in a new COVID-19 campaign which highlights the incredible work primary care providers are doing to help protect North Queenslanders during the ongoing pandemic.

A patient receives a COVID-19 vaccine at Cairns West Medical Centre

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) is collaborating with the region’s vaccinating general practices and pharmacies on the Vaccine Works campaign, which focuses on the primary care sector’s highly successful role in increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates in North Queensland.

Cairns West Medical Centre on Hoare Street has now administered more than 1,000 doses to the local community since coming on board this year as a COVID-19 vaccinating practice.

General Practitioner Dr Peter Vanrietvelde said his practice, which takes bookings and walk-ins, has been administering the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, with Moderna available soon to the public.

“We provide first and second shots, and now booster shots too, for anyone aged 12 and above,” Dr Vanrietvelde said.

“COVID-19 vaccination is an important program to inject optimism and a way out of the pandemic, allowing us to regain our freedoms.

“Vaccination has also been found to be both safe and effective.”

NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte praised Cairns West Medical Centre, and said the primary care sector is playing a key role in the ever-increasing rate of COVID-19 vaccinations across North Queensland.

“Our Vaccine Works campaign is about showcasing our local primary care providers for all the amazing work they’ve done over the past few months to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates in North Queensland and protect our community,” Ms Whyte said.

“Primary care plays a vital role in the national vaccination rollout program, as it has the capacity to vaccinate in a distributed model by offering place-based solutions in local communities.

“North Queensland, due to its geography, presents unique challenges and opportunities, and the incredible work of general practices and pharmacies in our region will help us reach our vaccination targets sooner rather than later.”

In North Queensland, there are currently 137 general practices, 106 pharmacies, 10 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, and four GP-led Respiratory Clinics administering COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna).

To book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, including at Queensland Health clinics, people are encouraged to use the Australian Government’s official COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder at https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au