The Emergency Department at the new Kingaroy Hospital … visitors are still allowed in the wards, subject to COVID-19 requirements (Photo: Nanango Electorate Office)

January 5, 2021

Visitors are still allowed at all Queensland hospitals – as long as they have not been in a declared COVID-19 hotpot within the previous 14 days.

The latest direction from the Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young came into effect at 1:00am on Monday (January 4).

Patients can have as many visitors as the hospital allows at any one time, for any length of time, within visiting hours.

However, visitors, staff and volunteers are not allowed to enter a hospital if they have been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days or since the hotspot was declared (whichever is shorter). Currently specific parts of NSW are hotspots.

Due to the recent COVID-19 cluster in Victoria, people who have been been in Victoria since December 21 – and it has been less than 14 days since they left Victoria – are not allowed to enter a Queensland hospital unless they have tested negative to COVID-19 in Queensland.

They may need to show evidence of this negative test before being allowed into a hospital.

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Kingaroy Hospital Director of Nursing Karen Binger said the team at the new Kingaroy Hospital were taking extra measures to keep their community COVID-safe.

“Like all Darling Downs Health facilities we’re continuing to follow the most up-to-date Hospital Visitors Direction from the office of the Queensland Chief Health Officer,” Ms Binger said.

“We’d like the community to know that patients can have visitors, as long as those visitors have not been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days or since the hotspot was declared, whichever is shorter.

“We do require all visitors coming into hospital buildings to scan and enter your contact details at the QR code upon entry.

“If you don’t have a suitable phone or device to do this one of our staff can help you.

“We would also like to assure the community that drive-through COVID-19 testing is available at the hospital, so please call ahead on (07) 4162-0220 if you need to arrange a test.”

Ms Binger said there had been some changes to access to the new hospital’s main building.

“At the moment the only entrance to the new hospital building is via the side door in the Emergency Department waiting room, which is accessed via the ramp near the renal unit,” Ms Binger said.

“The easiest and closest parking for people who are using this entrance is in the car park outside the Matron Farr Oral and Community Health building, which you can access from Youngman Street.

“People coming to appointments or visiting Allied Health, the Annexe, Community Mental Health or the BreastScreen bus can still park in the public car park, with entry from Albert Street.

“Anyone needing patient travel subsidy scheme (PTSS) forms can pick them up from the display stands outside the Matron Farr Oral and Community Health building, and they’re also available near Medical Imaging reception, in the main hospital building.”


 

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