A section of the new Bulli Hospital will become dedicated COVID-19 patient accommodation, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District announced on Tuesday afternoon.
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The district said it is also working with an unnamed local venue to provide accommodation for COVID-19 cases who do not require treatment, but are unable to isolate at home.
ISLHD Chief Executive Margot Mains, said significant forward planning was required to ensure the region is prepared to respond to an increase in local community transmission.
"As positive case numbers across the region and the state continue to increase, we are focused on ensuring the district can support our local community to be able to isolate safely and receive care if they are unwell with COVID," Ms Mains said.
"The impact of the Delta variant within households has been significant and many people simply cannot safely isolate at home.
"Our teams are now working to establish safe, local accommodation for patients who do not need hospital treatment, but who need to be isolated away from other family members or household contacts."
Referred to as Community Supported Accommodation, the district is working with a local venue to provide accommodation for people awaiting COVID-19 test results to safely isolate if they're unable to do so at home.
The district is also working to establish a local Special Health Accommodation site for COVID positive patients who need some care and support, but don't require the higher level care being provided in Wollongong Hospital's COVID Ward.
"We need to be ready to care for more COVID-positive patients should there be an increase in local community transmission and we are currently working to establish a dedicated Special Health Accommodation in the vacant portion of the new Bulli Hospital," Ms Mains said.
"This site has always been part of our considerations in responding to COVID, but it has not been required until now.
"The Special Health Accommodation is in addition to the Wollongong Hospital COVID-Ward, and we assure the community that should you become unwell with COVID - your local hospital is well equipped to care for you."
There have been ongoing concerns about staffing levels at Bulli Hospital since it opened in 2020.
Further information about the accommodation plans will be made available in future, Ms Mains said.
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