MONICA McHugh cannot recall a time like the last six months, despite five years working in Bendigo Health's infection prevention team.
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It's involved long days, hard weeks, and lots of stress. But the results have been very rewarding.
Ms McHugh has overseen Bendigo Health's use of personal protective equipment during the pandemic.
It's meant taking detailed government recommendations and applying them across Bendigo Health's varied services.
At one stage Department of Health and Human Services advice for use of personal protective equipment was changing every day.
Since then Bendigo Health has adapted to 20-30 changes to the guidelines for PPE use.
Ms McHugh had to read these, understand them quickly, then roll out any changes rapidly to keep frontline workers safe.
She said staff had taken the changes really well.
"I've really been super proud of my health service and my colleagues as to just how well they are taking everything on board and running with it," she said.
"It's been an amazing effort from the whole health service."
OTHER NEWS:
The hospital's infection prevention team recruited staff to deal with the extra work and became a 24/seven on-call service.
Ms McHugh said it was stressful working in such a high-stakes environment, but she felt supported by other Bendigo Health teams.
She said it was rewarding to see such low COVID-19 numbers in Bendigo.
She said she hoped to see the community continue with good infection prevention habits they had learnt, such as hand washing.
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
