News
22nd July, 2020
COVID19 – Updated advice on CTS and multi-loading of Patients
As members will be aware the Victorian Ambulance Union Incorporated (VAU) worked with the Department of Human and Health Services (DHHS) in the first weeks of COVID19 to have a ‘cease double loading’ directive issued (Directive). The directive was sent to all Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT) companies and Ambulance Victoria (AV).
The directive solely tackled the unsafe practice of double loading in stretcher vehicles and additionally prohibited anyone other than the crew to travel in the front of the ambulance, as neither allowed for 1.5mtr social distancing. Clinic Transport Service (CTS) and walker vehicles were left out of this initial directive.
The VAU were concerned that the right to a safe working environment of employees on CTS and walker vehicles was being compromised by allowing patients to travel in the front seat of the vehicle.
DHHS agreed with the VAU and deemed it necessary to further clarify and tighten the Chief Health Officer’s advice to include ‘all vehicles’ in the ‘cease double loading’ directive. The updated DHHS advice that came back was as follows:
Patient transport
“AV have been issued with updated guidance on double loading of stretcher vehicles and CTS transports”.
“AV have been advised that no passengers may be transported in the front of a vehicle where physical distancing cannot be maintained with staff. This applies to all vehicles and will impact on CTS transports from now on. If you are transporting CTS patients under contract to AV, you should no longer be requested to carry passengers in the front seat of the vehicle”.
Amendments to AV Health Incident Action Plan (HIAP) Appendix 200 – Operational Staff Guide – Patient Transport and Clinic Transport
The VAU requested the AV HIAP Appendix 200 be amended to make it clearer the only circumstance where a double load could occur. The directions within the HIAP have created additional confusion for dispatchers and angst for NEPT crews. As such DHHS have requested AV amend the HIAP, it will read as follows:
“there should be no double loading of patients as this breaches the 1.5m physical distancing requirements. However, double loading appears reasonable where care is urgent or time-critical and in response to the State Health Emergency Response Plan (and not in response to normal business demand challenges)”.
Therefore, double loading should not be requested by AV except in the case of a time critical emergency or if SHERP is activated.
The VAU are advised that AV were issued with the updated guidance Tuesday 21 July 2020 and your NEPT employer was also provided with the update. The VAU continues to advise members of these latest updates as they arise. If you are concerned your company is not following this Double/Multi-Loading directive, please report it to your HSR and don’t hesitate to contact your NEPT organisers in the meantime.
Stay safe,