A SUPPLEMENTARY workforce register is being prepared by Mildura Base Hospital as it continues the roll out of its Stage Two response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hospital's director of intensive care Dr Alison Walker said "now was the time" to assess what other human resources were available, in addition to maximising the capacity of the existing workforce.
"Healthcare and hospital workers are a dedicated and highly skilled workforce – but the demand on our teams is only going to become heavier, so we now want to find out who is in the community with skills that can support us," she said.
"We're asking everyone to be think about what skills they have, and whether they are relevant to possibly playing some sort of role in our community response to COVID-19.
"Our own MBH clinical and non-clinical staff have been amazing and are already being incredibly flexible as our response plan is being implemented – and our partner organisations, Sunraysia Community Health and Mildura Health Private Hospital are experiencing the same."
Dr Walker said the hospital was looking at repurposing non-essential services and activities to free up resources and redeploy staff.
"We know it will be a sustained period of time that we are managing this, and there will be peaks and troughs that we will need to fill with skilled people," she said.
"Of course, nurses and medical staff are of particular interest, but we are likely to need additional cleaners, kitchen and administration staff as well.
"So, we are now reaching out to community members with suitable skills who might be willing and able to help, should they be needed."
The workforce register would include registered nurses, enrolled nurses, nurses without the current registration, medical staff, cleaning staff, clerical staff and kitchen staff.
Dr Walker encouraged anyone with those skills or qualifications to make contact with the Mildura Base Hospital human resources team on 5051 1834, 5022 3218 or 5022 3216.
Resumes can also be emailed to: HREmails.MBH@ramsayhealth.com.au.