Foreword from the State Health Commander

From the first report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in early January 2020 of the spread of ‘viral pneumonia of unknown cause’ in China, to the declaration of COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern on 30 January and subsequently a global pandemic on 11 March, the speed of spread of the COVID-19 virus has been unparalleled.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed significant strain on hospital and health systems worldwide. The limited and constantly evolving information available on the epidemiology of the virus, crucial to informing predictions of the potential extent and impacts of virus spread, combined with the rapid global spread of the virus, has represented a great challenge to planning, management and response globally. Despite these challenges, and in the context of national and global resource shortages, Tasmania’s health system has rapidly adapted to build on previous preparations and to respond to this unprecedented threat.

The Department of Health (DoH) is committed to continuous improvement and welcomes the Independent Review of the Response to the North West Tasmania COVID-19 Outbreak (the Review) as an opportunity to draw further learnings from the outbreak that occurred at the North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) in April 2020. I have written to all DoH staff to encourage their participation in the Review, and the DoH will use any recommendations arising from this Review to guide further improvements to ensure Tasmania’s health system continues to deliver the best possible outcomes for Tasmanians during our COVID-19 response.

This submission outlines the key measures that supported the DoH to respond to the North West outbreak.

I would like to offer my sincere condolences to families that have lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I acknowledge the health impacts experienced by those who have tested positive to the virus.

From a health perspective, I would like to acknowledge the hard-working staff of the DoH, Public Health Services (PHS), the Tasmanian Health Service (THS) and Ambulance Tasmania (AT) for their continued dedication and commitment to serving Tasmania during this pandemic. I also acknowledge the positive collaboration and contribution of our health stakeholders across the private sector and our employee representatives for driving improved outcomes for healthcare workers in Tasmania.

I commend this submission for respectful consideration by the Independent Reviewer, Greg Melick AO SC.

Your sincerely,

Kathrine Morgan-Wicks

COVID-19 State Health Commander

Secretary, Department of Health

1 September 2020

Introduction

The North West outbreak occurred early in the COVID-19 pandemic (pandemic), and early in Tasmania’s health system response. However, as outlined in this submission, significant preparedness and response activities had already occurred and were continuing, with increasing scope and intensity in response to new and emerging information regarding the virus.

The submission covers the emergency management frameworks, policies and processes that supported and enabled the DoH and broader whole-of-government response to COVID-19. It also provides details on the entry and spread of the virus in the north west of the state and outlines key communication mechanisms used to support the North West outbreak response.

The submission highlights the DoH’s engagement with the Australian Government and all other states and territories through relevant national health forums, as well as national engagement between Health Ministers, has been an important element in Tasmania’s pandemic preparedness and response effort. This engagement has helped to ensure Tasmania’s health system response to the pandemic has, wherever possible (and appropriate), been in line with current national guidance and best practice.

While this submission is focussed on outlining the key measures that supported the DoH response to the North West outbreak, it is acknowledged there are lessons to be learned from the DoH experience of, and response to, the outbreak. This is particularly the case given the context of the rapid emergence and spread of COVID-19, with health systems globally learning in real time how to respond.

The final section of this submission (Section 5) outlines processes implemented (or underway) within the DoH to identify key learnings (what worked well and what did not) and to implement measures to improve and consolidate on these learnings.

Finally, it is noted that this submission seeks to detail information relevant to internal Department of Health context, structures, processes and decision making, relevant to the North West outbreak. This submission does not record the extensive work undertaken by the Minister for Health, the Minister for Mental Health, and the Premier, and their respective offices in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. This submission does not record the extensive work also undertaken by other Departments and Agencies of the Crown, which substantially contributed to the management and control of the North West Outbreak.

Sections

1. Public health and health system preparedness for the outbreak
2. Key decisions and actions to manage the outbreak
3. Communication
4. Personal protective equipment
5. Learnings