Save COVID Care in the Community

THIS LIFE SAVING RURAL HEALTH SERVICE CLOSES 7 DECEMBER DUE TO FUNDING CUTS!
This remote NSW health service is run by a team of nurses and doctors who monitor daily the COVID conditions of people over 70 who live alone or in remote locations.
Once the patient registers their COVID positive test with Service NSW, an algorithm flags if they are in the high risk category and refers them to this service.
Within 24 hours the patient receives a call from a nurse who arranges, if necessary, for a doctor to call and provide a prescription for the antiviral.
The nurse continues to call the patient daily asking them to complete a survey to monitor their condition.
This service has saved the lives of a number of rural people whose condition deteriorated rapidly during the week with an ambulance called by the nurse to take them to hospital.
It also enables many patients to access the antiviral within the first 3 days window of infection.
We are now facing another surge of infections with the Western Area COVID in the community care team doubling their number of intakes to 60 a day at the moment.
HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT PUT MONEY BEFORE LIVES AND RURAL PEOPLE'S HEALTH CARE?
ESPECIALLY DURING THIS NEW SURGE WHICH WILL CONTINUE OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD. IT'S JUST POLICY MADNESS!!