COVID-19 information

# CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW #

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Cabrini has remained committed to delivering safe, high-quality, compassionate care to our community.

We have stringent infection control processes in place to ensure the safety of our staff, patients and community, and we continue to adapt our response to the pandemic in line with the latest Department of Health guidelines.

COVID-19 processes change regularly, so we encourage you to check this page before you attend our facilities.

We know some of the processes in place due to the pandemic can be challenging, especially for people attending hospital, and want to reassure you that our dedicated team will support you and your loved ones during this time.

Everyone has a role to play here, so please refer to the information below and follow the guidance provided by our staff, online and on display at our sites.

Thank you for choosing Cabrini for your treatment and care.

COVID-19 information

Visitor restrictions

Visitor restrictions

Cabrini’s standard visitor restrictions now apply across our wards. Please click here to view our visiting hours and further information about visiting.

Patients attending the emergency department, outpatient appointments and day oncology wards can have one visitor accompany them, with no time limit.

Visitors are not permitted for COVID-19 patients.

Exceptions to this will be managed by our nursing leaders on a case-by-case basis, and include visitors for:

patients who are dying and/or receiving end of life care
communication, language, or interpreter support
behaviour management or dementia care
patients with a complex disability
a support person who is the nominated person under the Mental Health Act

Approved visitors will be limited to one visitor for one hour per day and must:

have no COVID-19 symptoms
provide a negative RAT
wear appropriate personal protective equipment, as directed by ward staff.

Once the patient is cleared, regular visiting hours will apply.

All visitors must wear a mask while at Cabrini. Masks are available for visitors at our main entrances. Please see further information below about the use of masks.

Pre-operative testing

In line with Department of Health advice, all elective surgery patients (including elective caesarean patients) must undergo pre-operative testing prior to their admission to hospital.

Maternity patient’s partner/designated support person must also be tested prior to attending Cabrini for an elective caesarean.

This is an important measure to further ensure patient safety during surgery, as undergoing surgery while infected with COVID-19 may require your care team to take additional precautions it also helps to further protect vulnerable people within healthcare settings, and reduce the spread of infection during this time.

Impacted patients will be contacted by their treating team, and provided further information about this process, ahead of their surgery.

Patients will then need to source a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) to undertake one day prior to their surgery or undergo a PCR test at a local testing clinic three days prior to the surgery. After taking a test, patients must then self-isolate until they are admitted for their procedure.

Please download our pre-surgery testing and isolating document for more information.

Please note, Cabrini is no longer operating a dedicated pre-operative testing clinic.

Mandatory use of masks

All visitors need to wear a mask provided at the entrances to Cabrini sites (please note, cloth masks are not permitted). Masks must be worn at all times during your visit.

Please dispose of masks safely by using the bins provided and perform hand hygiene after disposal.

All patients need to wear a mask while at Cabrini, unless you are alone in your room. For more information, please refer to our wearing a mask in hospital document.

Please follow the directions of our staff, and thank you for playing your role in keeping our vulnerable patients safe during this time.

For more information about wearing a mask correctly, please refer to Cabrini’s tips for wearing a mask or visit the Department of Health website.

Please note, directions about wearing masks within healthcare settings can change regularly, so it is a good idea to check these page before you visit, so you are aware of the current settings at Cabrini.

Information for maternity patients

Inpatients at Cabrini Maternity may have an unlimited number of visitors during our designated visitinghours, however where possible, we request that patients keep their visitor numbers to two or three at any one time.

Maternity visiting hours are between 3 – 8pm. Visitors must remain in the room with the parents.

Children, except siblings of the newborn, are not currently permitted to visit the maternity area.

Maternity classes are being provided online if you would like to register for a class click here

We would be pleased to show you around Cabrini’s maternity unit. Tour bookings can be made by phoning the Maternity Bookings Office on 9508 1724.

Patients are not eligible to receive a refund for online classes unless they are an inpatient at the time of the class.

If you have any further questions please contact the Maternity Bookings Office on (03) 9508 1724 (Mon–Thurs, 8am-4pm and Fri 8am-12pm) or emailing maternity@cabrini.com.au.

Attending the emergency department

All patients who present to Cabrini’s emergency department will be tested for COVID-19. You will not have to isolate after testing, unless you have symptoms of COVID-19.

If you are presenting to Cabrini’s emergency department with any symptoms of COVID-19, please phone the emergency department on (03) 9508 1500 before presenting in person at 183 Wattletree Road, Malvern.

The symptoms to watch out for are fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose and loss or change in sense of smell or taste. In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also be considered.

The Cabrini emergency department team will assess patients for risk of COVID-19, in line with Department of Health criteria, and will take appropriate precautions to ensure your safety and that of our other patients and staff.

If you are attending Cabrini for your care, please ensure your treating team is made aware if you:

have any symptoms relating to COVID-19
are a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case
are awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test

If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call 000 and ask for an ambulance (inform them you may have symptoms of COVID-19).

For further advice, please call the Department of Health’s 24-hour coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.

Flower and food deliveries

Florists and couriers are permitted to deliver flowers to a site’s main entrance or reception but are not able to attend other areas within our facilities, including ward areas.

When making a flower delivery to Cabrini, please ensure you wait until Cabrini staff confirm that the person you are delivering to is a current inpatient

We kindly ask that no perishable food items are included with flower deliveries at this time.

Cabrini is accepting deliveries of non-perishable food items. Unfortunately, food items that are perishable and deliveries from outside catering are currently discouraged.

We will continue reviewing these processes and making changes as it is safe to do so.

Thank you for your support.

Resources

Cabrini is part of a coordinated health sector response to contain the COVID-19 infection, identify cases and prevent transmission in healthcare environments, Victoria and nationally. Cabrini is following all Department of Health’s guidelines and recommendations.

For more COVID-19 information and resources, we encourage you to refer to the Department of Health website or contact their dedicated hotline on 1800 675 398.

The Department of Health has also developed COVID-19 translated information for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, health professionals and industry, including factsheets and promotional materials.

We will continue to review information as it becomes available and keep our community updated as the situation evolves.