International disaster conference comes to Newcastle
13 November 2007
Health professionals from across Australia will descend on Newcastle this week to learn how both public and private health services prepare if disaster strikes.
During the June 2007 long weekend storms, Hunter New England Health proved it was capable of managing to provide services during a natural disaster.
In an effort to learn from this and to build on existing services, Hunter New England Health will host the Australian Health Emergency Coordinators Conference this Thursday - a forum to prepare all medical services for their role in the case of natural and other disasters.
Hunter New England Health Disaster Response Coordinator Linda Winn said it is important for the health service to learn from this experience but also to teach others about how the health service kept services running throughout the ordeal in June.
“The ability to deal with the Hunter storms has earned Hunter New England Health an outstanding reputation for crisis management,” Ms Winn said.
“Our experience and preparedness meant there was no loss of service, notwithstanding the fact we had whole buildings out of service for weeks. In those instances they were relocated and up and running within 24 hours.
“Among our exemplary responses of our staff was the evacuation of 42 residents from Mercy Nursing Home at Singleton, efforts like these involved expert coordination and the assistance of the NSW Ambulance Service and the Australian Army.
“It is important to educate any and all health providers on what to do in an emergency. Not only will this minimise the impact of a potential disaster, but it will also take the pressure off the health service and allow it to continue to operate if and when disaster hits,” Ms Winn said.
NSW Police District Emergency Management Officer Michael Slowgrove will speak at the conference, addressing the role of NSW Police in the June long weekend storms and their task as an emergency relief source.
The conference will run for two days and address the pressure of external disasters such as terrorist attacks or storms as well as health-specific issues such as pandemics and outbreaks.
Chief Health Officer for NSW Health Denise Robinson will open the forum before more than 100 registered attendees.
The Australian Health Emergency Coordinators Conference will be held on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 November in the West Convention Centre, New Lambton. Media interviews and vision opportunities are available.
Contact: Nick Hansen
Phone: 49214918