Mr Luke Moore1, Mrs Kathy Dempsey1, Dr Susan Jain1,2, Ms Megan Brown1,3, Mrs Terri Cripps1, Mrs Lillian Kingham1, Mr Jason Qian1, Mrs Alice Bond1, Ms Amelia Mccallum1, Mrs Detty Davasia1
1Clinical Excellence Commission, St Leonards, Australia
2University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
3Wollongong Hospital ISLHD, Wollongong, Australia
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, NSW operated a Quarantine Program (QP) for international and domestic travellers overseen by NSW Police and NSW Health. The Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) provided Infection Prevention and Control (IPaC) support as part of the response. This was in the form of an IPaC connect team.
Method: The aim of the CEC involvement was to provide IPaC support within NSW quarantine facilities, airports and ports and to ensure the prevention and control of transmission risks of COVID-19 within the NSW QP and to the broader community. Incorporated into the CEC Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI)/IPaC team, the IPaC connect team were responsible as directed for the support and implementation of the COVID-19 IPaC Quarantine Hotel and airport audit framework, and the IPaC support to the staff within those facilities.
Results: The IPaC connect team was successful in providing IPaC advice and support to the QP in the control and prevention of transmission of COVID-19. Due to increased demand for specialist IPaC services in non-quarantine areas, the IPaC connect team activity evolved outside of the NSW QP. This provided an opportunity for the CEC to create a pathway for novice IPaC nurses to build ongoing capacity and service provision to NSW Local Health Districts (LHD’s). This included an IPaC leadership program in partnership with the University of Technology and mentorship among several LHD’s.
Conclusion: As the QP evolved, an opportunity was created for the IPaC connect team to assist LHD’s with COVID-19 response while further developing IPaC skills.
Biography: Luke Moore has been a registered nurse for 20 years. After gaining his nursing registration in Cambridge U.K., he has worked in community health and several tertiary, public and private healthcare facilities across Sydney and Queensland, where he specialised in critical care and nursing leadership. In 2021 Luke gained employment with the Clinical Excellence Commission and worked as an Infection Prevention and Control connect nurse in the NSW hotel quarantine program. Luke holds a graduate certificate in clinical nursing and teaching and has completed studies through the Australian College of Infection Prevention and Control.