A PROGRAM run by Peninsula Health has helped more than 100,000 people who tested positive for COVID-19 but did not need to be hospitalised.
COVID Positive Pathways started in March 2020 to provide clinical care and support to Frankston and Mornington Peninsula residents.
The program started after the first people in the community tested positive for COVID-19 and staff from Peninsula Health’s community care department banded together with volunteers to ensure they were able to receive care at home.
The COVID Positive Pathways team makes daily phone calls, delivers medication and clinical consultations, as well as offering social support and food packages.
Peninsula Health acting CEO Helen Cooper said the team had done “a fantastic job” responding to the needs of the community during difficult times.
“We have received heart-warming feedback from our clients utilising this service, and we continue to receive overwhelmingly positive comments about the professionalism and compassion showed by our staff,” Cooper said.
The acting operations director of community health Belinda Berry said having support available during isolation had been a comfort to people.
“Having to isolate after testing positive to COVID-19 can be a lonely and scary experience for people,” she said.
“Knowing their local health service is monitoring their symptoms and contacting them on a daily basis, provides a great deal of reassurance to patients on our COVID Positive Pathways program.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 16 August 2022
