Protecting a hospital under threat

AS many readers would be aware, Yea and District Memorial Hospital (YDMH) came under direct threat from the advancing Longwood bushfire front from approximately 12.30pm on Wednesday, January 8, through to the early hours of Saturday, January 10, as catastrophic fire conditions bore down on the Murrindindi Shire.

The Longwood fires, which ignited on Wednesday, January 7, intensified rapidly amid extreme heat and strong winds. Warnings for the Yea district escalated from extreme to catastrophic, prompting heightened vigilance across the town’s only hospital and aged care facility.

Hospital executives closely monitored conditions via the Vic Emergency app, but by midday Thursday it was clear the fire front was moving swiftly toward the shire.

An internal emergency management response was immediately established with regular staff briefings commenced, and a Code Brown (external disaster) was declared at 1.30pm. That Code Brown remained in place until noon on Wednesday, January 14.

At the height of the threat, YDMH was caring for four acute patients, 10 high-care residents and 14 low-care residents. One resident chose to evacuate with family on Friday, ahead of the state-issued evacuation warning.

Throughout the incident, the hospital’s leadership, including the CEO and Board Chair, remained in constant communication. Careful consideration was given to whether to shelter in place or evacuate.

Based on strong advice from the local Incident Control Centre Emergency Management Team, evacuation was not recommended. Instead, YDMH was advised to…

By Elizabeth Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer, Yea and District Memorial Hospital

Image credits – yeahospital.org.au