The latest figures were released a senior cardiologist called on all health workers in hospitals to be vaccinated after a dozen of his colleagues were forced into isolation after two unvaccinated nurses with Covid worked at St Vincent’s Hospital last week.Prof Jason Kovacic, head of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and St Vincent’s cardiologist said the situation was untenable when one of the top catheterisation labs in the nation had to close down as a result.The incident also forced a dozen other hospital workers to isolate.“This is not a tenable situation for one of the top catheterisation laboratories in the country, we can’t be functioning like that,” Professor Jason Kovacic, head of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and St Vincent’s cardiologist, said.“We can’t have the hospital system having to shut down like this because of unvaccinated employees. “It does raise issues about civil rights and liberties, but at the same time we can’t have our patients’ lives at risk. They have a right to be able to come to hospital and be safe.“As health care workers the Hippocratic oath is first ‘do no harm’ and that is the foundational roots and platform of our whole healthcare system.“Our patients across the health care system have the right and need to be treated in safety and when we can’t provide that there is a real problem.”The crisis is at tipping point, with NSW Health estimating 88 per cent of nursing staff have had at least one vaccine – but up to one in 10 nurses are threatening to leave the industry if they are forced to get jabbed.A Public Health Order requires health workers to have one dose of the Covid vaccine by September 30.By November 30, they are required to have had two doses.Daily Telegraph – News Feed latest episodeBrett Holmes from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association said he was aware many nurses were against mandatory vaccinations and may leave the industry as a result. “We’ve never called for mandatory vaccination but we accept that is a decision that has been made by government,” Mr Holmes said. “We strongly support vaccination, absolutely encourage every person to get vaccinated. But there are consequences of mandatory vaccination.“I’m nervous about what will be the consequences on the first of October when those people don’t turn up at work.“Some have found compulsion contrary to everything they have ever been taught about the administration of medication. Some quote the immunisation handbook that clearly states people should have informed consent.NED-4534-NSW-Roadmap-to-freedom“Others talk about their experience in undertaking trials in medication who have been hammered in their training about you must get consent from people and they believe compulsion doesn’t fit that.”Mr Holmes said it was likely if nurses were not vaccinated by now, it was more likely by choice as opposed to an access issue. St Vincent’s Hospital has a vaccination hub right in the centre of the hospital. “You suffer a strong level of hesitancy with two weeks to go.” “I acknowledge and respect individual’s rights to make a choice about these matters,” Prof Kovacic said. “But I also respect very deeply, and stand for the rights of the patients to expect a safe environment in the hospital. We can’t have our patients at risk.”Got a news tip? Email weekendtele@news.com.auNAT – Stay Informed – Social Media
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