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Media

The Far West LHD Media Unit is responsible for all media inquiries and interviews with Far West LHD staff members. The Unit regularly advises on major public health issues and disease outbreaks, through media releases, media conferences and, sometimes, special telephone hotlines.

Contact us

The Media Officer for Far West LHD is Branko Licul on 0411 119 592 or email branko.licul@health.nsw.gov.au

The Media Unit is the primary point of contact for news organisations. All media enquiries must come through the Media Unit in the first instance. This includes:

  • Requests for interviews
  • Photo requests of staff, patients or our facilities
  • General enquiries about health issues
  • Any condition updates on patients who have been injured in an accident or are otherwise of interest to the media

Please do not call our hospitals directly as they are not allowed to provide this information.

Staff are not permitted to speak to journalists or representatives of media organisations without the knowledge or permission of the Media Officer.

An On-Call Media Officer is available after normal business hours to assist media with urgent enquiries. This is organised on a roster basis and the correct person to contact is available via a voicemail message on 0411 119 592.

 

 

 

 




View Far West LHD Media Releases for

<< The archived Media Releases from the Greater Western AHS can be accessed here >>





09 July 2020

Visitors To Broken Hill Health Service Must Provide Name And Contact Phone Number


All visitors to the Broken Hill Health Service will have to provide their name and contact number if they wish to enter the facility, in an extra precaution to safeguard the health service and community from COVID-19.

The added precaution for visitors to the hospital is in response to the escalating situation in Melbourne and Victoria.

By having that information readily available, the health service will be able to quickly react in the event of a confirmed case within the health service, with regard to contact tracing.

The new requirement comes into effect on Friday, 10 July 2020. Anyone who chooses not to provide that information, will not be allowed to enter.

This is in addition to recent new precautions for hospital visitors, including being asked whether you have visited Victoria. Anyone answering yes to the question, unless they are presenting for treatment, won’t be allowed to enter for 14 days, from the date they left Victoria. They will be advised they have to self-isolate for 14 days if they have come from Victoria. If they have flu-like symptoms, they will be referred to that facility’s designated COVID-19 area for assessment. The person is advised to be tested for COVID-19 even if the mildest of symptoms arise. COVID testing will not be done if the person is not symptomatic. The person must still have symptoms (even the mildest ones) to be eligible for swabbing. This is to ensure that swabbing is occurring at the optimal time to be detecting infection should it be present.

Previous precautions implemented at Far West LHD facilities for COVID-19 still remain in place and include screening all visitors, as well as staff, with temperature testing and asking if they have any flu-like symptoms and have been in contact with a suspected COVID-19 case.

Everyone visiting a Far West LHD facility is urged to comply with this new direction. They have been implemented to stop the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of our patients and staff.

The public are also reminded if they are unwell and/or symptomatic and wish to attend a Far West LHD facility’s Emergency Department, they are encouraged to ring ahead and alert staff so that the proper COVID-19 precautions for the patient and staff are followed.

Anyone can attend for COVID-19 assessment and testing at any FWLHD facility, including:

  • Balranald COVID-19 drive through clinic each weekday afternoon (1pm to 4pm) for people who meet the criteria for screening. No appointment is necessary and patients can remain in their vehicle whilst screening occurs.
  • Broken Hill drive through clinic located in the carpark of the BH Community Health Centre (Sulphide Street) and operates 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday. Street.
  • COVID-19 Clinic at the Broken Hill Health Service in Thomas Street. This clinic is open 7 days, from 10am to 8pm.
  • Drive through clinics in the greater Wentworth area, including Wentworth, Dareton, Buronga, as advertised.

If you have any questions or concerns you can call the National COVID 19 Call Centre on 1800 020 080. For any Public Health related issues contact 1300 066 055.