Is your practice disaster ready?

Readiness

Preparation is key when it comes to disasters.

SMS Emergency Alerts from the PHN

We offer an emergency alert service to local practices. SMS Emergency Alerts are a free, fast, and reliable way to stay informed about public health notifications and critical information during disasters and emergencies.

subscribe to SMS Emergency Alerts

Update your listing on the National Health Services Directory (NHSD)

To help the community find available heath services during and after the natural disaster via the healthdirect Service Finder, we need to ensure the National Health Services Directory is up to date.

If your service is impacted – closed, reduced hours, reduced service offerings – please update your clinic listing as soon as possible.

If you use an online appointment booking service, by updating your calendar to reflect changes in availability, these changes will be reflected in the NHSD.

Alternatively, you can update your NHSD listing by:

1. Visiting Service Finder and look up your practice's listing
2. Scrolling down to the bottom of the page and click 'suggest an edit'
3. You will be taken to a form where you can enter your changes

If you are too busy to update information yourself, please email our practice support team with the details of your changes and we can notify the NHSD on your behalf.

Updates to clinics can be done multiple times as needed as the impacts of the cyclone are being felt and managed.

Response

Update your listing on the National Health Services Directory (NHSD)

To help the community find available health services during and after the natural disaster via the healthdirect Service Finder, we need to ensure the National Health Services Directory is up to date.

If your service is impacted – closed, reduced hours, reduced service offerings – please update your clinic listing as soon as possible.

If you use an online appointment booking service, by updating your calendar to reflect changes in availability, these changes will be reflected in the NHSD.

Alternatively, you can update your NHSD listing by:

1. Visiting Service Finder and look up your practice's listing
2. Scrolling down to the bottom of the page and click 'suggest an edit'
3. You will be taken to a form where you can enter your changes

If you are too busy to update information yourself, please email our practice support team with the details of your changes and we can notify the NHSD on your behalf.

Updates to clinics can be done multiple times as needed as the impacts of the cyclone are being felt and managed.

Communicate with patients

Communicate changes in open hours, GP availability or access to your patients. Telehealth may be an alternative option where access is limited.

PHN updates

We actively communicate with practices during disasters than have the potential to impact the delivery of care.

Communicate information about your closure or capacity to support additional patients with the PHN's practice support team.

Subscribe to receive PHN alerts and warning updates:

• PHN GP Updates (email based)
• PHN SMS Emergency Alerts (phone based, emergencies only)

• The BOM Weather App
• Qld Govt Disaster Management
• Queensland warnings and emergency alerts
• Power outages
• Road updates
• Council Disaster Dashboards

Recovery

General practices play an essential role in supporting communities to recover from the physical and mental health impacts following a disaster. The mental health toll of a disaster may take months to emerge.

Find support for your patients:

• Medicare Mental Health Centres and phoneline
• HealthPathways

Support for health providers:

• Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN funds an Employee Assistance Program for health professionals in the region.
• RACGP GP Support Program
• For information about recovery grant opportunities, visit our Grants and funding opportunities page.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred: Common health issues during flooding

West Moreton Health has provided an update for GPs regarding common health issues and risks during times of flooding.

Following severe flooding, the most common infections usually occur after a person comes into contact with flood water, dirty soil. This can happen through cuts or other open wounds. It is also important to be mindful that following an emergency such as a flood, storm or cyclone, there is a danger that some food in your house may not be safe to eat, especially if power has been cut or if food has been in contact with contaminated floodwater. Consumption of this food/water could lead to gastrointestinal illness in staff and residents.

Here are some government websites for advice on infections to look out for and some safety advice.

• Bacterial Infections: Bacterial infections after a flood | Emergency services and safety (Queensland Government)
• Bacterial Infections (detailed): Bacterial infections | Community support (Queensland Government)
• Floodwater contamination: Floodwater contamination | Community support (Queensland Government)
• Food and drinking water: Food and drinking water | Community support (Queensland Government)
• Flood safety: Health and safety during and after a disaster (Metro South Health)
• Work safety: Storms and floods (WorkSafe.qld.gov.au - see section on infection risks from floodwater)

For general day-to-day activities, infection prevention advice is as per usual processes. Following the emergency, additional precautions should be used by those assisting in the clean-up:

• keep out of floodwater
• wash your hands often
• wear protective clothes such as long-sleeve shirts, eyewear, heavy-duty gloves and sturdy footwear
• cover cuts and wounds with waterproof dressings
• wear sunscreen and a hat when working outdoors, and drink plenty of water
• wear a P2 face mask as needed
• ensure generators and pumps are situated in well-ventilated areas.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred: West Moreton Public Health Communique - Vaccine management

West Moreton Public Health Unit has provided a Public Health Communique with advice relating to vaccine management and to immunisation for people affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Public Health Communique – West Moreton Public Health Unit: Vaccination management

Tropical Cyclone Alfred: West Moreton Public Health Communique - Infectious disease

West Moreton Public Health Unit has provided a Public Health Communique with advice regarding the increased the risk for infectious diseases during Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Public Health Communique – West Moreton Public Health Unit: Infectious disease

Translation resources to support patients during natural disasters

Information about natural disasters in Queensland and how to prepare for them is available in a range of languages on the Queensland Health website: Disaster recovery information in your language.

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