Wee Waa Community Hospital has welcomed a new health service manager – Maxine Ambrose.

“I’m really happy to be working here and living in the district and want to try and improve the Community Hospital although it’s already very good – the town is covered seven days a week, “ said Mrs Ambrose.

Mrs Ambrose said it was her aunty who first inspired her to become a nurse and she started training in Sydney in 1989.

“It’s a caring vocation and I do really care about people,” said Mrs Ambrose.

Mrs Ambrose has gone on to achieve great success and has a very broad background including working in Aboriginal health, emergency nursing and 15 years’ experience in chronic disease.

“I’ve also been a child and family health nurse,” said Mrs Ambrose.

Before taking on the role of Wee Waa’s health service manager, Mrs Ambrose has worked in the district at Narrabri Hospital since 2010 and also on a temporary basis at Wee Waa Community Hospital.

Although the Narrabri Shire hasn’t recorded any cases of COVID-19 (at the time of going to print) it’s fair to say that it’s a challenging time for anyone working in the health sector.

Mrs Ambrose said Wee Waa is well prepared with plenty of Personal Protective Equipment, if needed, but the health service manager is still urging people to follow warnings and abide by the restrictions in place.

In line with a directive from NSW Health, Wee Waa Community Hospital has also provided an update on procedures for visitors and COVID-19 testing clinics.

It is now mandatory for people to have their temperature checked before entering the hospital and they may also be asked a series of screening questions.

The directive applies to all nominated visitors, patients, contractors, people attending appointments in the community health clinics and radiology.

Also, patients can only nominate one visitor for their entire stay.

If community members need to go to the hospital, they are being asked to present to the triage window of the Emergency Department.

If there are several people in attendance, you might be asked to wait outside to observe social distancing measures.

Health authorities are asking anyone with a fever or respiratory illness including cough, sore throat or shortness of breath to present for COVID-19 testing at allocated times.

Shire residents need to ring their local hospital in Wee Waa, Narrabri or Boggabri to confirm the allocated times and make an appointment for testing so that heath staff have their information prior to the testing clinic so that it decreases their waiting time.

At the time of going to print, the allocated times listed included: Wee Waa 10-11am, Narrabri 12 noon and 6pm timeslots, and Boggabri 2-3pm.

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