13 HEALTH nurses Beth (L) and Sarah (R).
A cyclone didn’t stop registered nurses Sarah, Beth and their fellow 13 HEALTH colleagues from keeping Queenslanders safe and healthy.
As the effects of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred unfolded, calls to 13 HEALTH steadily increased, reaching a peak of 1,536 calls on Friday 7 March.
During the cyclone and subsequent heavy rain and flooding, the team at 13 HEALTH worked tirelessly, utilising their high-quality clinical skills and knowledge of the health system to support patients with their varied healthcare needs.
Registered nurse Sarah said some people called about running out of their medications, others about wound infection, and many to find out which services were open.
“In a tropical cyclone, our job doesn't stop,” Sarah said.
“There are all the usual calls but also the extra stress on the Queensland population that we can help with.
“We all just went into prep mode and rallied together, picking up extra shifts for our colleagues who were flooded in, and staying overnight at work when necessary.
“There was an attitude of ‘we're going to do the best we can’.”
Cyclone Alfred caused flash flooding around South East Queensland.
Since the event’s impacts were ever evolving, they also had to keep up to date with the availability of health services to refer patients accordingly.
Registered Nurse Beth said that callers were extremely grateful 13 HEALTH was open for health advice.
“We're nurses, so we do what we do because that's who we are,” Beth said.
“But to get that feedback from people was really reassuring.
“It made it all worth it to be out in the storm and away from my family; I knew I was serving a purpose.”
13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) is available for health advice and talk to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can call 13 HEALTH if you’re:
- unsure whether you need medical care
- deciding if you need to go to a hospital or see a GP
- looking for healthcare near you, including after-hours or home visit services
- managing chronic conditions
- asking for a Ryan's rule clinical review
- getting home sexual health testing (chlamydia and gonorrhoea) through 13 HEALTH webtest
- wanting advice and support for termination of pregnancy
- needing general advice about your child's health.
In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).