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Interview with Fi Poole from ABC Mid-North Coast with an update on COVID-19

Read the transcript of Minister Gillespie's interview with Fi Poole from ABC Mid-North Coast with an update on COVID-19.

The Hon Dr David Gillespie MP
Former Minister for Regional Health

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FI POOLE:           

Now, if you're a retired health care worker, what do you make of this call-out for tens of thousands of people who have backgrounds in medicine, nursing, Psychiatry, Physiotherapy and more, to come back into the workforce to relieve strain on the New South Wales health network? Now this is for the healthcare professionals who've not been registered for up to 16 months. They've been granted a temporary licence to work during the pandemic. Dr David Gillespie, Federal Member for Lyne, but also the Minister for Regional Health, joins us this morning. Dr Gillespie, hello.

MINISTER GILLESPIE:

Good morning, Fi.

FI POOLE:

How does this scheme work? Like what's the idea here?

MINISTER GILLESPIE:      

Well, it's an opt-out, as far as I can see, because I got an email too. I'm back on the pandemic register. It's a special sub-register that we were all called back on at the start of the pandemic. And then we thought we had it under control during that Twilight Zone, or honeymoon period, whatever you like to call it; it went back to normal. But in the last fortnight, we have planned for a workforce surge. And part of that plan is to call on people who've had recent full registration to come back onto a special pandemic sub-register. And I haven't checked with APRA in last 10 days, but I gather there's been a reasonable response, but we can always have more.

FI POOLE:           

What's the predictions for this strain on our region's hospitals and healthcare once COVID comes here? I mean, how bad do you think it will get, Dr David Gillespie?

MINISTER GILLESPIE:      

Well, the answer lies in how many people are getting themselves vaccinated, Fi, because that's the best protection for yourself and for your loved ones, and for your business to flourish.

We know, because we have had the luxury of seeing what's happened in other places around the world, as you know, Delta and the original strains and other strains, South African, you know, South American strains, it is a very infectious virus, and it will circulate around the world.

It's not going to go away. So, the best response to reduce the severity of any illness in a vaccinated person, reduce the chance of hospitalisation, reduce the chance of ICU and death, is to be vaccinated. Obviously, all the social distancing and hygiene measures, particularly in really crowded places with lots of people, where you can have easy spread, they're important, just as much. But the take home message is, yeah, we are getting the band get- back together.

You know, some people are putting their hand up, and might be able to ring their local health district and say, if you need backfill for people suffering fatigue from long shifts.

You know, it might be a nurse or a psychiatrist or, you know, no longer practising gastroenterologist, I might be available. But it doesn't mean you go on to full, unrestricted practice; it's backfilling. But it's all important because, look, if it does get away, there will be strains. You know, it's a lot easier to have these structures in place if it does happen.

FI POOLE:           

If you do, if you are retired health care worker and you're thinking, okay, yeah, well, I may register for this, and you get called upon, I mean, you can say no, of course?

MINISTER GILLESPIE:      

Oh, yes. It's not compulsory. 

Because they've put the email out to, far and wide, if people met that recency criteria of only being of the full registration when it originally happened, in the three years before.

But this last lot, I understand, it's 18 months or 16 months - I'd have to check exactly. But the emails went out and it was opt-out system. So at least we have notified people that this is happening, and it is a good move. I might…

FI POOLE:           

[Interrupts] And realistically, how long are you committing to?

MINISTER GILLESPIE:      

Well, look, I think it depends how long the pandemic situation will go. As the plan outlines, when we do reach these critical 70 per cent and 80 per cent double vaccination figures, we will be taking more of an approach like normal.

There will be the need for boosters. ATAGI's going to determine what the right interval is. But eventually we must get back to our normal life and economy and freedom of association, movement, economy.

We can't be in cotton wool forever, and that's why it's so important.

FI POOLE:           

[Interrupts] So you support the 70 per cent reopening?

MINISTER GILLESPIE:      

In a graduated fashion. 80 per cent, obviously, double-vaccinated gives a greater level of comfort. But the Doherty modelling shows, you know, particularly now that we are vaccinating children as well, the higher the rate, the better it is. But once you get over that 70 per cent, it is reasonable to, you know, loosen things up a bit and go back to normal.

FI POOLE:

Dr David Gillespie, Member for Lyne but also the Minister for Regional Health, how comfortable are you with these numbers? 25 ICU beds on the Coffs and Mid North Coast, with the capacity to double up if necessary. So ultimately 50, 50 ICU beds. Are you comfortable with that number?

MINISTER GILLESPIE:

Look, that's impressive. I didn't even think it was that high.

But if they can double it again, it's logistics planning. Plan for the worst and have systems in place to minimise it.

And look, we have got high rates, depending on which LGA you're in. They're further north from Coffs and Kempsey. There is a bit of reluctance appearing in some sectors.

A lot of that is due to misinformation. All these vaccines that we've got in Australia are deemed safe. There's- like, the Moderna that's now being distributed around 1800 pharmacies this week, and then another 1800 next week, is like Pfizer.

It's a short interval between vaccines, and it's been through a 150 million people, at least, in Europe and America. Same with Pfizer, same with AstraZeneca We've had 11 or 12 million people in Australia take up the AstraZeneca…

FI POOLE:           

[Talks over] Sure…

MINISTER GILLESPIE:      

… which over time is offering very good coverage to Delta.

FI POOLE:           

But I think if they're hesitant, and what we're knowing is that it's relatively easy to get to 70 per cent. It's going to be more challenging getting to 80 per cent, and then even harder, again, to get to 90 per cent. Are you at a point where you will consider incentives?

Financial incentives for vaccination? Especially in the regions?

MINISTER GILLESPIE:      

Look- it's not a financial decision- you know, it might- you know, if individual businesses want to do, like, you know, free beer, like they've done in the UK. Or, you know, you get a burger at somewhere if you show that you're double vaccinated. That sort of thing I don't discourage, but the Commonwealth has already got a huge incentive. It's called a free vaccine, times two, available to everyone.

And there's 25 million people in Australia, so that would be 50 million incentives. It's just not financially viable. I prefer to put the money into the health system rather than into, you know, cash incentives.

As I said, we have got, depending on which age group you're in, you know, up to 80 per cent already beyond the first dose. And it's counterproductive. The biggest incentive is that it reduces your chance of serious illness, hospitalisation, ICU, and death. And it means your business will probably keep running, because all your staff will be healthy and much less likely that they will be sick.

FI POOLE:           

And finally, Dr David Gillespie, opening up the healthcare network to retired healthcare workers, is that something you would like to see people within the Lyne electorate do? And indeed, right across the Mid North Coast? Are you asking them to do that this morning?

MINISTER GILLESPIE:      

Well, now it means putting your name in - agreeing to be on the register. And then, at your convenience, you could take it further by approaching vaccination clinics or pharmacies, or, depending if you're a nurse or a doctor, or whatever part of the health system you're in, you might be able to do some extra shifts, dust off the cobwebs and, like I said, get the band back together and fulfil a role, which will just mean there's many more hands on deck to do all the various roles in the health system.

FI POOLE:

We'll leave it there. Thanks so much for joining us.

MINISTER GILLESPIE:

Thanks very much.

FI POOLE:

All the best. Dr David Gillespie, Minister for Regional Health, and local Federal Member for Lyne.

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