‘A Death Sentence’: More Than 600 People Die After Catching COVID in Hospital – VAHPA Interviewed by The Age

VAHPA Executive Officer Andrew Hewat was interviewed in a startling The Age article concerning over six hundred Victorians dying after contracting COVID while in hospital for other reasons.

As per the article:

At least 659 Victorians have died after catching COVID-19 while being treated for other conditions in hospitals, with doctors warning that patients are delaying care over infection fears.

More than one in ten of these patients were confirmed or suspected to have died as a result of their hospital-acquired infection. Andrew called this a tragedy, “It’s an embarrassment and a liability… they are creating an environment where they are not protecting patients and their staff.”

Andrew called for greater consistency around infection control measures and to stop dropping mask requirements only to then reintroducing them when there’s an outbreak: “it’s too late. People have been infected…”

Full The Age article here.