Respond

Tropical Cyclone Alfred - public health information

Metro North Public Health Unit will maintain service over coming days, but anticipates reduced capacity due to TC Alfred. Please read their advice which relates to vaccine management and to immunisation for people affected by TC Alfred. 

Environmental conditions after extreme weather events like TC Alfred increase the risk for infectious diseases. Skin infections, diarrhoeal disease, respiratory infections and mosquito-borne diseases are more common after cyclones and floods in Queensland. Please read the Metro North Public Health Unit advice. 

In case of emergency, the below agencies and contacts can provide support: 

• call Energex on 13 62 62 for power outage information
• check road and traffic conditions or report an incident by calling 13 19 40
• contact the Queensland SES on 132 500 for non-life-threatening flood and storm emergency assistance during severe weather events, or report an incident online
• If you have no water, check the Unity Water water outage map to see if your property is impacted and when water is expected to be restored or call 1300 086 489.
• for support with patient management, contact the Metro North Health Central Patient Intake Unit via email at MNCPI-Management@health.qld.gov.au, noting that CPIU will not be returning CPIU or SORT correspondence this Thursday and Friday until next week
• contact the Metro North Health Public Health Unit for cold chain and vaccine management concerns 07 3624 1111.

For practices that may need to close

Service information for available, alternative urgent care pathways can be shared with patients, noting that services may be affected during the cyclone period based on localised flooding and leading to changes in closing times. Please check council, health service websites or social media. 

Patient’s who can’t get an appointment with their regular doctor can call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) 24hrs 7days a week.

✔ Medical advice anytime
✔ Guidance on prescriptions and medication access

Brisbane residents are able to receive ongoing monitoring, support and access to specialist health care professions to patients with a variety of conditions through the Metro North Virtual Ward team on 07 3074 2109, 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week, but if it is an emergency call 000.

Patients can access the Virtual Emergency Care Service by calling 13 43 25. Open 24/7 from 8am Thursday 6th March until 10pm Tuesday 11th March.

• Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for clinical phone advice
• Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs), located in our region at Murrumba Downs, Northside (Kedron) and Morayfield 
• Minor Injury and Illness Clinics at Satellite Health Centres, located in our region at Kallangur, Caboolture and Bribie Island
• Queensland VECS (formerly Virtual ED), - VECS phone number for Queensland GPs only treating emergency conditions, call 1300 847 833. Open 24/7 from 8am Thursday 6th March until 10pm Tuesday 11th March.
• All Metro North Health hospital Emergency Departments (EDs) will remain open 24/7
• Queensland Children's Hospital Emergency Department (ED) and acute care wards will remain open as per their usual hours
• CATCH service remains open for GPs and has continuity plans in place: Children's Advice and Transport Coordination (CATCH) | Children's Health Queensland
• additional hospital facilities information. 

FindCareFast can help to direct patients to their closest available care. 

Tips during the response phase

• Refer to the practice's emergency management plan.
• Communicate to patients any changes to access or open hours and/or reinforce continued access.
• Consider extending or offering alternative arrangements to accommodate changed or increase in patient demand.
• Follow alert and warning updates.
• Offer support to your local practices as agreed if you have the capacity to do so.

Useful Contacts

Energex provides live information and updates via its website. If you are experiencing a power outage, please contact Energex on 13 62 62.

Many areas throughout the Brisbane North region can experience flooding and roads can often be cut off or washed away – see which roads close to you are affected by a hazard, flooding, accident or closed via an interactive map.

The Practice Support team is here to provide assistance to practices experiencing a disaster, pandemic or emergency. Please reach out to our team via email or telephone if you require support.