Dr Victoria Sasongko1, Jane Ruane1, Dr Sanjeev Baweja1, Dr Sarah Knight1, Murray Green1, Jane Waters1, Andrew Booth1, Chanelle Osborne1, Dr Venkat Manickavasagam1, Dr William James1
1Northern NSW LHD, Lismore, Australia
Aim: To report the disaster responses to record flood events and review effective management practices
Background: In February and March 2022, Northern NSW was affected by series of extreme rainfall resulting in a record flood height of 14.4 meters. The Northern NSW Local Health District is home to 130 haemodialysis patients, 22 peritoneal dialysis patients and 12 home haemodialysis patients. Severe weather conditions have resulted in disruptions to access to treatment, communications, power, and water supplies. A coordinated response was launched from the renal services to ensure safety of these patients
Methods: Disaster management reviews were undertaken with staff members, hospital management and patients
Results: A few key management points were identified including: (1) early and forward planning to bring patients to dialysis early in anticipation of severe weather events, (2) central coordination in the Renal Units with designated commander-in-charge working alongside the clinical governance of local nephrologists, (3) support from hospital executives, emergency services, and peripheral hospital sites to retrieve isolated patients from remote residences and peripheral hospitals, (4) close communication with patients and peripheral hospitals in guiding pharmacological management and prioritising clinical care (5) cross-coverage of staff members and supplies between dialysis units
Conclusions: There were no major adverse events identified despite significant barriers to services. Future disaster planning should be undertaken in light of climate change threats
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