Information about COVID-19

 

We have not made this decision lightly, but we must always prioritise the health and safety of our patients and staff.

Exempted visitors must: 

• Be at least 12 years of age
• Have had two doses of a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine
• Have formal evidence of their vaccination status when they enter the facility
• Any visitor arriving from overseas within the previous 7 days (fully vaccinated or not) must apply for a visitor exemption
• Wear a surgical mask correctly on entry and for the duration of their visit
• Scan QR codes and complete appropriate entry forms

There are no visitors allowed in identified COVID-19 wards and units. 

Thank you for your support and understanding. 

As a condition of entry into any of our facilities, including St Vincent's Hospital; Sacred Heart Health Service; The O'Brien Centre; The Kinghorn Cancer Centre; and St Joseph's Hospital in Auburn, patients and visitors must adhere to the following:

• Wear a surgical mask correctly on entry and for the duration of their visit
• Scan QR codes and complete appropriate entry forms

In addition -

For patients with booked admissions to hospital

• Have evidence of a negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) taken within 24 hours of presentation to hospital. If you are unable to source a RAT, we will provide one to you upon arrival
• If you are positive or symptomatic, please let the service/clinic know as soon as possible, so that we can discuss a plan

For patients attending outpatient appointments

• Have evidence of a negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) taken within 24 hours of presentation to hospital. If you are unable to source a RAT, we will provide one to you upon arrival
• If you are positive or symptomatic, please let the service/clinic know as soon as possible, so that we can discuss a plan

Emergency Department presentations and unplanned hospital admissions

• Have a COVID-19 test on presentation

Visitors

We have not made this decision lightly, but we must always prioritise our vulnerable patients and staff who are arguably the most vital workers needed in a pandemic.

Any exempted visitors must:

• Be at least 12 years of age 
• Have formal evidence of two doses of a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine or a medical exemption letter 
• Not attend if you have been overseas in the last 7 days. If you have been overseas within 7-14 days from you must have evidence of a negative COVID-19 test.
• Apply for a visitor exemption if attendance is required but you are unable to adhere to the requirements above

Thank you for your cooperation. The safety of our staff, patients and community is our highest priority.

Using virtual care (telehealth) where appropriate
We are reviewing all hospital appointments and, if it is appropriate, conducting them using virtual care (telehealth). We have done this to reduce the amount of movement in and around the hospital.

You will be advised if your appointment will be conducted using virtual care (telehealth). Please get in contact with your service provider if you have any concerns.

For a full list of testing clinics across NSW, please CLICK HERE.

St Vincent’s testing locations include:

Bondi Beach Drive-Thru Clinic

Park Drive, Bondi Beach
Access via corner of Campbell parade and Beach road
Our Bondi Clinic is open 7.30am - 5pm*, seven days a week
* Public Holiday 26th January, 2022 hours of operation are 8.30am - 3pm.

Please note: this clinic only tests individuals aged five years and older. Children under five years of age can attend Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick for testing.

Testing priority will be given to people who are symptomatic, or deemed a closed contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Click here for more information. 

East Sydney Arts Centre (CURRENTLY CLOSED)

34-40 Burton Street
Darlinghurst
This clinic is CLOSED until further notice.

Rushcutters Bay Park (CURRENTLY CLOSED)

Sir David Martin Reserve
1c New Beach Road, Darling Point
 This clinic is CLOSED until further notice.

Please note: this clinic only tests individuals aged five years and older. Children under five can attend Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick for testing.

If your coronavirus test comes back positive, Public Health will contact you directly. If your coronavirus test comes back negative, you’ll be sent an SMS.

Test results can take 72+ hours.

For information about what to expect if you're being tested for COVID-19, please click here.

 

Prioritisation will be given to people getting a PCR test (nose and throat swab) who:

• have COVID-19 symptoms or a positive rapid antigen test
• are a household contact with a confirmed COVID-19 positive case 

With such high cases of the Omicron variant in circulation in Australia, as an added precaution, people should consider taking a rapid antigen test before going out, particularly if socialising in groups of people or anywhere it may be difficult to physically distance. Information on how to use rapid antigen tests is available on the NSW Government website.

For more information see https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20211229_01.aspx

Make a Booking online via the Vaccines Eligibility Checker

Should you make a booking at St Vincent's Vaccination Hub, please don't come to the Main Hospital.

The St Vincent's Vaccination Hub is located at: 

Sacred Heart Health Service
170 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst.
By appointment only

Some metred street parking is available. The nearest parking station can  be found at St Vincent's Hospital , just a 2 minute walk. Parking rates can be found here.

 

I’ve just received the text message saying I’m positive for COVID-19 but had previously been told I was negative, what does this mean?

Owing to a clerical issue, SydPath Pathology inadvertently sent a number of negative COVID-19 test results to people who had tested positive. If you received this text message from SydPath, you may have been impacted.
If you received this text message, you must isolate or go back into isolation until you receive an updated and corrected result.

What are you doing to fix it? 
We have established an emergency response team to rectify the issue as soon as possible. This includes to identify all those who have been impacted by this event, contacting them as soon as possible, and sending them their corrected and updated test results. 

What dates have been impacted? 
A number of people may have been impacted, including those who attended any of our SydPath testing clinics (including Merrylands, Fairfield, Rushcutters, Bondi, Carlingford, Moree and East Sydney) who were tested on 22 December 2021, 23 December 2021 and 24th December, 2021.

How did this happen?
This was a clerical error. We have established an emergency incident response team to investigate the course of events. 

When will I receive my updated result? / When will I find out if I’m positive or negative?
You will receive your correct result as soon as possible. 

Now that I’m positive, what happens next? 
You will be notified by the NSW Ministry of Health over the next few days. 

I’ve visited family/friends this morning, how does this impact them?
Please notify anyone you have been in close contact with to get a COVID-19 test and isolate, whether they have symptoms or not.
Please refer to the NSW Ministry of Health close contact guidelines. 

I’m at work, what should I do? 
If you are at work, please leave work and go back into isolation. You may have COVID-19 and could infect others. 
Please notify your workplace and/or manager of this risk. Please advise those who you have been in close contact with to get a COVID-19 test. 

I’ve travelled interstate, regionally or rurally. What should I do? 
If you travelled interstate, please isolate wherever you are and follow NSW Health Guidelines. Please do not travel further. You could have COVID-19 and could give it to others. Please use the NSW Ministry of Health hotline: 1800 020 080

I’ve travelled interstate on a full flight. Who will contact the other passengers?

Please await further text messaging from our laboratory advising you of the correct results. 
Once you receive your result, NSW Health will conduct contact tracing as required. 

I’ve visited a high-risk setting (e.g. a hospital, residential aged care facility, correctional and detention facilities and residential accommodation facilities that support people who require frequent, close personal care and who are vulnerable to severe disease). What should I do? 

NSW Health will be in contact with you if this is the case.  

I am now unable to self-isolate, what can I do? 

Please self-isolate as best you can. For more information about self-isolation, you can refer to the self-isolation guidelines from the Ministry of Health.

Can the people I’ve inadvertently exposed have priority testing now?
Unfortunately we cannot provide priority testing. Please advise anyone you have been in close contact with to get a test at their nearest testing centre. You can find your closest testing centre on the ministry of health website. This should be done on day 2 (where day 0 is the day they were in contact with you). 
If anyone else who you have been around is concerned, they should have a PCR test or rapid antigen test. 

I want to make a formal complaint
Please put your formal complaint in writing via and email and send to svhs.feedback@svha.org.au and someone will contact you directly. 

Need more information?
National Coronavirus Health Information Line 1800 020 080
Service NSW for self-isolation requirements 13 77 88

Mental Health Support 

• Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
• NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 51