AMA (NSW) launches #stayhomesavelives campaign to protect frontline health workers

To celebrate National Doctor Day on 30 March, AMA (NSW) is encouraging Australians to protect frontline health care workers, so they can keep focused on the task at hand: saving lives.

“Australians have a very important part to play in the fight against COVID-19. By staying home, they can reduce the transmission of coronavirus,” says AMA (NSW) President, Dr Kean-Seng Lim.

“There have been some disturbing incidents of people hiding their symptoms in order to get treatment for other health issues.

“The scarcity of PPE means doctors are trying to limit usage to when they are dealing with people who are symptomatic. If you hide your symptoms and a doctor isn’t protected when they treat you, then you are putting them at risk.

“This is not ok. Not only are you risking their lives, you’re risking the lives of other patients that doctor may go on to see.

“We want patients to continue to access care if needed, but to be forthright if they are experiencing symptoms and if they’re unsure to phone ahead first.

“We know doctors in other countries have already died as a result of coronavirus. Fatalities and high numbers of health care worker infections would further strain the health system’s ability to respond to this pandemic.

“Frontline health workers are working around the clock and throwing everything they’ve got at this virus to limit the number of people who will die. They’re also putting their own lives at risk every time they leave the house and show up at work.

“This is what we do. But we also have sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, and mums and dads – people we love and we want to come home to at the end of the day.

“We want zero deaths of health care workers, so we can utilise everyone we’ve got to fight this pandemic,” says Dr Lim.

“Please stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19 – #stayhomesavelives.”

Media contact: Lachlan Jones 0419 402 955