Health Services and Hospitals

Emergency management for health care facilities includes the elements of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. The all hazards approach recognises the scope to include mass casualty, public health, mental health and recovery planning.

Emergencies relate to a large range of potential and actual situations of varying scales that require immediate action. Most of these emergencies are isolated to one hospital or health service, and can be dealt with in an effective and efficient way. Some emergencies require a broader level of coordination as the overall capacity or capability for the delivery of health services is compromised. When this occurs, the Department of Human Services provides a coordination role as outlined below in the Victorian Health Emergency Coordination - Information for health services.

The following resources may assist with managing emergencies.

Documents available

• The Victorian Health Emergency Coordination - Information for Health Services (pdf 767 kb) outlines the department's approach to coordinating health resources during emergency situations.
• Hospital Capacity Status Report Form (pdf 164kb).

• The National Registration and Inquiry System (NRIS) (pdf 166 kb) is a service provided by the Red Cross to provide families and close friends with basic details on the safety and whereabouts of persons that may be affected by the emergency.

For further information please contact Bernadette Lane in the Quality and Safety Branch on 03 9096 0638 or e-mail: bernadette.m.lane@dhs.vic.gov.au

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