Last updated: 16 April 2020
Our aim is that the treatment, care and support for participants continues to be provided with no, or minimal, disruption.
We understand that this is an uncertain and challenging time for everyone as we navigate the changes occurring in our community due to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
We encourage participants, and their families, to please talk with your Support Planner about any concerns regarding continuity of treatment, care, and support.
We are available Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm and your Support Planner can be reached on their usual phone number and email address.
We recognise that every participant’s situation is different. We may not be able to answer all of your questions, but we will provide you with the best guidance and support we can, and follow up anything we can’t answer.
Are your contact details up to date?
To ensure we can keep in touch during this time, please let your Support Planner know if your contact details or the contact details of your support network change.
If you have recently updated your contact details with us , thank you, we don’t need you to provide this information to us again.
The following websites provide detailed information and facts about COVID-19:
We hope the below frequently asked questions (FAQs) also help to provide you with more information about managing your treatment, care and support services.
FAQs
Where can I find easy to understand information about Coronavirus?
The
Disability Information Helpline has written easy-read resources for people with disability, their families and their carers. The resources are available on
this link.
The Disability Information Helpline provides information and referrals for people with disability who need help because of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Helpline can help families, carers, support workers and services, too.
The Disability Information Helpline is free, private and fact-checked.
You can contact the Helpline in the following ways:
Phone (free call): 1800 643 787
If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can also call the National Relay Service on 133 677.
The Helpline is available Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm (AEST) and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 7pm (AEST). It’s not available on national public holidays.
I am not feeling well / my family member hasn’t been feeling well. What should I do?
If it is an emergency, please call 000 for an ambulance.
Phone your GP if you or anyone you live with is not feeling well.
You can also call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or the National Coronavirus Helpline (1800 020 080) if you would like more information. Both services operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Is NIISQ going to still be ‘open’ while this is happening?
NIISQ’s priority is your health and well-being, and ongoing access to your necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support services.
We wish to assure all participants and their families that the NIISQ Agency is operating at full strength, albeit remotely. We have the planning in place to ensure that participants’ needs will be addressed, and our business operations will continue. We are working closely with our service providers to ensure their processes for self-isolation and business continuity are in place to continue to meet participant needs.
If you are particularly concerned about your services, please contact your provider and let your Support Planner know.
What do the social distancing and hygiene requirements mean for me?
It is important for you, and anyone you are in close contact with, to follow the latest recommendations set out on the Queensland Health and Australian Department of Health websites.
This also applies to service providers. We realise that you may need to have close contact with your support workers, and we rely on our service providers to protect you and themselves, by complying with government requirements.
Australian and Queensland Government medical advice indicates there are some age groups, or those with existing health conditions, who have a higher risk of more serious illness concerns if they contract COVID-19. This includes people aged over 70, people aged 65 years and over with chronic medical conditions, people with compromised immune systems, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 50.
You can find more information about this on the Australian Department of Health website.
We encourage you to be careful during this time, and talk to your GP about what this might mean for you. The Australian Department of Health website has information on how those most at risk can protect themselves.
My support worker did not show up today when I expected them. What should I do?
Please contact your provider in the first instance. If you are not sure who to call or need more help contact your Support Planner.
I have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). What should I do?
Please follow the advice on the
Queensland Health website. You will also need to let your provider and Support Planner know.
What happens if I, or someone in my household, is required to self-isolate?
Self-isolation is required for anyone who has:
- a confirmed case of COVID-19;
- been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19; or
- arrived in Australia from overseas since mid-March.
If you fall in any of these categories, you should contact Queensland Health first. The telephone number is 13HEALTH (13 432 584).
Queensland Health will make decisions on where you need to be for effective management of your condition, including whether that might be hospital or home.
We will continue to work with hospitals to support your accident-related treatment, care and support needs.
If you need to go into self-isolation:
If you need to go into self-isolation, it is important for you to immediately let your service provider(s), and your Support Planner know.
We will work with you, the health system, service providers, and your support network to ensure delivery of your essential services through any quarantine period, if you are remaining at home.
Queensland Health has published information explaining what you need to do, and what government supports are available to you, while in self-isolation. This also contains clear instructions on whether or not you can self-isolate at home, including what this may mean for other people in the home.
Should I order more medication and other consumables in case I need to self-isolate?
Think about your medication and the other consumables you may need, in case there is a need to self-isolate.
Please let us know if we can help with any orders.
While some supplies are limited at the moment, with priority use in hospitals, we will do our best to help you source what you need.
My care provider has requested additional equipment like masks, wipes and hand sanitiser. What do I do?
Contact your Support Planner. They can help.
The Australian Department of Health has also published information on the use of surgical masks.
Should I continue to attend my therapy appointments?
Contact your GP, specialist doctor or provider about what is appropriate for you. NIISQ Agency will work with you and your provider to ensure that your necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support continues. There may be changes to the way you receive some of your therapy appointments. For example, you may be doing more home program therapy and have checks by your provider via the telephone or over the internet.
What can I do to prepare?
It is helpful to be prepared in case there are disruptions to your attendant care and support (and other services). While we hope this does not happen, we are here to help and support you if it does.
We are asking participants and service providers to tell us as soon as possible if services are likely to be interrupted for any reason, so that we can organise any alternate arrangements that may be required.
Where telehealth is an appropriate option, we will support those arrangements. However, not all appointments and care can be effectively provided this way.
Think about the essential supports, medication and continence products you need to keep you safe and healthy. Some examples include:
- bladder and bowel management
- medication management
- respiratory management
- transfers or preparation to stay in bed
- pressure relief/turning and wound care
- basic personal hygiene
- access to food and water
- assistance with shopping and payment of bills for vital services.
Consider if there are services that you would be comfortable putting on hold, either for now or in an emergency. Some examples include:
- Could you have your groceries delivered instead of going to the supermarket?
- Can your appointments be met via a phone call or could you receive medication reminders by phone?
Talk to your service providers, health professionals, social network and your Support Planner to develop a plan to make sure you are healthy and safe over the coming months.
Should I get tested at one of Queensland Health's fever clinics?
Please read the advice on the
Queensland Health website talk to your GP, about what testing you might need.
I am feeling worried. What should I do?
It is important to stay connected, maintain your social networks and continue with routine as much as possible within the government guidelines.
This is an uncertain time which means that it can also be stressful. There are some dedicated organisations who can help:
Where can I find more information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) to help with my planning?
The lead agencies for health-related information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) are:
Other resources that may also help with your planning include:
- Queenslanders with Disability Network : a state-wide organisation for people with disability in Queensland. The network has published some information on the types of things you may need to be prepared. For example, they have published a checklist of essential items you should consider having handy.
- Queensland Health’s Spinal Cord Injuries Service (QSCIS) has a dedicated web page with information on COVID-19 for people with spinal cord injury. However, it may also be useful for other people living with disability.
