| The Department of Health (DOH) is the designated
Hazard Management Agency for Human Epidemics and is responsible for
the provision of health and medical services in emergencies. To ensure
the Department’s response to emergencies is consistent, Westplan
– Human Epidemic and Westplan – Health have been developed
outlining the management arrangements for the provision of the health
emergency management function during any major emergency involving multiple
casualties, public health threats and human epidemics. Both Plans are
reviewed regularly and updated where necessary.
The health emergency management function incorporates medical and health
services as follows:
| a. |
medical services cover, but are not limited to, first
aid, triage, medical treatment at the emergency site, ambulance
transportation, hospitalisation, mental health, mortuary services,
pharmaceutical and medical supplies. |
| b. |
health services covers collection, collation, interpretation and
dissemination of accurate and timely information and data to manage
the public health response. This includes radiation risks, epidemic
disease, sanitation, monitoring of food and water, pest control
and environmental health. |
All major emergencies that have occurred
in Western Australia have required the DOH to provide both input and
support services. To ensure all agencies are
aware of their roles and responsibilities all Hazard Management and
Support Agencies have been required to develop State level plans.
This has resulted in the DOH being actively involved
in Emergency Management Committees at the State, District and Local
levels. The peak body is the State Emergency
Management Committee (SEMC) Executive which is comprised of:
| • |
Commissioner of Police, as Chair and State Emergency
Coordinator; |
| • |
Chief Executive Officer of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority
(FESA), as Deputy Chair; |
| • |
Director General, Department of Health; and |
| • |
Director General, Department for Community Development. |
The chair of each of the functional groups
is also a member of the SEMC Executive group. The functional groups
are (chair in brackets):
| • |
Emergency Services Group (Police); |
| • |
Public Information Group (Bureau of Meteorology); |
| • |
Lifeline Services Group (Office of Energy); and |
| • |
Recovery Services Group (Department of Premier and Cabinet). |
The Department of Health is also a permanent member
of the:
| • |
Recovery Services Group (Executive Officer; Director, Disaster Preparedness and Management); |
| • |
Emergency Services Group (Executive Officer; Director, Disaster Preparedness and Management); and |
| • |
Public Information Group (Public Affairs) |
The DOH is further represented at the Metropolitan
Emergency Management Coordination Group which is required to assist
the Assistant Police Commissioner (Metropolitan) to ensure effective
management arrangements for the Perth Metropolitan Region.
There are a number of other committees which are ongoing
and require Health participation:
| a. |
HAZMAT Coordinating Committee (Environmental Health
Branch, Department of Health); |
| b. |
Nuclear Powered Warships Visiting Ships (Coordinating) Committee
(Radiation Health); |
| c. |
State Welfare Emergency Committee (Mental Health); and |
| d. |
Chemical, Biological and Radiological Committee (Disaster Preparedness and Management, Path Centre and Chemistry Centre). |
STATE HEALTH CO-ORDINATOR
The State Health Coordinator is the Director General,
DOH who has delegated this responsibility to the Director, Disaster Preparedness and Management. The Deputy is the Executive Officer, Disaster Preparedness and Management.
DIRECTOR, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND MANAGEMENT
Responsibilities:
| • |
chair and manage the activities of the State Health
Disaster Management Committee; |
| • |
ensure the preparation, testing and maintenance of the State Health
Emergency Management Support Plan; |
| • |
manage the State Health Disaster Management function during health
and other emergencies; |
| • |
manage the operations of the State Health Operations Centre during
emergencies; |
| • |
represent health agencies at SEMC and advise SEMC on health emergency
management matters; and |
| • |
provide overall direction for the control and management of emergencies
caused by human epidemics. |
EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND MANAGEMENT
The Executive Officer’s function is to ensure
the preparedness of DOH to carry out its emergency management functions.
This position also provides the linkages between the District/Local
Health Coordinators and the State Health Coordinator and with the relevant
Hazard Management Agency.
Responsibilities:
| a. |
maintain the State Health Operations Centre and assist
with the management of the centre during operations; |
| b. |
on behalf of the Director, Disaster Preparedness and Management maintains the State
Health Emergency Management Support Plan; |
| c. |
activate, on behalf of the Director, Disaster Preparedness and Management, responses
to health emergency management situations and recommend emergency
expenditure/resources to meet these responses; |
| d. |
assist with the functions of the Disaster Preparedness and Management; |
| e. |
provide advice/support to District/Local Health Coordinators; |
| f. |
ensures liaison with the Director, Disaster Preparedness and Management during emergencies; |
| g. |
as a member of the CBR Technical Group being contactable an a
24 hour basis via emergency pager; |
| h. |
facilitate post incident analysis regarding DOH role in significant
emergencies; and |
| i. |
facilitate training programs throughout the State including exercises.
|
ON CALL DUTY OFFICERS
The Disaster Preparedness and Management Unit of the DOH needs to
maintain readiness at all times to respond to a disaster or emergency
that requires assistance at a State level. Such events include floods
or cyclones affecting a populated area, a road traffic accident or any
other major event involving multiple casualties that cannot be coped
with at a local level.
To facilitate a 24-hour Health Emergency Management
response the DOH maintains a Health Duty Officer system. The Health
Duty officers are the first point of contact for queries in relation
to emergencies and requests to activate this Plan. |
