Surge capacity for critical care specialised allied health professionals in Australia during COVID-19

Ridley, Emma J.; Freeman-Sanderson, Amy; Haines, Kimberley J.

Abstract Significant investment in planning and training has occurred across the Australian healthcare sector in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a primary focus on the medical and nursing workforce. We provide a short summary of a recently published article titled “Surge capacity of Australian intensive care units associated with COVID-19 admissions” in the Medical Journal of Australia and importantly, highlight a knowledge gap regarding critical care specialised allied health professional (AHP) workforce planning in Australia. The unique skillset provided by critical care specialised AHPs contributes to patient recovery long after the patient leaves ICU, with management targeted at reducing disability and improving function, activities of daily living, and quality of life. Allied health workforce planning and preparation during COVID-19 must be considered when planning comprehensive, and evidence-based patient care. The work by Litton et al. has highlighted the significant lack of available data in relation to staffing of critical care specialised AHPs in Australia and this needs to be urgently addressed.