South West Healthcare has seemingly backflipped on a directive to reporters to stop sending COVID-19 related media requests.
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The Standard, along with other media outlets, was sent an email on Monday which asked journalists to "refrain from sending COVID-19 related media requests at this time".
"As I am sure you can appreciate fielding multiple individual media related requests on a daily basis is just not feasible for us to manage," the email stated.
"It is not our intention to hold regular media conferences and we will only do this if it is warranted at the time."
South West Healthcare said it would update the community and media outlets via Facebook posts.
The Standard raised concerns about this email and the request not to ask further follow up questions related to COVID-19 with the Department of Health on Tuesday morning.
Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur said she was disappointed to hear about the policy, particularly in light of a Facebook outage on Tuesday morning.
However, later on Tuesday South West Healthcare chief executive officer Craig Fraser clarified the email was a "request" to media outlets.
"It wasn't a directive, it was a request," Mr Fraser said at a media conference.
The conference was called after The Standard asked a number of questions about the request to the Department of Health.
The Standard understands at least one other south-west media organisation also asked questions about the email sent.
"From South West Healthcare, given that there is huge community interest and huge media interest in this, we're very cognisant that we want to communicate with people as quickly as we can but we're also cognisant of the fact that we are running testing sites which are requiring all our resources from staff from multiple services and multiple areas of our health service," Mr Fraser said.
Mr Fraser said the service was committed to providing at least two updates each day on its Facebook and website, but would provide extra updates if necessary.
"Our aim is to communicate regularly and as often as we can with both the public, yourselves and the community," he said.
"Where we can we will make ourselves available as we can, as will I."
Mrs McArthur said throughout the pandemic "the media has been the best source of trusted information".
"COVID has brought a pandemic of misinformation on social media and in my view healthcare organisations and government departments should continue to provide access to recognised media outlets."
Mrs McArthur said The Standard and other local newspapers should be commended for making their online material relating to COVID available to everyone, not just subscribers.
"While those of us in the political opposition continually push government ministers, departments and CHOs for answers to justify their regulatory decisions, it is often only through the persistent efforts of journalists to uncover facts and use press conferences to elicit answers that the public are informed."
Mrs McArthur said she believed issuing blanket statements was not good enough.
"I recognise the pressure that healthcare organisations may come under, but believe it is important for them to maintain channels of communication with local journalists," she said.
"Regional towns have shown throughout this pandemic that their common-sense, community connections and supportive effort can combat outbreaks of COVID.
"The local media play an essential role in this, particularly when not everyone has access to material online.
"The local paper is like the corner store - it's often the go to place for everyone. It's a constant - and usually a known and trusted source of information."
The Standard sent requests to the Department of Health and the Health Minister on the issue.
South West Healthcare was also asked to answer whether they would consider a daily phone call with a reporter from The Standard to answer questions.
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