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Coronavirus crisis: Woolworths appoints medical officer Dr Rob McCartney for virus

AAP
VideoAt the beginning of COVID-19, Australians faced not only the devastating health impacts of the virus and changing lockdown laws, but also a huge spike in supermarket panic-buying.

Woolworths has created a chief medical officer position within the company to shape the retailer’s response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Rob McCartney, who has more than 20 years’ experience in occupational medicine, has been appointed to the position.

“I’m very excited to be joining this great Australian company. With my experience as a physician working at the interface of health and work, I look forward to assisting Woolworths in maximising the health, wellbeing and safety of its team members and customers,” Dr McCartney said.

I’ll be looking to hit the ground running.

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“Given the scale of current public health challenges, I’ll be looking to hit the ground running. Together with the safety and leadership teams, I’ll be focused on implementing best practice COVID-19 risk management across the business as we navigate the pandemic.”

The appointment is a first for an Australian retailer and has been created to provide Woolworths Group with expert medical advice to help shape policies that will ensure the ongoing safety of teams and customers as the nation continues to live with COVID-19.

“There is a plethora of medical information and advice to consider in the planning and implementation of a COVID safe workplace. This appointment ensures we have an internal expert, with a grounding in medical advice, to help make well informed long-term decisions on the safety and wellbeing of our teams and customers,” Woolworths Group safety, health and wellbeing general manager, Brian Long, said in a statement.

“This appointment ensures we have an internal expert, with a grounding in medical advice, to help make well informed long-term decisions on the safety and wellbeing of our teams and customers.

“Dr McCartney’s appointment will ensure we keep at the forefront of occupational health, hygiene and public health policy as it relates to COVID-19, while upholding the highest possible health and hygiene standards across our supermarkets, distribution centres, and support offices.”

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