The manager of the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s intensive care unit says they’ve been left with little choice but to re-train other hospital staff in just four days to work in ICU.

It usually takes 12 months.

Michelle Spence told Tom Elliott the looming COVID-19 crisis meant the workforce needed to be increased quickly.

“We are basically doing survival skills in ICU, so to speak,” she said on 3AW Drive.

She said there were undoubtedly testing times ahead for Victoria’s health care system.

“There is no doubt what we are going to see over the next few months is really going to push us to the limit,” she said.

Press PLAY below to hear how staff are being re-deployed

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