Tasmania's first GP-led respiratory clinic established as part of the Australian Government's $2.4 billion health package to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak is open in Devonport.
The Federal Government is establishing 100 GP-led respiratory clinics around the country to assess patients with mild to moderate COVID-19-like symptoms. The clinics will reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments and other local general practices.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton said the Devonport clinic is one of the dedicated respiratory clinics being set up across the nations as part of the Australian Government's response to the outbreak.
"We are putting in place a range of measures including additional practice incentives and the expansion of telehealth to enable the rural medical workforce to continue to care for regional Australians through this crisis," Minister Coulton said.
Braddon MP, Gavin Pearce said the local clinic is best placed to support people with fever, cough, sore throat, and other respiratory symptoms while avoiding the risk of infection in other members of the community.
"I encourage anyone in our community experiencing these symptoms to call the clinic or go online to book an appointment," Mr Pearce said.
"The Federal Government has been working with local GPs and Aspen Medical - which has significant health emergency management experience in Australia and overseas - to roll out the Devonport clinic."
More than 300 fever clinics, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments, are also in operation across Australia.
To access a clinic, people can visit health.gov.au and use the online booking system.
BACKGROUND:
- GP-led respiratory clinics in St Helens, Launceston and Hobart will open within the coming week.
- People with severe symptoms should call 000 and/or attend the nearest hospital emergency department.
- People with mild to moderate respiratory symptoms will need to make an appointment either online via booking links available at health.gov.au or over the phone if the clinic has made a local phone booking arrangement available.
- It is important that people attend the clinic only at the time of their booking so that social distancing can be maintained, and they may be asked to wait in their car until the clinic is ready to receive them.
- People will be assessed by a GP or a nurse under the supervision of a GP and have a specimen taken for pathology testing if that is indicated.
- Regardless of whether a test is undertaken, the person will receive clinical advice on how to manage their symptoms and an initial follow-up phone call or text message with test results and to check on how they are going.
- After people have visited the clinic, they will remain eligible to continue to consult their regular GP using the MBS telehealth items.
