A new COVID clinic opened in Armadale today to boost testing capabilities for the virus in the Perth metropolitan area. Another new clinic will open in Rockingham on Tuesday followed by two additional COVID Clinics becoming operational in Midland and Joondalup on Wednesday.
COVID clinics are also in operation at Royal Perth Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, and Bunbury Health Campus in the South-West.
All the new metro clinics will operate from 8am-8pm, seven days a week and will be staffed by doctors, nurses and administrative staff who will follow strict infection prevention protocols. They are located at:
- Armadale COVID Clinic: Ground floor of Armadale Health Service, 3056 Albany Highway Mount Nasura;
- Midland COVID Clinic: Front of St John of God Midland Hospital, access only via Yelverton Drive;
- Joondalup COVID Clinic: Ground floor Joondalup Hospital (Car park P4, Regents Park Road). Enter via outside walkway between Specialist Medical West and Physiotherapy Department; and
- Rockingham COVID Clinic: Rockingham General Hospital, Elanora Drive, Cooloongup. Take the first road entrance to the hospital and follow the signs.
A new COVID-19 clinic opened last Thursday at the Bunbury Health Campus, open
from 10am-4pm every day.
The community is reminded that the clinics are not intended to replace the medical care available through their GP or at hospital emergency departments.
Members of the public can telephone the COVID-19 Health Information Line on 1800 020 080 for advice and find more information by visiting http://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au
Currently, people residing in country Western Australia who meet the testing criteria are able to present to one of the WA Country Health Service's 100 hospitals and health services to be tested for suspected COVID-19.
They can also be tested at clinics operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Aboriginal Medical Service or Silver Chain. They are not required to travel to the metropolitan area for testing.
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"These additional clinics will assist us to have a clear picture of the incidence of COVID-19 in the community and to rapidly diagnose and care for people who are at higher risk of more severe illness with the advice and treatment that they need.
"The current COVID-19 testing regime in Western Australia is in line with national guidelines but I have asked the WA Health Department to review this and determine how we can accommodate a broadened criteria to test more people.
"We have been working closely across the system and with federal health authorities to increase the number of pathology testing kits, reagents and swabs available to cope with a surge in demand."
