A NEW clinic has opened within Bathurst's Charles Sturt University (CSU) campus to test people who are showing symptoms associated with COVID-19.
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The Bathurst GP Respiratory Clinic opened on Tuesday at the Ochre Health facility, with the purpose of treating and testing people suffering from any mild to moderate respiratory symptoms.
It is being run through a partnership between Ochre Health and the Federal Government.
Ochre Health lead GP Dr Ross Wilson said having this clinic will mean patients with a respiratory infection can avoid being in a waiting room at their regular GP.
Doctors and nurses in the clinic will be wearing extra personal protective equipment (PPE) and taking every precaution in case a patient does have COVID-19.
"Although most of the people who attend won't have COVID disease, we still have to regard them as COVID positive until we have eliminated that as a real issue," Dr Wilson said.
"So we're hoping that basically what we will be seeing are the ordinary coughs, colds, sore throats, influenza, respiratory infections of all sorts rather, than anything more significant."
The clinic will be open from 12.30pm to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
To avoid potentially spreading coronavirus, people are asked to make an appointment over the phone or online before coming to the clinic.
The director of medical services for Ochre Health, Dr John Hall, said the clinic has strict infection controls and safety measures in place to protect staff and patients.
Part of this is a 'no walk-ins' policy.
"It's really important that people make an appointment and follow our team's instructions when they arrive," he said.
Member for Calare Andrew Gee had the opportunity to tour the facility on Thursday.
He said that, without a vaccine, testing was the only way out of the pandemic, making the services being provided by the new respiratory clinic vital.
"It helps take the pressure off our emergency departments and our other GP practices, but it also provides a ready avenue of testing for people with moderate to mild flu-like symptoms so they can come in and get tested," he said.
"I think this is a very significant development and I would encourage anyone with those moderate to mild flu-like symptoms to ring and make an appointment."
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CSU's vice chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann, also participated in the tour and reaffirmed the university's commitment to help.
"We'll do anything we can to support the fight against coronavirus," he said.
"We are very fortunate to be able to have these facilities on the campus, so from our perspective it is a really great thing to be able to help the community out."
Anyone experiencing the following symptoms should make an appointment at the clinic:
- fever
- cough
- shortness of breath
- sore throat
- and/or tiredness
Call (02) 4702 3682 or visit ochrehealth.com.au/bathurst and select 'Respiratory Clinic appointments'.
Those who are tested can expect results within about 48 hours.
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