An important message for our patients

Given the current situation with COVID-19 and there are now more confirmed cases of community spread COVID-19 within Australia. We’d like to take the opportunity to let you know what we are doing here in our rooms to protect you and the greater community.

Due to the size of our team and the impact, it may have on our patients we request that if you are experiencing any cold/flu-like symptoms that you DO NOT attend the rooms for an appointment. Please contact the rooms and they would be happy to reschedule your appointment or arrange for a telemedicine consultation.

Please be aware if you have just returned from any overseas travel we ask that you wait a minimum of 14 days before you attend the rooms for an appointment. If in the event you or someone you have been in contact with has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and you have attended the rooms for an appointment, we ask that you alert us as soon as possible so we can take appropriate measures within the community.

The evidence so far indicates the virus is spread from person to person through small respiratory droplets.

Tips to minimise the risk of infection with COVID-19

  • Wash your hands &/or use hand sanitiser whenever you cough, sneeze, blow your nose, care for someone who is sick, before cooking and eating, before unloading the dishwasher, after touching your face and after going to the toilet.
  • Social distancing– keep 1.5m from others where possible when outside the home, especially if you or others are unwell.  
  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow or into a tissue. Place the tissue in the bin and wash your hands.
  • Do not shake hands, hug or kiss on the cheek, except for close family members. 
  • Try not to touch your face with your hands. You will be surprised how often you do it once you become conscious of it.

Be aware that touching ‘fomites‘ is a potential mode of COVID-19 transmission. A ‘fomite’ is an inanimate object that has been contaminated with a virus. This can happen when the virus is expelled in droplets following a cough or a sneeze, which then fall, contaminating surrounding surfaces. Contamination may also occur following being touched by a contagious person. Viral transmission may occur after touching a contaminated surface and then touching your mouth, nose, eyes or food.

Examples of fomites:

  • your mobile phone
  • taps, turn off the tap using a paper towel
  • door handles
  • elevator buttons
  • menus, consider how you may handle a menu and then handle food, eg bread, with your hands
  • supermarket trolley handles
  • self-serve grocery check-out touch screens
  • ATM keypads
  • pedestrian crossing buttons (use your elbow)
  • shared pens (keep one with you)
  • money – cash/coins.  

We are taking extra measures to ensure patient well being. Hand sanitiser is available at the reception counter. High contact areas such as countertops, waiting room chairs, doorknobs, etc are sanitized frequently and throughout the day.

The best way to ensure you are getting factual information from a reputable source and to stay up to date with the COVID-19 situation is via the Department of Health website and their daily alerts. https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert

DO NOT ATTEND THE ROOMS FOR AN APPOINTMENT IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THESE 3 QUESTIONS:
• Have you traveled overseas in the past 2 weeks?
• Have you had contact with a person with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19?
• Are you suffering from a cough or experiencing any breathing difficulties, shortness of breath, sore throat or fever?