Federal Member for Parkes and Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton said he is thrilled that contracts have been signed to pave the way for a GP-led COVID-19 respiratory clinic to open in Dubbo.
Mr Coulton met with local doctors to tour the clinic site earlier this week, which is being assembled by Dubbo Medical and Allied Health Group.
“Dubbo is a health hub for Western New South Wales, with many communities in my electorate relying on the regional city’s health services and medical professionals,” Mr Coulton said.
“Earlier this week I met with Dr Sunil Jacob of Dubbo Medical and Allied Health Group and Dr Daniel Stewart of the Dubbo Hospital Emergency Department, and it’s clear to see what a great difference the respiratory clinic will make to the community.
“The clinic will be located at 183 Brisbane Street, where work is currently underway to prepare the site for opening in the near future.”
Mr Coulton said the clinic will help to screen patients with flu-like symptoms, and is located separately to the Dubbo Medical and Allied Health Group practice to keep staff and patients safe.
“Our GPs are doing an incredible job on the frontline of COVID-19 combating this virus,” he said.
“The Government is working with local GPs and Aspen Medical, which has significant health emergency management experience in Australia and overseas, to roll out the clinics.
“These respiratory clinics will be best placed to support people with a fever, cough, sore throat and other respiratory symptoms and will help to avoid the risk of infection in our local communities.
“The local clinic will also help to reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments and other general practices in Dubbo.”
The Federal Government has committed to establishing up to 100 GP-led respiratory clinics across Australia to assess patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.
“Rural and regional residents deserve health care services which are just as good as those provided in our major cities and the national roll-out of these new clinics is part of addressing that,” Mr Coulton said.
“This is just one of the ways that the Federal Government is focused on ensuring rural and regional communities, like Dubbo, are prepared to respond to this pandemic.”
Work is currently underway to prepare the Dubbo respiratory clinic for operation in the near future.
Photo Caption: Member for Parkes and Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton (centre) with Dr Sunil Jacob, Dubbo Medical and Allied Health Group (left) and Dr Daniel Stewart, Dubbo Hospital Emergency Department (right) during a tour of the site for Dubbo’s respiratory clinic earlier this week.
BACKGROUND:
• The Government is investing $206.7 million to establish up to 100 respiratory clinics across Australia, including in rural and regional areas. Additionally, more than 160 fever clinics, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments are also in operation across Australia.
• The respiratory clinic in Dubbo is not yet open to the public and is expected to be operational in the near future.
• Patients with chronic health conditions should not hesitate to see their GP or specialist as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. This can be done from home via the new telehealth measures.