Caption: Member for Parkes Mark Coulton with Dr Hanif during a recent visit to the North West mobile respiratory clinic.

Wee Waa locals are benefitting from the extension of services for the mobile COVID-19 respiratory clinic currently operating in North West New South Wales.

Based in Boggabri and servicing residents of Gunnedah, Boggabri, Narrabri, and now Wee Waa, the mobile clinic is run by Ochre Health and is one of more than 130 GP-led clinics across the country.

Member for Parkes and Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton, said the mobile clinic is a great example of problem solving with several local communities benefitting from the service.

“Being able to access such services without having to travel to a major centre is a great relief to many and particularly important as we continue to work to suppress transmission of the virus,” Mr Coulton said.

“It makes sense to deliver this service to Wee Waa residents as well as those from further afield in Pilliga, Gwabegar and Burren Junction.

“I thank Ochre Health and the Wee Waa Chamber of Commerce for their pragmatic approach to ensuring the health of our communities.

“This clinic is best placed to support people with fever, cough, sore throat and other respiratory symptoms while avoiding the risk of transmitting infection to 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.

“While the number of active cases has plummeted thanks to discipline from every Australian, the pandemic is not yet over and it is vital we each continue to practise social distancing, maintain stringent hygiene, and install the COVIDSafe app, to help protect our community.”

The mobile clinic will operate at Cook Oval, Wee Waa, on Tuesdays between 10.30am and 2.30pm. To book an appointment, call (02) 6760 9765.

 

BACKGROUND

• The Federal Government is establishing more than 130 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.
• People with severe symptoms should call 000 and/or attend the nearest hospital emergency department.
• 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.