COLDS, FLU AND COVID 19

During the COVID 19 pandemic, we are taking extra precautions to keep our health workers and patients attending the practice as safe as possible.

Symptoms of COVID 19

The symptoms of COVID 19 include shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, fever and loss of taste or smell. Except for the loss of taste or smell, all these symptoms could also be caused by other viral infections. 

This means that we want to reduce the number of patients coming to the practice

·       with colds or flu, since the symptoms for these are similar to COVID 19 symptoms;

·       who have come from an area with active COVID 19 cases.

Protocols for face to face consultations

All patients / visitors are required to wear a mask when entering the premises.

Please note that we have some added protocols in place when you present for a face to face appointment to ensure we are a safe practice for all patients and staff alike. All patients will need to fill out a TRIAGE form on each attendance and the receptionists will need to see your form before your consultation.  Your doctor will then check your temperature at the start of your consultation.  We thank you for your co-operation.

High-risk COVID 19 areas

If you have been outside Canberra in the last 14 days and want an appointment you first need to check whether you have come from a high-risk COVID 19 area.  You can either check on this website https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/ or you can check with our staff.

PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN A HIGH-RISK COVID 19 AREA

Patients WITH symptoms

If you have come from a high-risk COVID 19 area in the last 14 days and you have symptoms of COVID 19(see above), we strongly advise you to consider testing for COVID 19.

·       You can get tested at one of these locations https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/stay-safe-and-healthy/symptoms-and-getting-tested#COVID-19-Testing-Clinic-locations

·       or one of our GPs can do it at our practice.

Ring first

If you have symptoms of COVID 19, we would ask that you ring the practice first before coming in. Our staff will triage you and advise you on the best way forward. Alternatively, you can book a telehealth consultation online and one of our doctors can assess your condition online and give the appropriate advice.

Patients WITHOUT symptoms

If you have come from a high-risk COVID 19 area in the last 14 days and you do not have any symptoms of COVID 19(see above), you can make an appointment for a face-to-face consultation at the practice.

HOWEVER, we will require you to wear a face mask in the practice.

PATIENTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN IN A HIGH-RISK COVID 19 AREA.

You can come to the practice for all consultations including for colds and flus.

o   However, if you do have symptoms of a cold or flu, do consider arranging for a telehealth consultation.

·       Anyone with cold or flu symptoms who attends at the Practice will be required to wear a face mask in the practice.

o   While there is little risk of COVID 19 infection if you have not come from a high-risk area in the last 14 days, our experience in the last 9 months has shown that there is benefit to reducing the spread of respiratory viruses in the community and we would like you to help play a part in keeping our staff and doctors healthy.

MORE INFORMATION

If you need more information, check out these websites.  

 https://patient.info/chest-lungs/cough-leaflet/common-cold-upper-respiratory-tract-infections 

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/colds 

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/colds

For more information about COVID 19 in the ACT, this website will help

https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/