COVID-19 cases hold firm in Southern Highlands and a news respiratory clinic opens at Mittagong

The Southern Highlands Division of General Practice has welcomed news from NSW Health and the South West Sydney Public Health Unit that the latest figures as of 8pm on April 21 stood firm.

Division spokesman Dr Vince Roche reminded the community not to forget "how we flattened the curve".

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"This was done by handwashing and staying home," he said.

"We need to keep this going - for months.

"Can we maintain these safe practices in the absence of the fear and anxiety that we all felt a month ago?"

The latest details are:

Community Advice

Dr Roche said it was important for people to maintain normal care.

"There is significant concern among our doctors about the decrease in "normal care"- whether paediatrics, antenatal, conditions where patients truly need to be seen in the Emergency Department or in the case of GP care, people with chronic and complex illness (eg heart disease, lung disease, diabetes) - where anecdotally there has been a large reduction in people keeping their appointments and an increase in cancelled appointments," he said.

"Normal Care needs to continue throughout the epidemic.

"Some may be done by telehealth - but much will involve face-to-face appointments with doctors and midwives."

Flu Vaccination

Dr Roche said that General Practices had received their second batch of flu vaccines.

"This is highly recommended as we still have the usual influenza bugs circulating - and people weakened by the flu are a sitting target for a severe dose of COVID-19," he said.

"This is a good year to have one. Make sure the old folk get theirs first. But do not wait weeks or months.

"If you don't normally have a flu vaccine - this is the year to do it! And if your GP Clinic is out of vaccine - it is not their fault - please do not abuse the staff - the Public Health Unit gives it to the General Practices as soon as they get the vaccines from the manufacturers, and they will soon be restocked."

The Bowral Hospital Flu Assessment Clinic Hours of Business are:

Dr Roche said the Flu Assessment Clinic continued to run smoothly.

"We recommend all people who feel that they need to be screened should talk to their GP by telephone first," he said.

"People do not require a referral from their GP to attend the BDH Flu Assessment Clinic, but they prefer GP Clinics do the first line of triage.

"Screening criteria have changed - often on a day-by-day basis- and these changes that are inevitable as the epidemic progresses.

"As the epidemic progresses into the next phase - community transmission - GPs are doing more testing for Covid19 to test any members of the public with a fever or respiratory symptoms, and especially any Health Care or Aged Care workers with a fever or respiratory symptoms."

The direct phone number for the flu clinic is 4861 0145 and enquiries will be answered during hours of operation only.

Respiratory Clinic

There is a new Commonwealth-funded General Practice Respiratory Clinic opened in Mittagong this week

The clinic was located in the lower level of Mittagong HealthCare Centre, 58 Bowral Road, Mittagong.

It is open 9am to 5pm seven days a week.

Dr Roche said the clinics were designed to assess patients with mild-to-moderate respiratory symptoms including fever, sore throat, cough, tiredness and shortness of breath.

"Regardless of whether COVID-19 testing is indicated, or a specimen is taken, the patient will receive clinical guidance about managing their respiratory symptoms through the clinic," he said.

"Patients must have an appointment before attending the clinic."

Patients can make an appointment online via HotDoc and there will be no charge to the patient.

To set up an appointment, patients can also phone the clinic directly for triage, call HealthDirect or be referred by their GP. Referring GPs will receive a copy of the pathology results.

Bowral Hospital - All staff and visitors to the hospital are being screened for infection risk with a questionnaire and a temperature test as they enter the hospital.

Limit is one visitor per patients and the new restricted visiting hours are 10am-11am, and 4:30pm to 5:30pm.

The only entrance to the hospital for staff and visitors is via the Milton Park Front Door.

Elective surgery remains on hold at this time.

Dr Roche pointed out that NSW premier Gladys Berijiklian had announced that there would be a limited reintroduction of some elective surgery after the Anzac Weekend - with Category Two and some category Three patients.

"This is likely to involve both Bowral District Hospital and the Southern Highlands Private Hospital," he said.

"We shall keep you informed of developments."

All of our Registered Aged Care Facilities in the Highlands confirmed that they remain closed to all visitors - including families - with the exception of emergencies and palliative care patients.

Dr Roche said that all these nursing homes were putting measures in place to facilitate their residents talking with their families by phone, Skype, FaceTime etc to minimise the distress that isolation causes both residents and families.

"The old folk are starting to really miss the interaction with their families and visitors," he said.

"In some facilities, the patients are being isolated in their own rooms for 14 days after being seen by a visiting doctor - so GPs are doing as much of their care by phone, fax, Skype, Facetime, Zoom, etc as possible!

"Aged Care facilities are working closely with GPs and the Hospital to provide the most appropriate and timely care to residents - and to keep them away from the hospital and the Emergency Department with grave risks to elderly people in a possible COVID exposed environment."

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