The number of COVID-19 cases in the Wingecarribee Shire remains unchanged at 25 for seven days and "most have now recovered."
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That is the latest message from the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice spokesman Dr Vince Roche.
However, testing for COVID-19 has increased as the pandemic progresses into the next phase - community transmission.
Community Advice
Dr Roche said a concern for doctors at the moment was ensuring people keep up the normal care.
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"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 General Practices now 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."
Next shipment is due in first week of May.
The Bowral Hospital Flu Assessment Clinic
The Bowral Hospital Flu Assessment Clinic hours of business are
- Weekday- 10am to 5.30pm.
- Weekends - 10:30am to 3pm
- Phone Number - 4861 0145
The Flu Assessment Clinic continues to run smoothly.
Dr Roche said doctors recommended all people who felt that they needed to be screened should talk to their GP by telephone first.
"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," he said.
"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. If you have respiratory symptoms or a fever or both - please get tested.
Dr Roche said that in addition, there was a new Commonwealth-funded General Practice Respiratory Clinic recently opened in Mittagong.
The clinic is located in the lower level of Mittagong HealthCare Centre, 58 Bowral Road, Mittagong.
It is open 9am to 5pm seven days a week.
The clinics are 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.
Dr Roche 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.
New regulations: 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 said there was a limited reintroduction of some elective surgery from April 27 - with Category Two and some category Three patients - at both Bowral District Hospital and the Southern Highlands Private Hospital.
"If you are on a waiting list - the respective hospital will contact you if you are able to have your surgery," he said.
"We are hoping to achieve 25-50 per cent of our usual surgical throughout.
"Why not more? There is still a relative shortage of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) - eg gloves, face masks, gowns - and we cannot afford to run down our supply in case Covid gets worse.
"Likewise we need to keep enough hospital beds empty to allow us to cope with a surge in Covid activity should it occur."
Registered Aged Care Facilities
All of our Registered Aged Care Facilities in the Highlands have confirmed that they remain closed to all visitors.
Dr Roche said this included families, with the exception of emergencies and palliative care patients.
"All these nursing homes are 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," he said.
"The old folk are starting to really miss the interaction with their families and visitors.
"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.
"The Prime Minister recently foreshadowed some changes on recommendations to Aged Care Facilities re visitors.
"Our local Aged Care Facilities will need to carefully weigh up the risks and benefits to their residents and staff before reviewing their current policies.
"There are a number of national meetings being held to progress this issue. Watch this spot!"
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