A new respiratory clinic will be opening next week at Mudgee Showground, it has been announced.
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The clinic is part of the Australian Government's $2.4 billion health package to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The clinic will open on Wednesday, May 13 and is one of up to 100 dedicated respiratory clinics being set up across Australia.
The clinic will operate 7 days a week from 8am, anyone can book an appointment and it will be free of charge.
The clinic's aim will be to assess patients with mild to moderate COVID-19-like symptoms, reducing pressure on our hospital emergency departments and other local general practices.
People with mild to moderate respiratory symptoms will need to make an appointment via health.gov.au to use the online booking system.
Local GP, Dr Alex Ghanem said the facility is fantastic for the community as restrictions are relaxed and cases are expected to rise.
"It's great to have a fever respiratory clinic in Mudgee servicing the local area district. This is a really important measure in the fight against COVID," Mr Ghanem said.
"With the relaxation of the the current distancing measures, the concern is that there will be a spread of COVID in the community. It'll be hard to see among all the coughs and colds we will see and we think a clinic like this where we can see people, treat their respiratory problems and swab for COVID and additionally keep them out of the surgeries and emergency departments would be a really great thing for this region.
"We worry that when people congregate they can pass things on, influenza, whether it's COVID or some other illness. But having a facility out here at the showground where people wait in their cars before they come up to a triage desk and are assessed by a doctor is terrific."
MP for Calare and Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education Andrew Gee, said the local clinic is best placed to support people with fever, cough, sore throat, and other respiratory symptoms, while avoiding the risk of infection in other members of the community.
"I encourage anyone in the local community experiencing these symptoms to call the clinic or go online to book an appointment," Mr Gee said.
"In the absence of a vaccine testing is a key weapon in the fight against COVID-19. The faster we can test and isolate cases, the more lives we can save and the fewer lock down restrictions we need.
"The Mudgee community has done a great job in keeping local cases low throughout this pandemic, and we want to keep it that way. Measures like this will help to identify any future cases safely and efficiently.
"People with severe symptoms should call 000 and/or attend the nearest hospital emergency department," Mr Gee said.
Mid-Western Regional Council Mayor, Des Kennedy said the Mudgee Respiratory and Fever Clinic will relieve pressure from local health services approaching the winter cold and flu season.
"This is a fantastic community health initiative that is being delivered by local GPs in partnership with Council," Cr Kennedy said.
"I'd like to acknowledge the work of Dr Alex Ghanem and Dr Gary Moore for all their efforts in establishing the clinic and I thank the Federal Government for providing funding.
"The Mudgee Respiratory and Fever Clinic is open to all residents in the Mid-Western Region who are experiencing any respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing or fever."
