CORONAVIRUS – WHAT GPs ON BAYVIEW WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW

Updated information as of 23rd March 2020

CORONAVIRUS IS CURRENTLY A CONCERN FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.

GPS ON BAYVIEW ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF INFECTION TO OUR STAFF AND PATIENTS WHILE CONTINUING TO OFFER THE SERVICE YOU EXPECT FROM US. 

WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW SOME OF THE CHANGES WE HAVE MADE TO THE SETUP OF OUR PRACTICE AND THE WAY WE ARE MANAGING APPOINTMENTS. 

As community transmission of Coronavirus evolves it will become hard to tell the difference between a common cold, flu and Coronavirus. For this reason it is important for all patients with symptoms of fever, sore throat, runny nose or cough to phone reception and make an appointment. These requests will be triaged to identify those who are most at risk of Coronavirus- in particular those with known contact with a Coronavirus case. These patients will be offered a telehealth consultation with a doctor.

We will also have a designated waiting area and consultation rooms for those patients who are currently not at a high risk of Coronavirus but still displaying any of the symptoms as described above. This is to further minimise the risk of infecting other well patients.

 Our doctors and other staff will be wearing scrubs and often a mask and gloves. This is for both our protection and yours.

We are doing our best to facilitate social distancing – please use our  guides that show you where to stand at the reception desk and be considerate of those around you. We have spaced our waiting room seating to help with this.

We have implemented a strict hourly cleaning policy and have removed all toys and magazines from the waiting area and doctors rooms.

Telehealth consultations: The Federal Government have brought in temporary Medicare Telehealth consult item numbers for eligible patients to have a telephone or video consultation with their doctor. Eligible patients include the following :

• people isolating themselves at home on the advice of a medical practitioner or in accordance with home isolation guidance issued by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC); people who meet the testing guidelines for COVID-19;

• people aged over 70;

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 50;

• people with chronic health conditions or who are immunocompromised; and

• parents with new babies and people who are pregnant.

If you fit one of the above descriptions you are eligible for a bulk-billed telehealth consultation. To book an appointment please call reception on 9217 6000.

If you are not eligible but prefer to have a telehealth appointment , you can still book one, but please note that a private fee will apply and unfortunately there will be no Medicare rebate available. To book a telehealth appointment please call reception on 9217 6000.

GPS on Bayview believe it is still important to seek medical advice if you are concerned or unwell. We are maintaining our usual general practice service in a safe environment and managing the ongoing challenges by keeping up to date and flexible in our approach.

Please note – we cannot offer testing for Coronavirus – this is still only done at the main hospitals. If you believe you could have Coronavirus because of your  travel history or contact with a confirmed case,  but you are NOT unwell,  then it is important to remain at home in quarantine and access our telehealth service for advice.

GPs on Bayview would like to reassure you that we will continue to provide each of you with the necessary medical care and support no matter what your circumstances.