Important Health Information from Milsons Point Medical Centre:

At Milsons Point Medical Centre our focus is always to provide consistent, high quality care to our patients.  This has never been more important to us than now, in the face of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

We have initiated a range of measures to be able to continue to provide access to our service in the safest possible way, in accordance with federal and state Department of Health current best practice guidelines.

What we ask our our patients

First and foremost, if you think you are at risk of COVID-19, please do not come into the practice.

Please call our reception who will be able to advise you on what to do or who will direct you to a telephone consultation with one of our doctors.

This includes patients who have:

• Cold or flu-like symptoms: fever and/or sore throat, cough, fatigue or difficulty breathing

AND

• Have travelled overseas in the past 14 days, or
• Come into close contact in the past 14 days with someone who has been confirmed as having Coronavirus infection, or
• Are a healthcare worker

If you have cold or flu-like symptoms and are unsure or do not think you are at risk of COVID-19
please still call reception ahead of your appointment

It is important to remember that many people with the symptoms of COVID-19 will not be infected with the virus.
Furthermore some people carrying the virus may not yet be displaying symptoms.

Who should isolate?

All travellers returned to Australia from overseas after midnight 15 March 2020 or people who think they may have been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus should isolate for 14 days.

What we are doing

Enhanced Hygiene and Social Distancing measures in our practice

Keeping our practice safe and accessible to our patients is our top priority.  Most medical problems are best managed with in-person consultations and ensuring we can continue to provide this to you in the safest way is of the utmost importance to us.

• We have removed toys and magazines from our waiting room.
• We are regularly disinfecting common surfaces and common items between patient use.
• There is signage at our front door with instructions for people who are unwell to call reception before entering.
• If you have cold or flu symptoms, please wear a mask when entering the practice.  As mentioned above, please call reception before entering the practice to make sure it is suitable for you to attend and to arrange a mask before entering if you don’t have one.
• We are happy for you to wait in your car nearby or outside the practice at a distance of 1.5 metres from others rather than in our waiting room.  Please keep your mobile phone with you and well charged so we can contact your doctor is ready for you.
• We are also discouraging direct physical contact, such as shaking hands.
• Your doctor will use personal protective equipment for physical examinations.
• Healthcare staff within the practice may be wearing personal protective equipment and attire.

Telephone consultations

For some patients it will be safer for them to remain in isolation than come into the practice.  Such patients include those who:

• have been confirmed as having or suspected of having COVID-19 infection
• are required to self-isolate under direction from the department of health or a doctor
• are more susceptible to the infection (age 70 or older; Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander age 50 or older; pregnant; parent of a child under 12 months; under treatment for a chronic health condition or immunocompromised)

There are very specific Medicare criteria for bulk-billed telephone consultations (please follow department of health links below for further information) and our reception will be able to advise you further.

If you do not fit these criteria, we can still offer this service to patients for a fee.

Please remember, it may not be safe or appropriate for your health problem to be handled by telephone and you will be directed to make an appointment by reception or your doctor if need be.

Your patience and understanding at this time is greatly appreciated

The pandemic situation and Department of Health recommendations are changing on a daily basis and our staff are working hard to incorporate these into our daily procedures in order to keep you and our staff safe.

Working together we can keep you, our patients, each other and our community safe.

General Measures

Practice regular hand hygiene

Clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol based santiser for at least 20 seconds:

• Before entering an area used by other people
• After using the bathroom
• After coughing or sneezing
• Before and after eating food

Practice good cough and sneeze etiquette

• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a disposable tissue (dispose immediately after use)
• Hand hygiene after handling solied tissues
• Social distancing
• Wear a mask in public spaces if you are coughing or sneezing regularly

Links to just a few resources to help you understand the infection and how to keep yourself safe in the community are included below.  These are current as of today.

• Hand Hygeine (NSW Health)
• Social Distancing Information (NSW Health)
• COVID-19 FAQ (Dept of Health)

We also encourage you to familiarise yourself with FAQs and resources available via the links below.

The Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving. Stay up to date on a daily basis via:

• our website: www.milsonspointmedical.com.au
• NSW Health: www.health.nsw.gov.au
• Department of Health: www.health.gov.au

Information sources, accessed 17 March 2020: Dept of Health www.health.gov.au, NSW Health www.health.nsw.gov.au