Capital Health Network

Three additional locations offering Canberrans COVID-19 assessment and testing are opening across the ACT. General practices located on the northside and southside of Canberra, along with Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service in the inner south, are opening GP led Respiratory Clinics.

Capital Health Network (CHN) CEO Megan Cahill said the GP Respiratory Clinics are located in established general practices dedicated to supporting their communities and increasing access to COVID-19 testing.  Services provided by the local clinics will help to provide additional support to hospital emergency departments, other general practices and reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection in our local communities.

“These GP Respiratory Clinics are located across Canberra to assess and test patients with mild to moderate respiratory symptoms. On the northside the clinic will be based at YourGP@Crace and on the southside at Lakeview Medical Practice Tuggeranong. In addition to these two sites, Winnunga Nimmityjah is providing a culturally appropriate assessment and testing clinic for First Nations people,” said Ms Cahill, CHN CEO.

As ACT’s Primary Health Network, CHN sought nominations from local general practices to set up GP Respiratory Clinics and made recommendations to the Australian Government for suitable locations, in conjunction with key local health stakeholders. The Australian Government is providing $206.7 million to support the establishment of up to 100 clinics across Australia.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath. To access a GP Respiratory Clinic, you may first consult your usual GP (through telehealth, by phone or video conference) and then make an appointment with one of the clinics, if recommended by your usual GP.

You can also book in directly to a Respiratory Assessment Clinic if you have respiratory symptoms. Alternatively, you can also present to the existing walk-in or drive-through testing clinics listed below.

Dr Mel Deery, GP and Practice Owner at YourGP@Crace said she was pleased to be able to offer this dedicated GP Respiratory Assessment Clinic to the community, co-located beside her existing general practice.

“It’s a very difficult time, so we’re honoured to be able to provide this free service to all Canberrans. A Respiratory Assessment Clinic is different to a COVID-19 Testing Clinic in that GPs do a full assessment including taking a history, performing an examination, providing testing and treatment.

Testing may be COVID-19 testing, but we can offer whatever testing is required. If the symptoms are diagnosed as another illness, such as pneumonia, tonsillitis, middle ear infection or urinary tract infection, we will be able to provide treatment during the appointment, before returning care to the usual GP. The clinics have been established with the highest standards of infection prevention and control and have been quality assured by experts in the field, Aspen Medical”, said Dr Deery.

Dr Deery said Canberrans must continue to seek regular care from their usual GP.

“I want to remind Canberrans that it’s essential that they continue to speak with their usual GP about their existing conditions and ongoing heath care at this time. Please don’t put off seeing your GP or getting a diagnostic test out of fear of contracting COVID-19. I wish to reassure you that the three practices running a Respiratory Clinic will still see their usual patients for their ongoing needs in a safe area with a separate entrance and strict infection control measures,” said Dr Deery.

The three new GP Respiratory Clinics add to the existing two ACT Respiratory Assessment Clinics (listed below).

Where to get tested for COVID-19 in the ACT

New GP Respiratory Clinics in the ACT – appointment only

• Northside
  YourGP@Crace
  1/5 Barrata St.
  CRACE ACT 2911
  ph. 6109 0000
  yourgpcrace.com.au or gprespiratoryclinic.com.au
  Opened 29/4/20
• Southside
  Lakeview Medical Practice Tuggeranong
  1/216 Cowlishaw St.
  GREENWAY ACT 2900
  ph. 6185 1986
  lakeviewmedical.com.au
  Opening 4/5/20
• Aboriginal Health Service
  Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service
  63 Boolimba Crescent, NARRABUNDAH ACT 2604
  ph. 6284 6222
  winnunga.org.au
  Opened 27/4/20

ACT Respiratory Assessment Clinics

• Walk-in
  Weston Creek Walk-in Centre
  24 Parkinson St.
  WESTON ACT 2611
  7.30am – 10pm daily, including public holidays.
• Drive through
  Respiratory Assessment Clinic at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC)
  Flemington Rd & Northbourne Ave.
  MITCHELL ACT 2913
  9.30am – 6pm daily (last car accepted at 5pm)