❓ Mr. Rundle asks the Minister for Health to clarify the COVID-19 testing process in regional areas. The Minister outlines the testing criteria and access points, including upcoming regional COVID-19 clinics.
AnsweredQoN 164Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
TESTING — REGIONAL AREAS
164. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the confusion in our
regional electorates about how and when members of the public can be tested for
COVID-19.
Can the minister clearly outline the
step-by-step process of what patients who suspect they may have COVID-19 should
do, and where they should go to seek medical assistance and testing?
TESTING — REGIONAL AREAS
164. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the confusion in our
regional electorates about how and when members of the public can be tested for
COVID-19.
Can the minister clearly outline the
step-by-step process of what patients who suspect they may have COVID-19 should
do, and where they should go to seek medical assistance and testing?
AnswerView source ↗
I assume, by ''patients
who think they may have COVID-19'', the member means that they are
suffering from a respiratory illness of some form, and they might have some
other reasons. The situation for regional patients is the same for metropolitan
patients; that is, we are currently testing those people who have travelled
from overseas in the last 14 days and have a respiratory illness or symptoms
such as fever, sore throat and so on, or those who have come in contact with a known
positive case. However, the situation in regional Western Australia is that
they can continue to access those tests through their general practitioner or
local clinic and hospital, because, obviously, they do not have access to big
tertiary hospitals such as we have. I am in a position to advise the house that
on Thursday, we will open our first regional COVID-19 clinic, which will be at
Bunbury Hospital. It will be open between the hours of 10.00 am and 4.00 pm.
Shortly thereafter, we will open clinics in Albany and Geraldton as well. As of
Friday, for instance, we have tested only 133 patients in Bunbury and 60
patients in Geraldton, so they are our two big population areas for testing so
far.
If anyone is experiencing a respiratory
illness, they should seek medical attention. Mr Speaker, you would have heard
last week that the federal government announced an expansion to the medical
benefits schedule item number so that patients can receive a telehealth service
from their local general practitioner, and we will be announcing other measures
in relation to that in the coming days and weeks. If anyone feels as though
they have a respiratory illness and they are feeling uncomfortable, they should
seek medical advice. The good news is that those patients who have a COVID-19
suspect case and fit the national guidelines can be tested via their local
clinic or GP. I hope that answers the question.
who think they may have COVID-19'', the member means that they are
suffering from a respiratory illness of some form, and they might have some
other reasons. The situation for regional patients is the same for metropolitan
patients; that is, we are currently testing those people who have travelled
from overseas in the last 14 days and have a respiratory illness or symptoms
such as fever, sore throat and so on, or those who have come in contact with a known
positive case. However, the situation in regional Western Australia is that
they can continue to access those tests through their general practitioner or
local clinic and hospital, because, obviously, they do not have access to big
tertiary hospitals such as we have. I am in a position to advise the house that
on Thursday, we will open our first regional COVID-19 clinic, which will be at
Bunbury Hospital. It will be open between the hours of 10.00 am and 4.00 pm.
Shortly thereafter, we will open clinics in Albany and Geraldton as well. As of
Friday, for instance, we have tested only 133 patients in Bunbury and 60
patients in Geraldton, so they are our two big population areas for testing so
far.
If anyone is experiencing a respiratory
illness, they should seek medical attention. Mr Speaker, you would have heard
last week that the federal government announced an expansion to the medical
benefits schedule item number so that patients can receive a telehealth service
from their local general practitioner, and we will be announcing other measures
in relation to that in the coming days and weeks. If anyone feels as though
they have a respiratory illness and they are feeling uncomfortable, they should
seek medical advice. The good news is that those patients who have a COVID-19
suspect case and fit the national guidelines can be tested via their local
clinic or GP. I hope that answers the question.
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