Please note that information is changing at a rapid rate, we will try to update as soon as we can but we are also busy with patients and phones calls at the moment! Remember that social distancing and regular hand washing is essential to help decrease the incidence of infection!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From Monday 6th March 2023, we have relaxed our rules for masks!
- Masks are no longer mandatory at the clinic unless you have respiratory symptoms.
- If you have respiratory symptoms, we are happy to see you in a mask! Please perform a RAT test on the day. We would appreciate if you could wait in your car or outside, to minimise the spread of illness in the waiting room.
- You are welcome to wear a mask if it makes you more comfortable. If you would like your doctor to wear a mask please let our receptionist know and we will greet you wearing one!
- Telehealth appointments are available for patients wishing to speak with their doctor in regards to their medical concerns. Please be aware that a face to face appointment may still be needed as telehealth limits our doctors’ ability to examine and deal with certain conditions
Patients who currently have COVID infection can book into a Respiratory Clinic where staff are protected with full PPE.
Patients attending Dorevitch Pathology are still required to wear a mask as per their current policy at this time.
Thank you very much for your help and cooperation in the past years to keep us all safe!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Coronavirus Vaccine Update – After careful consideration, HGP staff have decided to NOT be a centre for Coronavirus Vaccine Immunisation in the first round, as the resources this requires will significantly impact on our ability to provide appointments for our patients’ other medical issues currently. This may change as the vaccine becomes more readily available.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Victorian Coronavirus Hotline hotline 1800 675 398.
National Coronavirus Information Line : 1800 020 080
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The following is information sourced from the Australian Government on the latest advice on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) :
What you need to know
Health authorities have identified coronavirus cases in Australia in January 2020. The virus originated in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and the majority of initial cases were there, but has since spread to multiple countries around the world.
Currently in Australia, people most at risk of contracting the virus are those who have been in Countries with increased risk recently, or have been in close contact with someone who is a confirmed case of COVID-19.
What is this coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Coronaviruses can make humans and animals sick. Some coronaviruses can cause illness similar to the common cold and others can cause more serious diseases, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The virus originating in Hubei Province, China, is called ‘novel’ because it is new. It had not been detected before this outbreak. It is currently known as “COVID-19”
How is the coronavirus spread?
COVID-19 is most likely to spread from person-to-person through:
• Direct close contact with a person whilst they are infectious;
• Close contact with a person with a confirmed infection coughs or sneezes; or
• Touching objects or surfaces (such as door knobs or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with a confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face.
COVID-19 spreads through close contact with an infected person; mostly face-to-face or within a household. It cannot jump across a room or be carried for long distances in the air so we should all go about our lives as normal.
A close contact could include any person meeting any of the following criteria:
- living in the same household or household-like setting (for example, a boarding school or hostel)
- direct contact with the body fluids or laboratory specimens of a confirmed case
- a person who spent four hours or longer in the same roo
What do I do if I develop symptoms?
If you develop symptoms (fever, a cough, sore throat, tiredness or shortness of breath) you should contact a doctor for urgent assessment. At HGP we would appreciate if you could speak with one of our staff members prior to coming into the clinic.
Who is most at risk of a serious illness?
Some people who are infected may not get sick at all, some will get mild symptoms from which they will recover easily, and others may become very ill, very quickly.
From previous experience with other coronaviruses, the people at most risk of serious infection are:
• people with compromised immune systems, such as people with cancer
• elderly people
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• very young children and babies, and people with diagnosed chronic medical conditions.
How can we help prevent the spread of the virus?
Practising good hand hygiene and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence against most viruses. You should
- wash your hands often with soap and water before and after eating as well as after attending the toilet;
- avoid contact with others (including touching, kissing, hugging, and other intimate contact) – keep a 1.5m social distance from other people; and
- cough and sneeze into your elbow.
Where can I get more information?
Visit the Australian Government Department of Health homepage at www.health.gov.au.
Call the Public Health Information Line on 1800 004 599.
Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.