Doctors and health care providers urging people to keep appointments

General practitioners, pharmacists and other health care providers across the Murrumbidgee region are calling for people to continue maintaining their routine health checks.

While people are encouraged to stay at home to stop the spread of COVID-19, some people are cancelling routine check ups and appointments which may put them at greater risk.

Wagga Wagga General Practitioner Dr Tracey Purnell said providers around the region are seeing a decline in patient numbers and this is a very real concerns for people’s health.

“We all know how important it is to practice physical distancing and to stay at home to reduce the transmission of coronavirus, but accessing health care and receiving ongoing medical support for existing medical conditions are acceptable reasons for you to leave home,” Dr Purnell said.

“If you have a chronic health condition requiring regular management, it is important you continue to receive the care you need and maintain scheduled appointments with the various health professionals involved in your care.

“Equally important is consulting your GP if you notice something change or you have a health concern.

“Ultimately, maintaining regular health checks, during this time will help keep you well and out of hospital.

Vice President and Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners – Rural, and Glenrock Country Practice GP Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda said health care providers were safe to visit.

“All healthcare providers are practicing excellent infection control measures to ensure patients are in a safe environment, and some appointments can even be done over the phone,” Dr Shenouda said.

“With both individuals and healthcare providers both following the national recommendations of good hygiene, social distancing and personal protection procedures, the risk of catching the virus while you’re visiting your health providers is minimal.

“I would encourage people to call their local practice or healthcare provider to see if your appointment can be done over the phone or if you need to come in person,” he said.

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network’s (MPHN) CEO Melissa Neal said a campaign highlighting this important health message launches across the region today.

“Several of the region’s health professionals from a range of disciplines like general practice, pharmacy, pathology, allied health, mental health and ambulance are meeting with us regularly to collaborate around COVID-19 measures, and it was through these meetings we were alerted to a decline in people attending their scheduled medical appointments,” Ms Neal said.

“Together we have developed a community campaign to encourage people to keep their medical appointments and regular health checks just as you would under normal circumstances.

“It’s an important health message. We want to ensure people can maintain their wellness and alleviate any unnecessary pressures on the hospital system,” she said.

The campaign’s television commercial is available on MPHN’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ5813jts-k.