Changes to how we do things

Broadwater Medical Centre staff have this week made changes to the way they operate to help the Capes community be COVID-19 ready.

In line with the social distancing advice that is now in place across Australia, Busselton medical centres are offering telephone consultations as an alternative to traditional appointments. The Federal Government announced last week that many Australians were now eligible to be bulk-bilked for video or telephone consultations with their regular GP.

Broadwater Medical Centre’s Dr Peter Ginbey said the initiative aimed to limit the risk of transmission of COVID-19 at medical centres.

“If people in our region take the COVID-19 precautions seriously now, we have the opportunity to reduce the impact of this devastating disease on our community,” he said.

To be eligible for a bulk-billed telephone appointment, patients must have returned from overseas with symptoms, be over 70, suffer from an existing chronic health condition, be pregnant, or be an infant.