FNQ Covid-19 fever clinics shut their doors for good

Covid-19 fever clinics across FNQ officially close their doors allowing much needed health workers to return to hospitals and frontline health services.

FRIDAY June 17 marks the final day of PCR testing at the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Services (CHHHS), with fever clinics in Portsmith, Tully, Innisfail, Atherton, Mareeba and Mossman hospitals closing their doors.

CHHHS Executive Director COVID-19 Response, Dr Donna Goodman, said fever clinics were always a temporary measure, and will now be transitioning clinical expertise and much-needed staff back to hospitals and frontline health services.

“When we opened our first fever clinic at Cairns Hospital in March 2020, shortly after we had our first case of COVID-19, we had no idea how long we would need to keep these clinics open,” she said.

“But, more than two years later, Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) is now the primary form of testing.”

“We are at the stage of the pandemic at which we can – and should – direct our health resources to where they are needed.”

This comes after the Cairns Hospital experienced exploding wait times in May, due to unprecedented demand and chronic GP shortages in the region contributed to additional pressure upon the Emergency Department.

The ED at Cairns Hospital was overwhelmed throughout the month of May. Picture: Andreas Nicola

Despite the fever clinics closing their doors, there were still options for those requiring PCR tests said Dr Goodman.

“PCR testing isn’t going away. You can still get tested in private pathology clinics via a referral from your GP; or self-referral online for overseas travel,” she said.

“And, of course, you can access a RAT at your nearest stockist, including community pharmacies.”

The CHHHS has reported that over 235,000 PCR tests were conducted in FNQ since the beginning of the pandemic.

Originally published as FNQ Covid-19 fever clinics shut their doors for good