First coronavirus testing clinic opens in westside

The first clinic in Brisbane’s west dedicated to testing people with COVID-19 symptoms has opened. In more good news, it’s free.

Kenmore Clinics has opened a dedicated respiratory testing clinic for people who have symptoms similar to COVID-19.

The free Federal Government-funded service, which opened on Monday, is only the sixth of its kind in the southeast.

Other respiratory clinics are at Shailer Park in Logan, Nundah, Morayfield in Moreton Shire, Burleigh Waters on the Gold Coast and Alexandra Hills in Redlands.

“It’s not about taking patients from other doctors. It’s all about helping GPs who have had to close or who don’t have the ability to see respiratory patients,’’ Kenmore Clinic administration worker Dani Bourke said.

“It’s only for people with mild to moderate respiratory symptoms.

“We have a separate entrance so they are separate from our other patients, and they exit out the back. It is completely safe for other patients.’’

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Dr Nick Bourke, a practice principal at Kenmore Clinics, said he was proud of the new clinic.

“I am so proud of the efforts of all of my clinic and its staff in establishing our clinic to assist however we are able under these circumstances, be it maintaining our general practice, adapting to telehealth consultations, the administration of over 2500 flu vaccinations in about

three weeks so far, or the thousands of phone calls a day my staff are dealing with,’’ he said.

“Everyone at Kenmore Clinics has an essential role in protecting the community, just as social distancing, hand washing, following Government advice and regulations, and looking after family, friends and neighbours protects our community.

“We have an excellent team to be able to provide this service and know that while it is an adjustment for us to open the clinic, many people are having to adjust in their day to day

lives. We want to help however we can.”

Federal LNP MP for Ryan, Julian Simmonds, welcomed the opening, saying it was a key plank in the Government’s strategy to build localised testing capability.

“This is what we need if we are going to start lifting restrictions,’’ Mr Simmonds said.

“We need to be able to quickly test and identify people who may be infected.

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“Another important aspect of these free, fully federally-funded clinics is they take possible COVID-19 patients out of other GP clinics to free them up for other patients.

“It’s really important people with other health conditions continue to see a GP if they can.

“These respiratory clinics are only for people with mild to moderate respiratory symptoms, who may potentially be given a COVID-19 test.

“If you have severe symptoms you need to call an ambulance and go to hospital.’’

Brisbane North Public Health Network deputy CEO, Libby Dunstan, also welcomed the news.

“We have been delighted to work with frontline GPs like at Kenmore Clinics to establish GP respiratory clinics across our region,’’ she said.

“These clinics will be essential in the battle against COVID-19.’’

Ms Bourke said Kenmore Clinics was well set up for the work as it had three suites and was able to locate the respiratory clinic in rooms normally used for its skin clinic.

It had the capacity to put in more doctors if needed to deal with assessments.

“Local GPs can refer to us but people don’t need a referral, they can come in without a referral,’’ she said.

“We have a dedicated respiratory phone line or people can log on to Hotdoc.

“People don’t necessarily need to have a fever, you can have shortness of breath or cold or flu symptoms.’’

The new Kenmore Clinics service is open from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and is at 2081 Moggill Rd, Kenmore.

The respiratory phone line is 3363 1699 or you can search for hotdoc.com.au and click on “free GP respiratory appointments’’.