Central Coast coronavirus: Mingara Medical open drive-through testing facility at The Entrance
A drive-through COVID-19 testing facility at The Entrance is testing more than 60 patients a day. However it needs more funding in order to continue serving the community.
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A drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic is up and running at The Entrance.
Mingara Medical, with support from other local health providers, has set up a testing facility in the carpark of The Greens The Entrance bowling club and is seeing 60 to 90 patients per day.
Patients who meet the criteria, and have a referral from their GP, drive to the site where a swab is taken. Results are delivered within 24 to 36 hours.
Mingara Medical practice manager Kate Herron said the facility has been up and running for two weeks and has greatly increased the capacity for testing that can be done on the coast.
Testing clinics are also running at Wyong and Gosford hospitals.
“We initially started running it for our patients but quickly found there was a need in the community,” Ms Herron told the Express.
“We put a demountable in there, a shed, marquee and have pathology collectors on board.”
Ms Herron said the facility had to be external to the medical practice in Mingara.
“We didn’t want Mingara Medical patients exposed to potential COVID-19 cases,” she said.
Mingara Recreation Club volunteered its premises at The Greens, which was recently damaged by a fire and is undergoing renovations.
“They kindly offered us the use of their carpark which is the perfect place. We can’t thank them enough,” Ms Herron said.
However with costs exceeding $700 a day, the facility needs ongoing community support and has set up a Go Fund Me page to make sure they can continue.
“Initially the set up was costing the medical practice around $1000 a day before we received a nurse from NSW Health,” Ms Herron said.
“It’s still around $700 a day. We set up a Go Fund Me page and received $10,000 in five days. We got there by people giving $5 and $10 donations.
“We’ve been running for two weeks now and I’d like to keep running it for as long as we can. We need funding for ongoing costs such as keeping the infrastructure there. We are doing this to serve a need in the community.”
The drive-through, at The Greens The Entrance, is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3.45pm. People wishing to be tested need to contact their local doctor to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and receive a referral for a test.
To support the service, visit the Central Coast coronavirus Drive Thru Testing page.