Gold Coast COVID-19 testing clinics have doubled staff numbers to cope with influx
“No one wants to stand for six hours in 30 degree heat.” FULL LIST CHRISTMAS TESTING HOURS
Gold Coast
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GOLD COASTERS have been scared off COVID-19 tests, fearing long clinic lines Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates says.
There were short waits for testing at Gold Coast hospital fever clinics on Wednesday which a day earlier were snaking for blocks when many complained of waiting six hours in the sun.
The Mudgeeraba MP said she was concerned many were avoiding vital testing because of how the demand was managed this week.
Others in the medical field have said they believed it was because of a potential wait for results over Christmas, meaning those tested may need to isolate.
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“We saw lines six hours long of people waiting to get a COVID test, and (on Wednesday) there is nobody around,” Ms Bates said.
“It is not because everyone who needed to get tested was tested, I believe it is because people were scared off.
“No one wants to stand for six hours in 30 degree heat.
“Thousands of Gold Coasters have not all of a sudden decided it is all OK, they just haven’t come to get tested because they don’t want to wait in the searing heat.
“We want to make sure there are enough testing facilities from around the state that you don’t need to go to the GP if you don’t want to.”
Private pathology clinics require a referral from a GP. But those with symptoms can turn up to either a state-run fever clinic without an appointment, or a commonwealth-funded respiratory clinic with an appointment.
A Queensland Health Spokesperson said they acknowledged the long wait times and asked for patience while they make changes.
“To manage the surge in demand, we have extended the opening hours of several of our COVID-19 testing clinics,” the spokesperson said.
“A number of sites, including all three Gold Coast Health testing facilities, have doubled staff numbers so as to reduce wait times.
“Where demand is particularly high, clinic staff may triage people for testing based on their risk factors.”
“If people do not have symptoms, staff may invite them to leave their contact details and advise them to come in the following morning, before the clinic officially opens to the public.”
Operating hours, staff numbers and demand is being reviewed daily.
A Gold Coast GP said they believed Christmas was the reason behind the drop in tests.
“The lines have put some people off, but Christmas is something people don’t want to miss out on,” the GP said.
“It isn’t right, but I am sure people have done the math and realise they may need to self isolate Christmas Day to wait for their results if they get tested now.
“Christmas should not be an excuse. Putting testing off puts your family and friends at risk.”
Private Health Network chair Dr Roger Halliwell said local doctors were still concerned Gold Coasters were not aware of the expanded symptoms list.
“COVID-19 does not only present as coughing; vomiting and diarrhoea have been added to the symptom lists,” he said.
“We are seeing people with vomiting and diarrhoea presenting to doctors unaware they need to be tested for COVID.”
“A vast majority of the community are doing the right thing, it is just a few that seem to have troubling thinking beyond their personal circumstances.”
CHRISTMAS COVID-19 TESTING HOURS
Commonwealth clinics: no GP referral needed, booking essential.
Burleigh Cove Respiratory Clinic
Shop 13/109 West Burleigh Road, Burleigh Waters
Monday – Thursday
8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm
Closed: Christmas Day December 25, Boxing Day December 28 2020 and New Years Day January 1 2021.
Haan – Upper Coomera Respiratory Clinic
Ground Floor, Shop 6/21 Coomera Grand Drive, Upper Coomera
Monday 8.30am-5pm
Tuesday – Friday 8.30am-1pm
Hours during the festive season are as follows:
29/12/2020 – 31/12/2020 – 8:30am to 12:30pm
** closed from 24/12/2020 until 29/12/2020 and 01/01/2021 – until 04/01/2020
Hope Island Respiratory Clinic
10 Santa Barbara Road, Hope Island
Monday and Friday 1pm – 5pm,
Saturday, 8am-12pm
** Closed public holidays and Sundays.
Kalwun Nerang Respiratory Clinic
14 Nerang Street, Nerang
Criteria/Details: This clinic is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families and vulnerable people. Patients are to phone ahead to book an appointment.
Monday to Friday, 8.30am-4pm
**Closed from December 23 – January 5 returning January 6.
Queensland State run Fever Clinics: no referral needed, no booking needed.
Gold Coast University Hospital
On the corner of Hollows Way and Hospital Boulevard, next to the multistorey car park.
Open 9am to 9pm seven days a week.
Reduced Christmas operating hours: 25-26 Dec 2020 and 1 Jan 2021, 9am to 5pm.
Robina Health Precinct
Access off Bayberry Lane.
Open 9am to 9pm seven days a week.
Reduced Christmas operating hours: 25-26 Dec 2020 and 1 Jan 2021, 9am to 5pm.
The Albert Waterways Community Centre
Albert Waterways Community Centre
Corner Hooker and Sunshine Boulevards, Mermaid Waters
(opposite Pacific Fair Shopping Centre)
CLOSED 25-26 Dec 2020 and 1 Jan 2021.
Gold Coast Airport clinic
(arrival kiosk in the international terminal)
Eastern Ave, Bilinga
This clinic is now only available for incoming flight passengers.
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GOLD Coast coronavirus testing clinics are so overstretched sick people are fainting in the heat, being turned away or giving up after waiting six hours or more, residents claim.
Currumbin resident Virginia Boniface waited from about 9am-4.30pm to be tested at Robina Hospital in “searing heat” on Tuesday after interacting with Sydney travellers.
She applauded staff who did their best in trying times, but said testing needed “fine tuning”.
“None of us knew it would be that long,” she said. “There was a few who fainted, older people.
“I am quite sunburnt, but it could have been a lot worse. There was a pharmacy nearby so we ended up with a litre of sunblock. I actually had an umbrella in the car and we bought some Gatorade because we were just so dehydrated.
“The staff were good and were bringing water. They were absolutely great.”
Queensland Health disputes anyone has been turned away.
It comes after the State Government and chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young urged Queenslanders to get tested if they are displaying even the most minor symptoms.
Various reports indicate clinics are straining under the pressure of a rapid increase in testing.
Dr Young has expressed concerns undiscovered cases may be active in the community after the Sydney Northern Beaches outbreak and the discovery of virus fragments in Coast sewage.
Queensland Health said on Monday 16,350 tests had been performed across the state in just four days – a giant increase of 66 per cent compared to earlier in the month.
A Bundall resident claimed people were turned away while trying to get tested at the Albert Waterways Community Centre at Broadbeach.
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The concerned woman was under the impression the clinic had reached “capacity” on Monday and was not able to perform more tests.
“Queensland Health needs a kick up the bum. They say there’s coronavirus in the sewage, people who are panicky have seen that,” she said.
“I was down at Broadbeach Library yesterday and people were being turned away from testing (at Albert Waterways). This was only about 9.30am.
“The security guard at the end of the line was telling people they could only take 150 people and people were being turned away.
“I knew one who was turned away and she said it was ridiculous. I think it’s incredulous.
“Anyone who can get in (for testing) is waiting so long.”
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Another woman contacted Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates after lining up for more than four hours to get tested at Robina Hospital on Monday.
She said there had been “people in line from Northern Beaches in NSW”.
“Many people left because it was too long to wait in the heat, (with) no seat and no water … l feel this may contribute to more cases of people are not getting tested,” she told Ms Bates.
“Apparently, one girl waited five hours in the heat yesterday (Monday), to be turned away and she came back again today (Tuesday).”
The woman wanted more testing clinics.
Lines at clinics, including Gold Coast University Hospital, stretched along streets and sick people used umbrellas to guard against the sun while waiting hours on Monday.
A Queensland Health spokesperson said: “To those who have come forward to get tested for COVID-19 we say thank you. You’re playing an important role in protecting not only yourself, but your family, friends and community as well.”
“Some fever clinics are currently experiencing high demand. Thank you for your patience and understanding and please remember to social distance while you wait,” they said.
“Our focus is on testing people with symptoms as quickly as possible and we have increased our staffing.
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“Staff are monitoring those in the line to ensure anyone who is sick, elderly or vulnerable are not waiting long, and staff are communicating with people to let them know approximate wait times.
“No one is turned away from being tested.”
It’s understood Queensland Health have been taking down the contact details of people unable to linger in line for hours to organise another time for testing.
In addition to fever clinics, people can get tested at private pathology providers with a GP referral.
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