It was a huge team effort to set up Community and Mobile Satellite Assessment Clinics.
An important part of the Metro North response to COVID-19 has been the establishment of Community Assessment and Mobile Satellite Clinics based in the community.
Community and Oral Health Executive Director Tami Photinos said the assessment and satellite clinics have been a vital measure that has underpinned the broader service and statewide response to the crisis.
“The clinics have played a key role in helping combat the virus and minimise community transmission,” Tami said.
“As the situation unfolded it was clear that we needed to be able to rapidly assess our patients, visitors to our service and people in the community who may be concerned.”
Since the clinics were opened in early 2020, tens of thousands of patients have now been assessed at our community-based clinics and mobile satellite clinics.
“More recently, the Pine Rivers Assessment Clinic has seen on average around 150-200 patients each day, with presentations regularly going beyond 200,” Tami said.
“At our peak we assessed and tested around 500 patients at Pine Rivers in one day.”
As part of the response community clinics were initially setup at Brighton Health Campus and Pine Rivers Community Health Centre.
“More recently, we worked closely with the Public Health Unit to set up mobile clinics to screen and test quarantined travellers in major hotels,” Tami said. “In its first two weeks, the mobile clinics had swabbed in excess of 1,000 returning travellers from overseas.”
“More recently we established a clinic at the Redcliffe showgrounds and a temporary pop-up clinic at Fig Tree Pocket, with more clinics possibly ear-marked for other areas of Metro North in the coming weeks and months if needed.”
Ms Photinos said the clinics have helped divert presentations away from our busy emergency departments and hospitals and supported the need to test as many people as possible to minimise the risk of community transmission.
“Having a number of drive through clinics has also helped reduce the fears and worries of our community as they are able to access clinics close at hand in the community,” Tami said.
“I want to acknowledge everyone who has played a part in the rapid and safe set up and running of these mobile satellite and community assessment clinics.
“There has been an extensive amount of planning and logistical work completed.
“I can’t be prouder of our great team here at Community and Oral Health. Thank you to all the staff from across the directorate who put their hand up to help out.
“And not forgetting all of our workers across the directorate who have continued to deliver great services during the pandemic. Thank you.”
