Coronavirus (COVID-19)
GHFP is keeping a close eye on the COVID-19 pandemic situation. We are using our social media platforms to disperse up to date information to the GHFP patient community.
Your cooperation with Public Health recommendations will greatly assist our health system to cope during the pandemic.
We recommend that if you are unwell that you STAY AT HOME AND USE THE PHONE: do not visit friends or loved ones or go to the shops, to your GP surgery, pharmacy, work, school, child care. Please isolate yourself to help stop the spread of such symptoms to others. 2020 is not the year to "soldier on" with a cold or flu - please stay at home.
We aim to keep Glebe Hill Family Practice open for essential in-surgery consultations, but this depends on whether our team remain well. Changes have been made within the practice and to our policies to ensure your safety and ours. Toys, books and magazines have been removed from the waiting areas and consulting rooms. All of our spaces comply with adequate social distancing rules.
Appointments during the pandemic:
For now, we will continue to offer safe in-surgery appointments for people who do not have symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath or sore throat). We wish to continue to provide care to all of our patients, even when they are unable to enter the surgery due to symptoms, self-isolation or quarantine. As an alternative to in-surgery appointments we are providing Telehealth Consultations (video or telephone).
If you have cold or flu symptoms we will ensure that a clinician attends to you, and we ask that you do not enter the practice unless pre-arranged by one of our General Practitioners. It is our policy that initial assessment of symptomatic patients occurs via a Telehealth Consultation (video or phone). From there your GP may recommend a face-to-face assessment at the practice. This may be booked in our Isolation Room and the clinician may be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE: mask, gown, face shield and gloves). Thank you for your cooperation with this policy, which is designed to keep our practice team and our patients safe, and prevent the spread of covid-like symptoms during the pandemic.
Telehealth Consutlations can be booked online from this website, or via the Appointuit App. If you are unsure about what type of appointment to book, please phone the surgery on 6169 0000 to book your appointment. Our friendly Receptionists and Practice Nurses will help to triage the urgency of your attendance and will recommend and arrange a Telehealth Consultation where appropriate.
Who should be tested for COVID-19?
Widespread testing of people with cold or flu-like symptoms (even mild) is vital to track and slow the spread of COVID-19. It is important to get tested if you have or have had any of the following symptoms in the past 7 days, even mild:
- fever (or signs of fever, including chills or night sweats)
- runny nose
- cough
- sore/itchy throat
- shortness of breath
- loss of taste or smell.
Our General Practitioners can refer you for COVID-19 testing via a Telehealth Consultation. Alternatively, you can phone the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange a test.
General recommendations:
- Wash and dry your hands often, with soap and water. Germs can spread through hand contact. Wash your hands before touching your face (especially lips, mouth, nose, eyes), food and drinks, and after coughing, sneezing and going to the toilet.
- Wash and dry your hands well. Make sure the soap and water come into contact with your whole hand – palms, backs of hands, thumbs, fingertips, wrists and the webbing between your fingers. Rub your hands for 15–20 seconds.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. If you don’t have a tissue, use the inside of your elbow. Put used tissues in the rubbish straight after use (don’t keep gems in your pocket!) and then wash your hands.
- Keep your distance. Try to keep 1.5m (2 large steps) from other people.
- Keep an eye on the Tasmanian Public Health website for more information.
