Topic: After hours

Local doctors have joined forces to urge the community not to neglect their health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

General practices across South Western Sydney have noted a reduction in patients visiting their surgeries and are concerned about the long-term consequences of delaying routine healthcare, especially for patients with chronic health problems.

Launching the joint South Western Sydney Primary Health Network and South Western Sydney Local Health District campaign this month, local GPs and emergency doctors are reassuring the community it is safe to seek medical care and that your regular health should not take a backseat during the pandemic.

They warn, neglecting your regular health or chronic conditions now could lead to serious health issues and worsening chronic conditions down the track.

A health consumer survey about access to healthcare found 32 per cent of respondents had missed appointments with their GP during the pandemic.

The survey of 729 people was conducted by the Continuity of Care Collaboration, a national communication collaboration of 15 peak bodies, industry and healthcare organisations.

It found 36 per cent of people were worried about taking public transport to appointments; 36 per cent were worried health services were too busy; 31 per cent did not feel safe visiting healthcare services in person; 28 per cent found telehealth could be difficult to use due to technology or poor access to internet/phone; and 23 per cent were worried they could be breaking lockdown rules.

Last month the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Federal Government issued a plea to all Australians not to put off seeing their GP.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said whether in person, or through the expanded telehealth network, it was critical that people continued to manage their general health throughout the COVID-19 health emergency.

“Your GP is there to help you follow your treatment plan and improve your health,” he said.

GPs have urged the community to continue to have regular check-ups, have blood tests and fill prescriptions for chronic conditions, get flu vaccinations and book cancer screenings.

Bowral GP Jo Senior said doctors knew how to keep their practices safe.

“Your health is important to us and every GP is taking steps to provide you with safe medical care,” she said.

“We want you to continue to come and visit us or talk to us over the phone, especially if you have a chronic disease like diabetes or heart disease. With telephone and telehealth consultations available it’s never been easier to stay in touch with your GP.

“It’s also really important that you continue to fill your prescriptions.

“If you’re feeling unwell the first place to call is your GP.”

Elderslie GP Matthew Gray agreed, emphasising the message that patients should not delay seeking medical care.

“Now more than ever it’s vitally important for your health and wellbeing to seek care if you need it,” he said. “As GPs, we can help you with short-term problems and chronic conditions. Getting to know you is what we as GPs do, so we can care for you your entire life.

“Your health is important to us – please don’t delay seeking treatment.”

Emergency physicians have echoed the GPs’ calls for patients not to wait for the end of the pandemic before seeking medical care.

Dr Matthew Smith, from Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, said it was safe to seek medical help even during the pandemic as emergency departments had procedures for safely dealing with people who may have COVID-19 as well as other presentations.

“If you’ve got symptoms such as a sore throat, cough or fever, visit your nearest testing centre for a COVID-19 test or phone your GP to discuss which options are available for you,” he said.

“If you have problems you should present to the Emergency Department. Now it’s more important than ever to take care of your health. Your health is really important to us.

“Remember to keep the Emergency Department for emergencies.”

Visit the SWSPHN website for community information about COVID-19:

Information and support

Testing options

Mental health support

South Western Sydney doctors have backed calls urging people with chronic health conditions and acute medical issues not to neglect their regular healthcare and to continue to see their GP or specialist during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The doctors’ calls echo an RACGP and Federal Government plea to all Australians to not put off seeing their GP.

Dr Nathan Cooney, from Wintergarden Family Practice at Bowral, has reassured patients that general practices are as safe as possible.

“For example, we don’t see anyone here with coughs and colds in the building,” he said.

“We have a tent in our carport where we see people with coughs and colds.

“We’ve got Perspex up in reception, the number of people we have in our waiting room has been reduced to probably a quarter of what we’d normally do, and we’ve got the resources for lots of personal hygiene and lots of PPE equipment.

“With the numbers being so low in the community now I feel that it’s very safe to come in.”

Most local GPs are also adopting telehealth consultations, speaking to patients via the telephone or online and following-up face-to-face if needed.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt last month urged those with existing health conditions to continue to seek care for the management of their condition.

Since the COVID lockdown, visits to general practice were down an estimated 30 per cent while pathology had dropped around 40 per cent. Some patients have been putting off X-rays and ultrasounds for more than three weeks. 

“Whether in person, or through the expanded telehealth network, it’s critical that people continue to manage their general health throughout the COVID-19 health emergency,” Mr Hunt said.

“Your GP is there to help you follow your treatment plan and improve your health.

“If you have a regular follow up appointment booked with your doctor, please contact your medical practice to see if this can be carried out using a telehealth consultation (by telephone, or video call), or if you need to see your doctor for a face-to-face consultation.

“If you are taking regular medication for management of a chronic condition, it is essential that you continue to take your medication. If you run out of medication, please contact your doctor or your local pharmacy to arrange a repeat prescription.

“A failure to keep appointments and continue treatment could also put you at greater risk of being severely affected by COVID-19.”

Chronic conditions include arthritis, asthma, back pain, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and mental health conditions.

However, Dr Cooney said he had also had non-chronic patients delay treatment for fear of the virus, including one with a suspected broken foot.

“I had someone come in for a flu vax but about three weeks before they had a mini fall and had quite severe pain in their foot,” he said.

“They thought it was a fracture but decided not to come in. They thought the flu vax was more important than their broken foot.”

Dr Cooney said GPs could do a very thorough run down of people’s health over the phone or via video consult.

“If people are afraid, I think the first step is just phone and we’ll see what we can deal with over the phone. If we can’t deal with some things, maybe you’ll have to come in but there’s no harm in making a phone call.”