FNQ’S NEW FRONTLINE

REGION DIGS IN FOR BATTLE AS COVID-19 CASES CLIMB TO SEVEN

A NEW battleground to ward off the coronavirus has been staked in the Far North as Australia faces new and tighter restrictions.

The fight against COVID-19 has gone to a new level with Stratford Medical Centre opening an outdoor triage on its doorstep.

Patients like Lynda Etherington (above left with centre owner Dr Amanda Roberts) can now be checked for fever before entering the surgery or receiving treatment in one of two tents set up if they display signs of cold and flu.

The outdoor triage comes as the region’s confirmed cases last night rose to seven.

One Cairns GP has flagged concern over a lack of communication from Cairns Hospital about contact tracing.

Dr Aileen Traves said a centralised flow of information from Brisbane meant Cairns Hospital staff had been directed not to release any information.

“We suddenly lost all information from our local team, it was literally radio silence overnight,” she said.

STRATFORD Medical Centre has used some tricks learned tending to the down and out and has launched an outdoor triage service for incoming patients and possible cases of COVID-19. Dr Amanda Roberts said two triage tents would supplement a video and phone consultation service in order to keep patients socially distanced. She said the clinic was also ready to use platforms including Skype, Zoom and Facebook to consult with patients.

“Most of our patients are very grateful because they feel safe. If they do come and get seen it keeps the risk down,” Dr Roberts said.

Potential COVID-19 cases would be seen by doctors without leaving their cars and then sent home to isolate; their files and lab referral already emailed to them.

It is a system developed over time through the experience of mobile clinics for the homeless.

“I wasn’t really thinking of a pandemic when we set this up,” Dr Roberts said. “It has just happened that way – the way we work is very effective during a pandemic.”

Those patients requiring indoor care, such as babies needing vaccinations, will still be seen inside.

The clinics for those sleeping rough will continue at a rate of six sessions a week. “Those patients have been absolutely fantastic,” Dr Roberts said.

‘We have not had a single drama, they are easy to work with … tolerant, they have been fantastic.”