New site for COVID testing

The Lardner Park COVID testing site, originally set up to meet a local outbreak and overwhelming demand, will now relocate to the Warragul Goods Shed.

The Lardner Park drive-through testing site run by West Gippsland Healthcare Group closed on Friday after conducting 16,000 swabs since it opened community two months ago.

Testing will be now undertaken at the Warragul Goods Shed three days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8.30am to 4pm by appointment only.

WGHG chief executive officer Dan Weeks said the Lardner Park testing site was initially set up by the hospital at short notice on September 28 to support community demand following outbreaks in Baw Baw Shire.

“We thought we would run it for a week or two to meet the surge in demand and support the Warragul Respiratory Clinic.

“However, demand continued and with support from Lardner Park, the Gippsland Region Public Health Unit and Department of Health, we continued to operate the site, testing between 300 to 500 people on most days. Our record was over 600 people on one day,” he said.

Mr Weeks said as demand was easing, testing would now relocate to the Warragul Goods Shed. “The Goods Shed testing site is in an accessible location beside the railway station in Warragul but it will not be a drive-through testing site,” he said.

Mr Weeks said if there was another outbreak and surge in demand they had the ability to reopen the Lardner Park drive through site if needed.

WGHG has set up an online booking system from the WGHG website so people can book a COVID test or a vaccination: https://wghg.com.au/coronavirus/

The Warragul Goods shed also will continue to provide vaccinations on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 6pm by appointment.

WGHG board chair Christine Holland and Mr Weeks acknowledged the support of the Lardner Park team and chief executive officer Craig Debnam.

“The site was set up and operational in 12 hours with the Lardner Park team working to ensure logistics, traffic flow and safety through the site.

“We also wish to thank the WGHG staff testing

teams who went above and beyond working long hours and extra shifts while wearing full PPE to provide this service to the community,” he said.

Health Department teams also supported the Lardner Park clinic during peak periods.

Ms Holland said it was heartening to see the enormous community support and compliments from the public towards the testing site and vaccination clinic which was a tremendous morale booster for staff.

“The past two years have been incredibly challenging for everyone in the community and in particular health and frontline workers who have continually had to respond, adapt, and change to meet the challenges of a pandemic.

“To see partner agencies and the community coming together to support each other during these times is most appreciated,” she said.

WGHG acting director clinical operations Lynne Stewart, chief executive officer Dan Weeks and board chair Christine Holland thank Lardner Park chief executive officer Craig Debnam and his team Barbara Johnson and Anthony Willems. Behind them are WGHG testing team members Geraldine Freriks, Alison Spragg, Coralie Tyrell, Liz Pike and Melinda Catchpole and Traftech traffic control team of Scott Williamson, Terry Phillips, Jackie Mashiter and Jim McCormack.