Doctors call for security
COVID test delays lead to angry GP confrontations
GOLD Coast clinics are considering hiring security guards to protect staff from raging patients upset by delays in COVID testing.
General Practitioner Gold Coast president Katrina McLean said colleagues had reported increased abuse by people frustrated by the turnaround of some results. In some cases, results have ballooned from 24 hours to 72 hours because of demand.
“Patients are turning up upset, demanding results to the point where practices have spoken about employing security,” Dr McLean said.
“We are asking people to be patient and recognise frontline healthcare professionals are doing their job as best they can.
“We collect the samples in the clinic, the testing is undertaken in a number of different laboratories, sometimes private, sometimes public. Wait times will vary depending on how laboratories, not clinics, are dealing with the workload.”
Dr McLean said to hear the cases of abuse had been disappointing at a time when the community had been asked to pull together.
“For GPs, we have been working incredibly hard for the last six months to keep people safe, so have our reception teams.
“While we understand there is a lot of stress and frustration it is really inappropriate to be directing anger to practices.
“We shouldn’t have practices looking at employing security guards.
“Lots of patients are grateful, but a small number really make a challenging job all the more difficult.” advice, they are told they need to get tested and they then get upset or refuse to do so. It is Medicross Helensvale’s Dr taking up a lot of our time. Reception Nikki Yates said she had seen staff are getting complaints similar frustrations at her clinic. over the phone.
“We aren’t discussing security “I think people still think guards but there is backlash ‘no, it can’t happen to me’. from people not wanting “We understand having to to follow guidelines,” Dr Yates isolate for days is a big barrier said. to getting tested, but even if
Anyone who shows respiratory your test comes back negative symptoms, however the guidelines are if you are mild, is asked to get a test and sick stay at home. This avoids a self-isolate until they are well. knock-on effect to the rest of “People are calling us for the workforce.”
WHERE TO GET TESTED
Booking essential, free. Burleigh Cove Respiratory Clinic, Shop 13/109 West Burleigh Rd, Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm, burleighcrc.com.au, call 0410 831 919.
Hope Island Respiratory Clinic 10 Santa Barbara Rd, Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri, 1pm-5.15pm, Wed, 1pm-5.45pm and Sat, 8am-1pm. Online at HotDoc or call 07 5563 5151.