HHMP remains open during Sydney’s 14 day COVID-19 lockdown
With the recent increase of COVID-19 cases in Sydney, a 14 day lockdown has been announced by the NSW premier.
Hunters Hill Medical Practice as an essential service will remain open throughout the 14 day lockdown. We have a COVID-19 safety plan, will be enforcing strict social distancing and the wearing of masks. Our staff will redouble their efforts at patient screening and clinic cleaning.
We remain open for both in-person and telehealth consults. While telehealth consults can be useful and avoid unnecessary travel and exposure, we recognise the need to remain open for patients and conditions that need to be assessed in person. Our ability to remain open depends on cooperation between staff and patients.
Drs and Nurses at HHMP will see patients in-person as long as it is safe for all. As such patients with respiratory symptoms will be seen in their cars or in the isolation room. If you have respiratory symptoms, please do not enter the practice, rather remain in your car and call us when you arrive.
Things you can do with regards to bookings and presenting for consultation:
- Book online or by phone
- Bring and wear a mask if coming to the practice
- Please do not enter the practice if you have any respiratory symptoms
- If symptomatic, please stay in your car and call the practice
- Please follow instructions of staff
Vaccination remains an important way to protect yourself and the community against COVID-19 and Flu. For more information, please visit our vaccine clinic website.
HHMP is COVID-Safe and is asking all patients and visitors to wear masks
As a practice taking steps to reduce the risk for patients and staff is just part of what we do and documented in our COVID-Safety plan. Such steps include:
- Screening patients over the phone and online to make sure symptomatic patients are not seen inside the practice, but rather via telehealth, in their cars or in our isolation room.
- Abundant hand sanitiser
- Setting up the waiting room with appropriate distancing
- Cleaning multiple times during the day (above and beyond after-hours cleaning)
- Wearing masks
In light of recent events, we are asking all patients and staff to be especially vigilant and take appropriate actions to decrease risk. Especially over the next few weeks, we need the assistance of all patients and visitors to wear masks. We would appreciate if you were to bring your own mask with you and wear it before entering the practice. If you do not have a mask, please ask at reception and a disposable mask will be given to you. We all need to be involved in reducing the risk of community transmission.
We thank you all for your cooperation and encourage you to contact us if you have any questions.
Things we can all do:
- Excellent hand hygiene (washing hands with soap or using hand sanitiser)
- Maintain appropriate distancing (at least 1.5 meters)
- Wear a face mask, especially if you cannot appropriately distance
- Do not go to work or send children to school if anyone has any symptoms
- Get tested for COVID-19 if you have any symptoms or had contact with a positive case
- Self-isolate and seek advice if you are unsure
- Do not visit aged care facilities if you have the slightest doubt about symptoms or exposure
- Please advise us if you are presenting for an appointment and have recently been to or had contact with someone from the Northern Beaches
The next 2 weeks are especially important. If there has been any local COVID-19 transmission, we will see this play out over that period. We can also minimise local COVID-19 transmission during this period by doing the right thing. As a result, it is important to be especially vigilant for symptoms and get tested ASAP. There are many local testing options, including government COVID-19 clinics, local hospitals, private pathology providers and at HHMP. It is also very important to keep in mind and do the things listed above to minimise the risk.
For More COVID-19 Information
NSW health has an excellent COVID-19 website with all the information in one place and links to further information. Please use this and other reputable government websites to get your information rather than news media or just random blogs (excluding this one! ;-)). The links below are for the most useful sections for patients:
- NSW health COVID website
- COVID19 frequently asked questions
- Testing clinic locations
- Self isolation guidelines
