Hazardous Weather Conditions Change Operating Hours Of Two Hunter Covid-19 Testing Clinics

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Hazardous weather conditions have impacted the operating hours of two Hunter Covid-19 testing clinics.

The University of Newcastle COVID-19 Drive Through Clinic will close at 2pm today, and the Tomaree Drive Through COVID-19 Clinic will be closed all day.

Those who are booked in at the University of Newcastle clinic will have their appointment rescheduled, or can attend one of our clinics at John Hunter, Belmont, or Calvary Mater Newcastle hospitals, or one of the privately run testing clinics available in Tomaree, Adamstown and Warners Bay.

Those booked at the Tomaree drive through clinic today can have their swab attended at a temporary clinic which has been set up at Tomaree Community Hospital.

This clinic will operate from 9am to 3pm today, and those wishing to be tested must call 4964 7497 to arrange an appointment prior to attending.

For a complete list of clinics across the Hunter New England region, please visit https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/clinics.aspx

Where to Get Tested for Covid-19 in the Hunter, 2 New Cases Diagnosed and Health Alerts Issued for 7 Venues

BY ISABEL EVERETT

With the identification of additional cases in the Newcastle area, Hunter New England Health is expecting an increase in the demand for testing.  

“To ensure we can best serve the community during this time, we have enhanced our local testing capability," Dr Kat Taylor, Public Health Controller for Hunter New England Health’s COVID-19 said.

“In addition to expanding our call centre capacity and the number of phone lines available to improve booking wait times, we will extend hours and capacity at a number of local clinics.  

“However, please be patient if visiting a clinic or calling for a booking. We have thousands of testing opportunities throughout the course of today and will see people as quickly as possible." 

Hunter New England Health operates COVID-19 clinics at a number of hospitals in the Hunter region.

Walk in clinics include:

• The John Hunter Hospital clinic, open 8am to 10pm, seven days a week. The clinic is walk in only and no appointment is required.

• The Calvary Mater Newcastle clinic, open 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. The clinic is walk in only and no appointment is required.

• The Maitland Hospital clinic, open 9am to 4pm, seven days a week. Appointment bookings are preferred, but not required, and can be made by calling 4939 2585 during operating hours.

There are also a number of drive through options available, including:

• The Belmont Hospital drive through clinic, open 8am – 4pm, seven days a week. Those wishing to be tested must contact the clinic on 4923 2211 during operating hours to arrange an appointment prior to attending.

• The Cessnock Hospital drive through clinic, open 8am – 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Those wishing to be tested must contact the clinic on 4991 0436 during operating hours to arrange an appointment prior to attending.

• The Tomaree drive through clinic (20 Aquatic Close, Nelson Bay), open 9am to 3pm, seven days a week. Those wishing to be tested must contact the drive-through clinic on 4964 7497 to arrange an appointment prior to attending.

• The University drive through clinic also continues to operate 8am to 4pm, seven days a week. Those wishing to be tested must contact the drive-through clinic on 4964 7497 during operating hours to arrange an appointment prior to attending. 

Local private options include:

• 4Cyte Pathology’s COVID-19 clinic at Central Church Warners Bay (290 Hillsborough Rd), which operates between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 11am Saturdays, and no booking is required. More information can be found on their website at www.medtechservices.net.au.

• Laverty’s Adamstown Drive Through COVID-19 clinic (91 Victoria Street). The clinic operates between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday and 9am and 4pm Saturdays, and no booking is required.

• Laverty’s Tomaree Hospital Clinic is open from 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. No booking is required, but a referral from your GP is preferred prior to attending this clinic.

High Capacity Drive-Through Covid Testing Clinic Opening at Warners Bay, No Booking or GP Referral Required

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A high capacity drive-through Covid-19 testing clinic, which patients can attend without an appointment or doctors referral is opening in Warners Bay.

Local Newcastle family owned business Medtech, and 4Cyte Pathology have worked with Hunter New England Health, to open the clinic on Thursday 30th July.

The clinic will operate at Central Church, 290 Hillsborough Road, Warners Bay.

The clinic will be open from 8am - 4pm on weekdays, and from 8am -11am on Saturdays, and will be closed on Sundays.

"The Warners Bay drive-thru is the first of its kind in the region where patients can attend without either an appointment or a Doctor’s referral. Patients can simply attend at their convenience," Medtech and 4Cyte said in a statement.

This drive through clinic aims to reduce the number of patients attending GP clinics, before they have been cleared of COVID 19.

It also aims to reduce crowding at local hospital testing centers and increase regional testing capability.

Patients will received their negative testing results via a direct-to-patient SMS.

Testing is available for all ages including infants.

For more information please visit: www.medtechservices.net.au

Pop-Up Drive Through Covid-19 Testing Clinic Opening at University of Newcastle

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A four lane, drive-through COVID-19 clinic will open at The University of Newcastle on Tuesday.

Testing at the University clinic will operate 8am to 4pm, Monday to Sunday from Tuesday.

Those wishing to be tested must contact the drive-through clinic on 4964 7497 to arrange an appointment, prior to attending, with phone lines opening up at 8am on Tuesday morning. 

Dr Paul Craven, Medical Controller for Hunter New England Health’s COVID-19 response said that as the weather gets colder and there are more coughs and colds about, it’s important people get tested to rule out COVID-19. But what’s also important is that people get tested at the most appropriate place.

“Winter is always a busy time for our hospitals so we’re urging locals with milder cold and flu like symptoms, who do not need emergency care, to utilise other available options for testing, not just EDs” Dr Craven said.

“This will mean we have more space at our hospitals for those who need emergency care and we reduce the footfall at our facilities to protect our staff and vulnerable patients,” he said.

“The new drive-through clinic at the University will provide a fast and convenient way to access COVID-19 testing, along with the other clinics running across the District, and the free, bulk-billed testing being done in the community through other providers.”

Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath, or with symptoms such as loss of sense of smell or taste, is urged to get tested.

“If you feel under the weather and need to be tested, we urge you to try to see your GP first, use a private pathology provider or use the drive through service at University of Newcastle.” Dr Craven said.

“If you cannot get to see your GP, the online GP service Swiftdocs can see you for a five minute free online consult before providing a direct referral for bulk-billed swab close to where you live, all at the touch of a button.

“If you are really sick, never stay away from hospital, please come and see us in Emergency. We are here for you,” he said.

Image Credit: Daily Telegraph

Drive-Through COVID-19 Clinic To Open At McDonald Jones Stadium

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter New England Health is hoping to put the lid on COVID-19 in Newcastle with a new testing station set to open this week.

The six-lane drive-through clinic will open at McDonald Jones Stadium this Friday.

It will be open for 10 days and will be able to test 900 people a day for coronavirus.

With case numbers stabilising in the region it's hoped the drive-through clinic will be able to capture any COVID-19 cases still circulating in the community.

Hunter New England Health says anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath should get tested.

A drive-through COVID-19 testing station opens this Friday at McDonald Jones Stadium Picture: dailytelegraph.com.au