Washing your hands effectively is essential in the times of COVID-19 to minimise your risk and reduce its spread amongst the community.

This instructional video below shows what effective handwashing involves – look what is required to cover the entire hands.

Regular hand hygiene is very simple and effective.

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum (or sing out loud!) the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. It’s that simple!

And for a video showing how quickly a virus could spread without proper handwashing, see this Public Health advertisement from Israel that was released recently:

Due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, our practice will be conducting the majority of our consultations by phone from now until further notice.

ALL EXISTING patients of the clinic will be eligible for a BULK BILLED Phone Consult.

Phone Consults can be booked online or by phone.

We will continue to see the patients for face to face consultations in the clinic in the following circumstances:

• Childhood immunisations and flu vaccinations
• Dressings and wound care
• Iron infusions and certain other treatments requiring nurse administration of medication
• Mirena and Implanon insertion and removal
• Skin cancer surgery;
• Face to face consults arranged with your GP during a Phone Consult, where the GP has decided that you need to be seen in person in order to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment (for example, when you need a physical examination).;

Currently our pathology service remains available although arrangements for Warfarin (INR) testing has slightly altered and will be detailed when you next attend

Our normal billing policies will apply if you need come into the clinic for a face to face consult

If possible, a Phone Consult is recommended instead of a face-to-face consultation for patients with high risk of developing serious complications if they contract COVID-19, including people aged over 65, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and people under treatment for chronic health conditions or who are immune compromised (such as people with diabetes, heart disease, asthma, arthritis or other similar conditions).

PRIVATE FLU VACCINES AVAILABLE

We have PRIVATE flu vaccinations available for our patients. Please call 63 447177 to book into a flu clinic. We have availability from tomorrow onward.

This clinic is NOT for FUNDED flu vaccinations (i.e over 65 years old, chronic health conditions, children under 5 years old). We will advise when the funded vaccinations are available.

COVID-19 UPDATE

There has been established a Respiratory Assessment clinic at Allambi House, 33-39 Howick Street, Launceston.

This will operate 7 days a week from 10am-6pm.

Patients can be referred by their GP or Public Health for testing after a phone consultation.

Allambi House is not a walk in facility.