COVID-19 is truly a worldwide pandemic, and it has changed the way of life for billions of people in every corner of the planet. While Australia has done a great job of flattening the curve and avoiding the serious problems seen in Spain, Italy and the USA, COVID-19 has still resulted in serious safety precautions across the nation. Nowhere is this more obvious than in your regular walk-in medical clinic where practices have been completely regeared to combat the spread of the virus. If you are due for a regular check-up or need a specific issue taken care of, here is what you can expect to find for the foreseeable future when you go to a doctor or specialist.
Waiting Rooms Closed Or Highly Regulated
Social distancing is very important in slowing the prevalence of the disease, and because COVID-19 can spread even from asymptomatic carriers, any area where people would normally congregate has to be restricted. Many walk-in medical clinics now require you to wait in your car with a ticket or number so that you don't have to sit around other people. In addition to that, some medical centres conduct their entire check-up in a drive-through setting, although this definitely depends on the setup and availability of space in your local medical centre. Whatever the case, be prepared for a vastly different waiting experience.
Postponement Of Elective Surgery
If you have a condition or injury that is not life-threatening and can be managed for a while without surgery, then it will almost certainly be delayed in the upcoming months. While this policy is starting to be rolled back as cases dramatically fall, it will not be an immediate return to normal. Some elective procedures are being given priority over others, such as IVF treatment. While this can be frustrating to deal with, remember you are not alone and that there are tens of thousands of people in the same boat as you. The last thing you want to do is give yourself a chance of getting COVID-19 while getting elective surgery that you could have avoided.
Call Ahead
If you have any of the common symptoms of COVID-19 such as a fever, cough or tiredness, then you should always call before you go to a medical centre. You may be asked not to come to the walk-in medical clinic and instead go directly to one of the designated COVID-19 medical centres. There is nothing to be scared of, as these places are specially designed to take care of your needs, and even if you don't end up having COVID-19, it is important to make sure you get this information as soon as possible. Even if you don't have any of the symptoms of COVID-19, it is still advisable to call your walk-in medical clinic before arriving just to check if they have any specific practices you should be aware of. It is important everyone takes the most precautions they possibly can, and your local GP might have some that are different to others. You don't want to jeopardise your or their safety by not knowing about them, and a simple call will give you all the information you need.
