Laverty Pathology has opened a drive-through COVID-19-Respiratory Clinic collection facility in Laurieton in partnership with NSW Health.
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Laverty general manager Matthew Brumby. said the clinic opening is a commitment to provide residents in the Camden Haven district with the safest and most convenient method to test for COVID-19.
"We continue to open drive-through clinics like this to make it easier for more people to be tested as lockdown restrictions are eased and business and community activity begins to return," Mr Brumby said.
"Anyone can come to the drive-through for collection of a swab specimen for COVID-19 testing.
"These drive-throughs are by far the easiest, safest and most convenient way for anyone to be tested for COVID- 19 and we have been encouraged by the public's response to them."
Residents wishing to use the service will need to arrive in a vehicle with their Medicare card and ID. They can bring a pathology request form from their doctor.
Patients must remain in their vehicles at all times while a collector in full protective equipment performs the test. Test results are generally provided to the referring doctor within 24-48 hours of the samples reaching the laboratory.
Patients may elect to have negative results sent to them via SMS. Any patient with a positive result will be contacted directly by the GP referring them to the clinic.
Laverty Pathology currently operates drive-through clinics in NSW that are part of a network of facilities being rolled out across the country.
A GP-led respiratory clinic, as part of the Australian government's $2.4 billion health package in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, is also open in Wauchope.
The clinic is one of up to 100 the government is setting up across Australia.
The clinic will assess people with respiratory symptoms and, where appropriate, undertake testing to diagnose respiratory cases, including COVID-19, influenza and pneumonia. Test results should be available within 48 hours.
The Mid North Coast Health District has a COVID-19 assessment clinic at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Call 1300 001 956 for details.
The Port Macquarie clinic is open from 10am to 4pm weekdays. Patients are asked to present to the emergency department where they will be assessed and directed to the clinic as required.