Keeping you safe – COVID-19

The escalating transmission of COVID-19 is concerning and continues to be a challenge for everyone. I hope you and your families are safe and well at this difficult time.

As we reopen for 2022, we plan to see patients and operate at Greenslopes as normally as possible, and have implemented additional safety measures in our personal protective equipment and cleaning. Our online booking form is the best way to browse and book the appointment that suits you best.

“If you have any COVID-19 symptoms or are unwell, please don’t visit our consulting rooms – we can change your appointment to telehealth, or reschedule it for another time”

The most important thing you can do is to stay home if you are unwell or have any COVID-19 symptoms. We offer telehealth appointments where suitable – please ask us if you think that’s a better option for you at this time.

What you need to do when you visit our consulting rooms:

• wear a face mask that covers your nose, mouth and chin, use some hand sanitiser, and maintain physical distance when you can

• check in using the Check In Qld app and show your ‘green tick’ to our receptionist

• use our patient portal to fill in your demographic details and upload your referral before your appointment to minimise the handling of paperwork in our practice

• use contactless forms of payment.

Things we are doing to help keep you safe:

• we check the COVID-19 vaccination status of all patients and visitors

• we continue to use appropriate personal protective equipment, including masks and eye wear, and have implemented additional cleaning of high-touch areas in our consulting rooms

• all GAALS employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, we follow all health advice, and will not work in our consulting rooms if we have any symptoms of COVID-19 – I am sorry if this results in any inconvenience or last minute changes to appointments or surgery.

We know that things may change – for you and for us – during this difficult time, and I thank you in advance for your understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

 - Amy

COVID-19 — screening before appointments

Prior to all appointments in our consulting rooms, our staff will call patients to ask a few questions before their appointment is confirmed.

You should not visit our consulting rooms if:

• you are currently unwell (irrespective of the origin of the illness), or

• you have been issued a self-quarantine notice because:

  • you have been overseas

  • you are an exempt person and have arrived in Queensland from a COVID-19 hotspot

  • you are an exempt person and have moved to Queensland from interstate

  • you have been in close contact with someone who already has COVID-19.

Please contact us to:

• check whether your appointment can proceed through telehealth, or

• reschedule your appointment.

COVID-19 — appointments

Recently we posted information about the measures we are taking to promote the health of our patients and practice staff.

“We are continuing to make appointments with some additional options, precautions and recommendations”

Telehealth

The government recently expanded telehealth (video conferencing and phone consultations) to all Australians, where treatment can be safely delivered by phone or video conferencing.

Generally, when an appointment does not require a physical examination, we are pleased to offer telehealth services to patients. Please contact us to check whether your appointment can be offered through telehealth.

Social distancing

In addition to the measures we have already implemented to promote social distancing, we ask that patients attend their appointment at our consulting rooms without any additional visitors. We do understand that some patients prefer to bring another person (for example, a partner or parent) to their appointment for support, and we are happy to accommodate individual patients’ needs.

We also ask that parents DO NOT bring any children under the age of 18 to our consulting rooms, unless the child is the patient.

Please contact us if you need to reschedule your appointment, or to ask whether your appointment can proceed through telehealth.

COVID-19 — changes to elective surgery

Recently the government made a decision to suspend all non-urgent elective surgery in public and private hospitals.

“Only elective surgery categorised as ‘Category 1’ and some ‘Category 2’ procedures will be allowed to continue”

• Category 1 procedures are for patients needing treatment within 30 days.

• Category 2 procedures are for patients needing treatment within 90 days; this includes treatment for conditions that cause pain, dysfunction or disability.

• Category 3 procedures are for patients needing treatment at some point in the next year. All Category 3 procedures will be temporarily suspended.

We will be in touch with patients who are currently booked for surgery to let them know whether their procedure can go ahead. There may be delays for patients who have not yet been booked for surgery.

Please contact us by email or phone 07 3067 7086 with any questions.

-Amy

COVID-19 — what we are doing

Recently we have implemented changes due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) to promote the health of our patients and practice staff. While we expect COVID-19 will have some impact on our services, we are continuing to book appointments and operations in line with current advice from the government and Greenslopes Private Hospital.

We regularly review the recommended advice and are monitoring the health of our practice staff and have plans in place should they become unwell.

Before appointments

Prior to all appointments in our consulting rooms, our staff will call patients to ask a few questions before their appointment is confirmed.

At appointments

We ask that every patient uses the hand sanitiser we provide when they arrive for their appointment. We are wiping down door handles and bench surfaces as a precaution after every patient. As an additional precaution, we have arranged our waiting room to allow sufficient 'social distancing' between chairs. 

Operating

Greenslopes Private Hospital advise that operating will continue with some additional measures to minimise risk to hospital patients, visitors and staff. This may include screening every person prior to entry, and limitations on the number of visitors that patients may have.

Prior to all operations, our staff AND Greenslopes Private Hospital will call patients to check their operation can go ahead as planned.

I appreciate your patience during this difficult time. I would like to assure you that the health and safety of our patients and practice staff is a very high priority.

Please call us on 07 3067 7086 or contact us by email if you have any questions.

- Amy