Tamworth COVID-19 Community Respiratory Clinic: Ruby Princess outbreak advisors to train Tamworth staff

Aspen Medical, the company contracted to deal with the Ruby Princess cruise ship outbreak, are booked to provide infection control training to clinic staff this week.

The clinic will have three isolation rooms and be able to support three patients at once, a Hunter New England and Central Cost Primary Health Network (PHN) spokesman said.

"The infection control training is a mix of online and face-to-face components delivered by Aspen Medical," he said.

"Community Respiratory Clinics (CRC) are being established to assess, test and provide follow up to patients in the region who meet the current testing criteria.

"The final opening date will be dependent on completion of some minor internal building works."

All staff who work at the clinic will have to undertake the infection control training to ensure their safety and that of the community.

North West Health will operate the clinic, it was in negotiations with PHN in the initial stage in mid-March.

Run by a local GP the service is private, but because it is funded by the federal government, patients will not be charged for the services provided.

Anyone in Tamworth will be able to access the service which will be open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The address of the clinic is yet to be released, members of the public will have to wait until training and minor works are completed to access services.

Member for New England Barnaby Joyce first announced the clinic in mid-March after a surge in coronavirus cases in the region.

Read also:

At the time Mr Joyce said a clinic was imperative for the New England to ensure the spread of the virus was slowed, given Tamworth Hospital has limited Intensive Care Unit beds for critical patients.

In Tamworth, COVID-19 cases have remained stable since March.

The city was one of two locations identified as a top priority for a clinic.

Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.