If you haven’t already been to the Covid-19 testing clinic at Lismore Base Hospital, it’s not as scary as you might think. 

The sign at the door says ‘Fever Clinic’ and it can feel a little ominous approaching a nurse wearing a blue surgical mask, gloves and protective coverings.

Today, I don’t have a dry throat, headache, or other cold or flu like symptom, and my initial trepidation at approaching a masked hospital employee quickly dissolved.

Lismore Base Hospital's practice manager of the special outpatient clinic, Kathy Hillier, greeted me and told me that up to 60 people a day are now coming to the clinic to be tested for coronavirus - and numbers are slowly growing.

This morning alone between 10am and 12pm, 40 people had already arrived to be tested. 

Kathy said the busiest times for people arriving to be tested are between 10am and 3pm.

“But staff are quickly getting people into and through the clinic – especially in this rainy weather," she said.

“Sometimes, the line-up can stretch up the front steps of the hospital.”

While I’m there, it’s very quiet and only one person arrives to be tested before I leave.

Kathy said anyone arriving at the clinic door will have their temperature checked by a nurse holding a device to their forehead. 

Blood oxygen levels will also be measured by a simple clip-on device on the finger – and you will be asked a few questions to work out ascertain where you’ve been and what level of risk category you might be in for contracting coronavirus.

If you’re wondering about whether to get tested or not, Kathy said if you are suffering from any respiratory symptoms at all, you should come in at any time and get tested. There’s no shortage of swabs and tests.

“If you have scratchy throat or a headache, shortness of breath – any mild symptoms at all, you can come in – don’t wait,” she said.

“Even if you’ve been tested before, don’t be afraid to come in again.”

Once you arrive inside the clinic, you’ll be greeted by the reception staff, then head into the waiting room, before you see a nurse.

Sheridan and Kelly-Anne waiting to greet people at reception.

Eldreth is one of the nurses in the Fever Clinic.

Eldreth said she works with other nurses in a team to take notes on patient information and triage people as they come in for swab testing – working out who needs more urgent, immediate care.

The coronavirus test itself is a fairly simple swab test – it involves two different swabs – one inside your nose, and the other one inside your mouth. It’s probable you’ll get watery eyes.

“Sometimes we might send someone with problematic symptoms to the Emergency Department for further triaging,” Eldreth said. 

 “A young boy came in recently and we sent him to emergency and it turned out that he had appendicitis.

“People sometimes don’t understand what’s happening to them, or what their symptoms mean.

“Some people come in and they are pretty anxious, but we explain what’s going on and they say afterwards that it wasn’t as bad as they thought it was going to be.”

Cleaning

Fever Clinic cleaner Julie spends all day constantly cleaning surfaces inside the clinic.

“I’m always going between the waiting room to the triage area – anywhere people have been,” Julie said.

“I clean every surface – chairs, tables, toilets – any surfaces touched by nurses or patients.”

It’s a big job.

Nurse Eldreth ready to take down details outside the clinic.

Cold and flu season

With the cold and flu season just starting and July and August tipped to be the biggest months for people catching viruses and colds, the clinic staff are preparing for an increase in numbers of people coming in to be tested. 

It coincides with an opening up of travel and social restrictions across the country, and while Lismore has been in a lull for a while, with no new cases for weeks, Kathy warns people against becoming complacent.

“Don’t wait too long to come in and get tested if you are unsure,” Kathy said. 

“While we are more relaxed about Covid-19 than we were a couple of months ago, we are not letting our guard down.

“We haven’t had any new cases, but we are still running the hospital at home for people who tested positive for Covid-19 and doctors are checking up on them regularly.”

Coronavirus numbers

Coronavirus case numbers in the Northern NSW Local Health District now stand at 56. Of these 56 cases, 51 are now recovered. There are no cases being treated in hospital. 

NNSWLHD chief executive Wayne Jones said there have now been more than 10,600 tests conducted in Northern NSW Local Health District.

“Which is an outstanding effort by both our community and health staff,” he said.

“If we continue to see high numbers of testing in our community, it will help us to stay on top of any possible new cases that may emerge as activity increases across NSW.

“Please stay home if you are unwell, or while awaiting test results, and continue to wash your hands thoroughly or use hand santiser regularly. 

“While out and about, don’t forget that physical distancing is still in place, so be mindful of keeping clear of other people and avoiding large groups.”

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