The Federal Government announced in September that respiratory clinics at Parkside, Pooraka, Athelstone and Reynella would close on December 31.

AMA state president Dr Michelle Atchison said today that the closures would reduce South Australians’ access to COVID-19 care and add to GP waiting lists across Adelaide.

She said the AMA had been told that the clinics treat 1000 patients between them each week.

“Where will these patients go? We know we don’t have enough GPs, it’s difficult to find an appointment,” Atchison said.

“And from 8 January, that difficulty will increase as patients with COVID-19 symptoms need a GP referral for a PCR test.

“The respiratory clinics were designed to play a specific role in the pandemic health framework – to give patients with respiratory symptoms a place they could receive care, away from both emergency departments and general practice to avoid the spread.

“They have played their part well. People have been advised to go to a respiratory clinic rather than place local doctors and staff at risk, and received fast and efficient testing for their symptoms.”

Atchison said the closures would put more pressure on already busy GP clinics.

“This is another decision that seems to be based on the idea that Australians no longer need health care for COVID-19,” she said.

“There seems to be no strategy or planning about how the 1000 patients a week will be managed, or to increase support for GPs to cope with increased demand”.

Atchison said doctors were concerned that more COVID-19 patients could end up in emergency departments.

“Having an influx of all these people sick with respiratory symptoms is dangerous not only for the staff, but the patients who will inevitably be in contact with them,” she said.

Atchison also said that a phone hotline for GPs managing COVID-19 patients was due to close on December 14, and called for the service to be maintained.

South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton said a lack of primary healthcare was having a “big impact” on the state’s hospitals.

He said he “understood” why the Federal Government was winding back short-term measures, such as the respiratory clinics, but was looking forward to additional primary health initiatives.

“People are increasingly finding it difficult to get in to see a GP and wait times are getting longer,” he said in a statement to InDaily.

“When people can’t get access to the GP care they need, they get sicker and ultimately end up in our hospitals.

“We have been raising the issue of the availability of GPs with the Federal Health Minister who has committed additional funding for Medicare. While we understand why the Federal Government is winding back some of the shorter-term measures such as respiratory clinics, we look forward to the Medicare initiatives being rolled out as soon as possible to help patients get the early healthcare they need and reduce pressure on our hospital system.”

He said that despite the closure of the clinics, there were still pathways for South Australians to access COVID care.

“These include the Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service and the 24-hour Health Direct phone line on 1800 022 222. The State Government also runs four Priority Care Centres across metropolitan Adelaide and the SA Virtual Care Service to help divert activity from emergency departments and ambulances. People can also go to www.adelaideafterhours.com.au to find after-hours GP services across Adelaide.”

Picton also pointed to the National Coronavirus Hotline – 1800 020 080.

There were 9684 reported positive cases of COVID-19 in South Australia last week.