SHADOW health minister Vicki Dunne is calling for the ACT government to immediately implement drive-through testing facilities and home testing to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. 

Recognising the limits of the ACT’s health system, Ms Dunne says the ACT government needs to adopt urgent measures to reduce pressure on Canberra’s emergency departments, which are at-capacity at the best of times, and to prevent the long wait times in walk-in centres from increasing.

“Importantly, we need to avoid a situation where potential cases are held in waiting rooms with other patients for hours before they are attended,” she says.

“A drive-through testing station would allow dedicated health professionals to test potential cases in the quarantine of their private vehicle.

“The ACT government should also implement a home visit program for potential cases that do not own a car, or otherwise face transport difficulties.

“This would ensure potential cases in self-isolation still have access to health care.”

Ms Dunne says these measures become especially important as the flu season approaches.

“If we experience an early start to the flu season, complicated by COVID-19, the ACT’s health system will fail,” she says.

“The Canberra Liberals recognise that staffing these programs will be a challenge. That’s why we are encouraging the ACT government to actively recruit retired GPs and nurses to come back into the fold. There are also commercial medical agencies that routinely put medical teams together at short notice.

“The Canberra Liberals have consulted with industry experts who are supportive of our approach. Now is not the time for bureaucratic processes. Now is the time for action.”