‘It’s a nightmare’: GPs inundated with requests for COVID-19 clearances
Brisbane GP Dr Nelum Dharmapriya says her busy practice is being clogged with patients requesting medical sign-off to attend work, school and day care
Doctors are calling for clearer advice from public health officials after being swamped with requests for COVID-19 clearance certificates to give to employers, schools and day care providers.
GP Dr Nelum Dharmapriya said her six-doctor practice in Brisbane, Queensland, had been “absolutely inundated” with calls.
And there was concern the requests would clog clinics, preventing people who needed care from accessing it.
“Yesterday was a nightmare. We were fully booked and trying to care for our regular patients — I was caring for one who is highly suspected of having cancer, and I had half my mind on how we were going to deal with this issue,” said Dr Dharmapriya, of Narangba Doctors.
