Respiratory clinic open for appointments

NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH GEORGIAN BAY ONTARIO HEALTH TEAM
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With increasing respiratory illness in our region, the South Georgian Bay Ontario  Health Team (SGB OHT) opened the South Georgian Bay COVID-19, Cold, Flu and Respiratory Care Clinic today. The clinic provides assessment and care, by appointment, for people experiencing COVID-19, cold, flu or other respiratory symptoms and helps offset pressures facing the hospital emergency department.

The clinic is an initiative that supports the shared purpose of the  SGB OHT to keep residents in the South Georgian Bay community safe and was made possible thanks to the longstanding and trusting relationships of health care and social service partners across the community. 

“The COVID-19, Cold, Flu and Respiratory Care Clinic offers quick and safe access to care,” says Dr. Harry  O’Halloran, Lead Physician Georgian Bay Family Health Organization, Co-Chair South Georgian Bay  Ontario Health Team. “Right now, we are experiencing a lot of respiratory illness in our community, and  we want to ensure that anyone experiencing COVID-19, cold or flu symptoms who feel they need to see  a doctor or nurse practitioner will be able to do that quickly and easily. We’ll continue to work  collaboratively with local family docs, nurse practitioners and our emergency room colleagues to  respond to our community’s health needs.” 

As part of this collaborative effort to keep the community safe during COVID-19 and to help reduce the burden on our local emergency room, OHT Partners including emergency room and primary care physicians and nurse practitioners are supporting the clinic’s operations. 

Appointments to the clinic are available beginning on Dec. 2, 2022 and can be booked on the  South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team website by contacting your family physician, or dialing 2-1-1 (24/7 bilingual helpline) for assistance with booking an online appointment. Bookings for the COVID-19, Cold, Flu and  Respiratory Care Clinic are available up to seven days in advance. They will be at the Erie St. Collingwood after-hours clinic building. 

The clinic is for those experiencing COVID-19, cold, flu, or other respiratory symptoms who feel they need to see a physician or nurse practitioner. People with severe difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, and losing consciousness should go to the emergency room or call 911. 

COVID-19 testing, and vaccine information can also be found on the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health  Team website here: www.southgeorgianbayoht.ca.