With the onset of spring and smoky summer skies, Gold Coast Emergency Department Acting Director Dr Hayley Frieslich is reminding people to manage their chronic respiratory issues and avoid a trip to the ED.
“It’s really important that our patients maintain close relationship with their General Practitioners,” Dr Frieslich said.
“As we move into summer, we may see some more bushfires and the smoke we know really tends to stir up our asthmatic patients.
“It’s really important that you have a really good asthma action plan that has been recently reviewed by your general practitioner to make sure that you are on all of the correct preventative medications so you don’t have to come and visit with us in the Emergency Department.
“In saying that, if you are concerned, this is the place for you to be. We are a tertiary level emergency department and we are here to look after you.”
Dr Frieslich said some patients with chronic conditions may not have kept up their usual standard of care because of concerns about visiting GP waiting rooms but it was important they continued to be proactive in managing their health.
“It’s really important to continue to look after the chronic things as well as the acute things that pop up,” she said.
“We do have unprecedented numbers in the ED so we really encourage our patients to use their GPs where appropriate, but if at any time they are concerned we are ready to take care of the community.
“And of course, if you have any COVID-19 symptoms it’s really important that you go and get tested and we get every case out there.”