COVID-19: Closures of community testing centres sending 'mixed messages' to Aucklanders - doctor

Dramatically reduced access to community-based assessment centres (CBACs) is sending "mixed messages" to the public and may overwhelm general practices, says one doctor.

It was revealed on Tuesday that community testing centres for COVID-19 have been significantly scaled back in Auckland, with just six still operating - and none open on weekends. 

It was later confirmed that Health Minister Chris Hipkins was unaware of the cutbacks, pointing to ongoing inconsistencies in the system. In a statement to Newshub, Hipkins said he was not consulted on the closure of the sites and it was evident "a communication challenge" was responsible. 

Speaking to The AM Show on Wednesday, College of GPs' medical director Dr Bryan Betty said the curtailing of the centres is sending mixed messages to the public, who have been urged to remain vigilant and immediately organise a test if presenting symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

"I've got concerns that this gives mixed messaging to the public. It's really, really important we keep up COVID testing and it's important that the public has access to both general practice and community testing stations," Dr Betty said.

Adhering to public health measures is imperative to New Zealand's 'new normal' under alert level 1. Messages to maintain good hand hygiene, stay at home when sick, and get tested if presenting flu-like symptoms have been drilled into the country's collective consciousness. 

Community testing is critical to quickly identifying possible chains of transmission, such as the most recent cluster that emerged in Auckland two months ago. Seventeen community clinics were open across the region during the latest outbreak - now out of the six remaining stations, just one is operational for central Auckland, based 15 minutes out of the CBD in Western Springs.

Betty says he has concerns that the closure of CBACs will put added strain on general practices to provide the crucial service, particularly at a time when so many centres are facing additional pressure on the frontline.

Community-based testing centre.
Community-based testing centre. Photo credit: RNZ

CBACs allow GPs greater flexibility to refer patients on for testing if the clinic is overwhelmed. There needs to be operational alternatives so people can continue to get tested quickly if local healthcare providers are overloaded, Betty says.

"I would hope there is discussion going on with general practice about this happening, so there is capacity and there is ability for patients to get COVID tested as they need to," he told The AM Show.

"I think it's really important we have absolute consistency in messaging, that the Government, the ministry, the District Health Boards (DHBs) are absolutely consistent in what they're doing and how they're doing it, so that it's communicated to the frontline general practice doing this work everyday."

He says it appears the decision was made by Auckland's DHBs and agrees the closures are likely attributable to miscommunication - a slip-up seen in the past.

"I think a breakdown in communication like this is difficult, we know it has happened in the past," he said. 

"We're in level 1, a sense of complacency could creep into how we view COVID. It's really important we have single, clear messaging and no missed communication."

Testing is still available from general practitioners and all swabs are free of charge.