By Ashlea Knickel
Key points:
- People are skipping appointments from fear of catching Corona Virus
- Important medical practices, such as cancer screenings, have declined
- With the increase of unemployment, more Australians are unlikely to return to their regular appointments (check-ups, dentistry, blood tests, etc.)
Since March of this year, before making a doctor’s appointment, you are required to answer a list of questions:
- Have you got a temperature?
- Have you got a cough?
- Are you showing any other symptoms of Corona Virus?
If, and only if, you answer no to these questions are you allowed to proceed with the appointment.
The public has also been warned of the dangers of being in high-bacteria zones such as hospitals and clinics and told to stay away when possible. The problem is, when is it not possible? Just how bad is bad enough to put yourself at further risk?
Then there’s the financial implications of receiving a COVID-19 test and being unable to work until results are back. Is medical attention really worth the financial loss?
These are the types of questions Billy Steer had to ask when struck with a case of tonsillitis.
“I got tonsillitis very early into lockdown,” Billy says.
“I chose not to go to the doctors as I knew the immediate response would be to quarantine and wait for a test result, which would delay work for myself, my family, and the six other people I work with.”
With so many people avoiding check-ups, clinics are preparing for a wave of non-COVID-19 diagnoses once the pandemic subsides, which potentially could, once again, strain our medical system. One particular concern is the lack of cancer screenings since lockdown began. As cancer worsens with time, doctors are concerned that people are risking their wellbeing for the fear of catching COVID-19.
On the other hand, there’s also increasing reports of people avoiding their regular appointments due to financial concerns brought on by COVID-19 implications. Since many Australians have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, it’s likely that many won’t be able to return to regular appointments, even once the COVID-19 fear subsides.
Overall, Australia has many things for a post-COVID-19 future. There’s unlikely to be a one-size-fits-all solution and it’s likely that Australians will need time to readjust their attitudes towards the healthcare system.
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