Can I come to clinic during circuit breaker?
We remain open to help you manage your ENT condition from 7 April through 4 May 2020, during the elevated safe distancing measures period. If you have an appointment, please expect a call from us beforehand to assess if your appointment meets the essential criteria. Here are some FAQ’s that may help you. Your safety and health are our priority.
What symptoms should I come to the clinic for?
You should come to the clinic for treatment if you have an ENT condition that has relapsed or is not well controlled, or any of the following:
- Sudden loss of hearing (do not delay)
- Ear pain, swelling or discharge
- Sudden ringing in the ear
- Dizziness
- Foreign body stuck in the nose (usually in children)
- Fish bone or other foreign body in the throat
- Throat pain causing difficulty swallowing
- Neck swelling
- Inability to breathe through the nose
- Bad smelling discharge from the nose
- Nose bleeds
- Phlegm with blood
- Hoarseness with difficulty eating and / or breathing
If you are unsure, or your symptoms are not in this list, please call us in advance to check.
My condition is stable, but I need more medication. What do I do?
Please call the clinic. We can arrange to deliver your medication to your doorstep, usually by the next day.
Can I have a consultation without coming to the clinic?
Under certain circumstances, we can arrange telephone or video consultations. However, most examinations will need to be done in the clinic. Do call the clinic in advance to check.
Is it safe for me to come to the clinic?
Yes, it is safe.
Every patient entering the Gleneagles Medical Centre is screened according to Ministry of Health guidelines for symptoms, travel history, contact history with potential COVID-19 cases, and temperature.
Our clinic appointment timings are scheduled to minimise contact between patients. In the event there are other patients waiting in the clinic, we have three separated seating areas. However, please also remember the following:
- Plan your trip to the clinic carefully to minimize unnecessary time in public areas.
- Wear a mask.
- Wash your hands carefully before entering the clinic (there is a washroom at the start of the corridor, and we also have hand sanitizer in the clinic for you to use).
- Wherever possible, there should be only one additional person accompanying the patient
Are there any other safety measures in place?
When you schedule your appointment, my nurses will ask a few routine questions related to your symptoms. I may also contact you over the phone to ask you for more details about your condition prior to your appointment. Please bear with us and help us by giving accurate information.
If your usual familiar nurse is not here, it’s because we are on split teams!
During the consultation, I will need to wear a surgical or N95 mask. For certain procedures such as an endoscope examination of your nose or throat, I will typically put on what is known as full PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) comprising a gown, gloves, and face visor in addition to the mask. I ask for your patience so that we can complete the procedure safely and carefully.
Dr Lau in personal protective equipment (PPE), and on a normal day.
My assurance to you
As always, you have my assurance that my staff and I will give you our best to help manage your condition. Your health and safety is our priority. If you have any other questions, please feel free to call us.
Yours sincerely,
Dr David Lau
5 April 2020