Coronavirus (COVID-19) Precautions

News

At Westmead Fertility Centre we take the health and well being of our patients and staff very seriously. We have been keeping a very close eye on how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is developing. As a community, it is very important we all work together to prevent the spread of this virus.  We have implemented a number of precautions and we appreciate your cooperation and patience at this time.

Patients wanting to start treatment:

The most recent evidence suggests that risks associated with COVID-19 for those trying to conceive are similar to those associated with influenza (the flu).   If you are feeling unwell with flu like symptoms (such as fever, a cough, a sore throat, fatigue) OR if you have been around someone diagnosed with (or suspected to have) COVID-19 OR if you have returned from overseas in the last 14 days, we ask that you do not commence treatment at this time.  We also ask that you do not enter our facility.  Instead, please contact our team through the Patient Portal or over the phone to discuss.  

If these factors mentioned above do not apply to you, you may commence treatment as normal by logging day 1 of your cycle on the Patient Portal.

Please remember, we will be ready for you to commence treatment when the time is right. Working with the NSW Government our low-cost pricing will continue to be available until 2023.

Patients currently undergoing treatment:

As mentioned, the most recent evidence suggests that risks associated with COVID-19 for those trying to conceive are similar to those associated with influenza (the flu). As long as you are feeling well (no flu-like or other symptoms) and you have not been around someone diagnosed with (or suspected to have) COVID-19 and you have not returned from overseas in the last 14 days, then you can continue treatment if you are comfortable to do so.  Please note, the information on the risk with overseas travel is changing rapidly – please alert our team if you have travelled overseas to any country in the last 14 days.

If you have any concerns, please contact our team through the Patient Portal or over the phone to discuss.

Fertility Information Events:

We regularly hold very popular free Fertility Information Events. As we generally attract very large groups and our team actively engage face to face with attendees, we have decided as a precautionary measure to postpone our live Fertility Information Events for the time being. Instead, we will be holding webinars / e-Health conferencing events.

Anyone who has expressed an interest in attending our upcoming events will be contacted over the coming days and provided with a secure link to an event or the opportunity to receive information in an alternate way.

Precautions for everyone in our community: The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is the same way you would protect yourself from catching influenza (the flu) or other respiratory illness:

  • clean your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol.
  • cover your sneeze or cough with your elbow or with tissue.
  • avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • stay home if you are unwell.

At this time, please encourage your friends, family and colleagues to follow these simple steps. Remember, if you have any flu-like symptoms and have returned from overseas travel in the last 14 days, or have been around someone diagnosed with, or suspected to have COVID-19, seeking a medical opinion early is the best course of action for you and the community. 

Please be sure to refer to reliable sources of information at this time – we recommend NSW Health and The Department of Health. Please see https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/coronavirus-faqs.aspx and https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-resources?language=und for useful information.

Please email our team at [email protected] if you have any other questions or would like to make a comment.