Testing Point to return
New HIV testing service Testing Point will take a short break over the festive period.
The service is a free community-based sexual health clinic offering after-hours testing for HIV and syphilis and is offering a trial of new rapid HIV testing, which was recently given the green light by the federal and state government.
In 2013, Healthy Communities hopes that the clinic will become accredited to provide full rapid testing services for patients which can deliver results to patients in less than an hour.
Testing Point consists of a team of two volunteer GPs and over five qualified nurses to perform tests and take blood samples.
“I was delighted to see a room-full of dedicated volunteer health professionals (nurses, doctors, psychologist, and admin staff) turn up to see the service take its first clients. These volunteers all donate their time because they believe this is a good initiative for the community. To see this happening, despite the stripping of all state government funding, is amazing,” volunteer and LGBTI advocate Phil Browne said.
Testing Point will reopen on January 22.
