After 11 years, the weekly doctor service at Perth Steamworks sauna will be relocating to the M Clinic to improve access to services.
For the past 11 years there has been a 2 hour nurse clinic from 3pm-5pm and a 2 hour doctor clinic from 7pm-9pm on Mondays. A nurse will continue the testing service at Steamworks on Mondays from 3.30pm to 6.30pm while the two-hour doctor clinic will move to the M Clinic on Wednesday evenings.
M Clinic Coordinator Michael Atkinson said he wanted to improve the service for customers at the sauna.
‘The purpose of the sauna clinic is to provide services to people who might not otherwise get tested,’ Atkinson said.
‘We consulted with sauna customers and found they are more likely to use the earlier clinic while the evening clinic is mostly being used by non sauna customers.’
‘We already provide two doctor clinics in business hours at the M Clinic and are very excited to increase access to STI testing and treatment services by adding an evening doctor clinic.’
Perth Steamworks owner Michael Chester said he was happy that the service was still running at the sauna.
‘It’s not really affecting the people who use the sauna as long as people who wish to use it are aware of the new operating hours of the clinic,’ Chester said.
Atkinson said the new times will begin as of October 3 and people would need an appointment to see the doctor at the M Clinic.
‘We are getting the word out to people early so that they can prepare for the change, and so they tell their friends as well.’
The M Clinic will also be closed from September 27 to October 4.
Benn Dorrington
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