The Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN) boss is telling men the "she'll be right mate" approach to their health won't cut it during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Chief executive officer Andrew Harvey has put the spotlight on new data from the WNSW PHN region's GP-led COVID-19 respiratory clinics, which shows of all the people tested, 58 per cent were female and 42 per cent male.
The respiratory clinics currently established in the WNSW PHN region are at Dubbo, Bathurst, Broken Hill, Cobar, Cowra, Mudgee and Orange.
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Mr Harvey said the regional community had responded positively to the respiratory clinics but it was a " crucial time for the region's men to focus on their health" and help keep others safe.
"I think, traditionally, Australian men have had a "she'll be right mate" approach to their health, which definitely needs to change, and there's no better time to change it than right now," he said.
"With more than 1000 people being tested across the Commonwealth-funded respiratory clinic sites in the last month, that's obviously a brilliant response from the public, but the girls are definitely being more careful about their health than the boys.
"No matter what respiratory complaint anyone across our region has right now, any flu-like symptoms, difficulty breathing, asthma concerns, anything like that, not only will people be tested for COVID-19 at our respiratory clinics but they'll also receive expert health advice on their condition's management and treatment."
Information on how to make an appointment at a respiratory clinic in the WNSW PHN region can be found at wnswphn.org.au/coronavirus/public-information.