The Collingwood Assessment Centre is seeing an increase in demand for Covid-19 tests.
It has extended its testing hours during the week and on weekends to handle the demand from symptomatic children needing a negative result to be able to return to school and daycare.
But the centre says it is also seeing a number of patients not showing up for their booked appointments.
That is causing a backlog and longer wait times for others.
The Assessment Centre, on Erie Street behind the hospital, asks you to call and cancel your appointment if you no longer need it.
“Requests for testing are growing rapidly, but at this time we must follow the eligibility criteria from the Ministry of Health, which does mean we are unable to test everyone” says Marie LaRose, Executive Director, Georgian Bay Family Health Team. “Additionally, we have noticed a significant increase in ‘no show’ appointments over the past week. We ask anyone who no longer needs their appointment, to call us. If you booked through the online waitlist, you can use the waitlist again to cancel. Simply reply to the text message that you receive; ‘please cancel my appointment’, and we will do the rest”. Doing so, allows others who are patiently waiting for an appointment, to move up in the line.
To book an appointment at the Collingwood Assessment Centre:
Call 705-444-5885 to speak to a team member during business hours, Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm.
Click “Get on Waitlist” at www.gbfht.ca/cac, Monday to Friday between 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Once patients have joined the waitlist, they will be queued to receive a phone call during normal business hours..
Patients arriving for an appointment are asked to check in with the parking lot person on arrival at the Assessment Centre in the Family Health Team parking lot, at 186 Erie St. At the time of their appointment, patients will drive through the tent, and assessment and testing will be undertaken while patients remain in their cars.