The Australian Medical Association has expressed concern at the looming closure of four COVID-19 respiratory clinics in Adelaide warning the move will further increase pressures on hospital emergency departments and GPs.
The clinics, which are thought to treat about 1000 patients each week, are expected to close at the end of the year after the withdrawal of federal government financial support.
AMA SA President Michelle Atchison said their loss would reduce access to COVID-19 care.
"The respiratory clinics were designed to play a specific role in the pandemic health framework to give patients with respiratory symptoms a place they could receive care, staying away from both emergency departments and general practice," Dr Atchison said.
"They have played their part well. People have been advised to go to a respiratory clinic rather than place local doctors and staff at risk, and received fast and efficient testing for their symptoms."
Dr Atchison said the loss of the clinics would put more pressure on GPs and hospitals at a time when large gatherings might in lead to an increase in virus cases.
She said there also seemed to be no strategy or planning about how the 1000 patients a week would be managed.
'We don't want people arriving at GP clinics with symptoms or worse, pretending they don't have COVID symptoms and possibly infecting their doctors and staff," she said.
'This is another decision that seems to be based on the idea that Australians no longer need health care for COVID."
SA's COVID-19 case numbers have climbed in recent weeks, with 9684 new infections reported last week.
While health officials said that increase, from 9000 the previous week, indicated the latest wave might be tapering off, there was some community concern that large events, including last weekend's V8 Supercars race and this week's Test cricket match, could lead to a new surge.
This week's figures will be released on Friday.
