"Drinking Water Access in Emergency Department"

I recently visited the Geraldton Regional Hospital Emergency Department while receiving treatment for a bone fracture. During my care, I was given pain relief medication and offered water to assist in taking it. To my concern, the water was sourced directly from the handwashing basin within the clinical treatment area.

This is the same basin I had just observed being used by another patient to wash blood off their hands, and which I saw staff regularly use to wash up after treating patients. When I asked why water was coming from that tap, I was told there was no other means of obtaining water for patients in the emergency department.

I want to be clear that I do not fault the nurse who assisted me. They were working within the limits of what’s available. However, I believe this experience highlights a significant and ongoing hygiene issue — one that places both patients and staff at risk of cross-contamination.

What concerns me further is that I noticed a drinking fountain in the area that is clearly out of order, and based on the dated form attached to it, it appears to have been broken for quite some time. If this was intended to be the designated source for patient drinking water, its prolonged disrepair raises serious questions about resource maintenance and patient care priorities.

Even if the fountain were operational, I believe that its current placement adjacent to the handwashing basin does not eliminate the risk of contamination. In a clinical setting where hygiene is critical, I think the solution should involve a properly maintained, clearly separate and hygienic source of drinking water for patients.

I urge hospital administration to:

Immediately restore or replace the drinking fountain and ensure it is regularly maintained.

Provide sealed drinking water (e.g. bottles or cups) for patient use as an interim measure.

Review the placement of hygiene infrastructure to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Ensure that clinical handwashing basins are not used for any activity involving patient consumption.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this issue. I hope prompt action is taken to address these concerns and improve the standard of care provided in the emergency department.