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Disturbing treatment

Posted By sierraej64

"Disturbing treatment"

About: PathWest QEII Medical Centre Collection Centre

(as the patient),

I, along with lots of other cancer patients I believe, needing blood tests prior to Chemotherapy recently, went to the above rooms in the morning and walked in only to find a family, I believe, with face masks and wondering what was going on till after a time the pathologist appeared in a gown, cap, face mask and goggles.

They advised me that I should not be there as they were testing for the Coronavirus and that I should not be there so showed the door. I did ask why the office was not locked and entry taped with no entry tape. I have had that chemo and also spent the following weekend in QE11, I believe it was because of my serious concerns that a professional company can treat people like that and causing me to panic to that point.

I am going to see the Health Department to express my deep concerns and an explanation as to how this can happen and if they should be used in such serious and even life-threatening disease knowing that it will only get worse.

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Responses

Response from Tracy Dixon, A/General Manager, QEII Network, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA 4 years ago
Tracy Dixon
A/General Manager, QEII Network,
PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA

Responsible for oversight of laboratories at QEII, KEMH and PCH as well as the collection centres, transport and processing of pathology samples

Submitted on 13/03/2020 at 11:43 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 11:44 AM

picture of Tracy Dixon

Dear sierraej64,

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We are disappointed that your experience visiting our QEII collection facilities fell short of our usual level of service.

The COVID-19 situation has been rapidly evolving in WA, and we always attempted to best meet the needs of patients having these tests performed, as well as ensuring our usual patients receive the required care.

I apologise for the communication you received from our staff, and understand why it caused you concern and anxiety. During the time of your visit, staff were in the process of transitioning the collection centre to a COVID-19 only collection site. We have since secured this location; ensuring patients not there for a COVID-19 collection do not enter and are redirected to our E Block collection facility.

PathWest has now dedicated eight of our collection sites, including J Block, to COVID-19 sample collection only. All remaining collection centres will not collect for COVID-19, allowing us to continue to provide a service for our regular patients.

We do hope this new collection services arrangement, will better serve all of our customers.

I will have our phlebotomy coordinator contact you directly to assess the best location for you to have your next blood test performed, and I wish you all of the best for your remaining treatment.

Kind regards,

Tracy

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