My child recently underwent a surgical procedure. A few days prior to their surgery date my child was unwell with fever. We consulted the surgeons room immediately and their anaesthetist advised us the following day of the hospitals requirement for COVID testing for surgery to proceed, and to do so urgently.
I called through to the COVID Line who informed us that with doctors letters, that we would be able to present at Joondalup Hospital for COVID testing, given that drive through clinics had already closed by the time I had been asked to obtain COVID clearance.
I took my request form, covering surgical letters and my young child to Joondalup Hospital COVID Clinic, only to be refused by the second nurse attending, on the fact that my child did not have symptoms of fever or cough to warrant an examination.
I proceeded to inform the nurse that I had been advised by my child's specialists to seek urgent testing, that their surgery could not be delayed and that I had letters for testing, but the nurse repeated again that my child did not currently have symptoms to warrant testing and turned us away.
I had to make a second trip out the following day to a drive through clinic and chase the Pathology results the following day and have those results urgently faxed to my child's surgeon, which were thankfully received later that morning (the day before surgery).
I'm thankful only to the promptness of the diagnostic service and their receptiveness to the urgency of results. I feel the lack of consideration to circumstances and confusion of advise between Helplines and 'Covid Testing Centres' added frustration to an already stressful time.
"Urgent request for testing"
About: Joondalup Health Campus Joondalup Health Campus Joondalup 6027
Posted by JoonCOVID (as ),
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