"Duty of care not being adhered to"

I believe this should not happen to anyone!

Recently, my spouse presented to the COVID clinic at Sydney Eye Hospital. They presented with shortness of breath and a persistent cough.

This was at approx. mid-afternoon. I believe they were told to go back to work (with symptoms) and to come back a few hours later with their keys (which they forgot due to the fact they were apneic) so possibly somewhat hypoxic.

My spouse described their symptoms, which in their words were short of breath. They said they had walked short of breath from George street to Sydney hospital and had to sit down on 3 occasions to breathe. I believe the staff member turned them away as they said to my spouse that they had to go straight home after being tested. So they subsequently left, at this stage with no help or duty of care, I believe.

At this stage, my spouse was told to come back which I believe meant they could have infected others on their way back to their workplace.

I believe this healthcare worker did not once suggest that maybe my spouse should have been seen in the emergency department, for obvious reasons.

In my opinion, the staff member's duty of care was not apparent and caused great concern.

My spouse then went to another hospital to get tested. Was admitted stat to the emergency department where they were diagnosed with congestive cardiac failure, in rapid AF. Pulmonary oedema. Was then given the appropriated life-saving care, ie drugs, cardioversion toe etc.

My spouse was more than six days in CCU. This is not to say that this nurse is to blame for their illness but obviously they failed in my opinion, as a health care professional.

I am a health care worker in theatres (RN) and am obviously deeply affected and angered by what I feel to be lack of common sense in not getting help.

Please let me know what the outcome is as I have the right to know as I believe this should not happen to anyone else. Just going by a scripted format is, I feel, sometimes not enough.

Kind regards.