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Care Opinion

Entry requirements to hospital

Posted By oscarqy67

"Entry requirements to hospital"

About: Geraldton Hospital

(as a service user),

I attended Geraldton Regional Hospital early in the morning recently to have a blood test done.

The entrance was well adorned with the QR codes required for the safe WA application and I duly scanned a code to register my presence for potential tracing purposes as is required.

I do not normally carry my phone with me but suffer this inconvenience these days purely to satisfy these coronavirus requirements without having to utilise the alternative hard copy registration option invariably available.

I do this to avoid handling the sheet and pen required for manual registration, a system which seems to me to provide a high probability of transmission of the virus from any user who might be contagious to all subsequent users of the provided registration sheet and pen.

I believe there is also an absolute breach of privacy inherent in this system as the personal and private information demanded on the sheet is readily available for perusal by all subsequent users.

To gain admission to at Geraldton Regional Hospital, after scanning the QR code, I was further directed to a manual recording system requiring recording of personal information on paper and with the pen provided for community use. I understand there was no non-contact option provided.

The purpose I understand was to solicit answers to the standard questions (do you have a cold etc) but the current (new) “have you been in Queensland” enquiry was not on the form and was asked by the administration staff member.

What I feel to be the breach of privacy inherent in the manual system is of little concern to me (although I think it may be to many attendees at a regional hospital) but the seeming absolute breach of infection control protocols left me concerned that no one had given the matter serious consideration.

Thankfully in Western Australia, we are virtually virus-free, and what I think are idiotic arrangements like these presently have no consequence.

I am however aged with existing medical conditions so am in a high-risk coronavirus risk category and consequently would like to see non-contact arrangements in place.

I was also less than impressed when I mentioned my concern to the administration staff member on leaving the building to be all but, in my opinion, fobbed off with the only option offered to seek change being through this channel.

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Responses

Response from Marie Norris, Regional Director Nursing & Midwifery, WACHS - Midwest 3 years ago
Marie Norris
Regional Director Nursing & Midwifery,
WACHS - Midwest

Submitted on 14/04/2021 at 4:05 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 4:12 PM

picture of Marie Norris

Dear oscarqy67,

Thank you for writing to us via Care Opinion with feedback about your experience. I would like to apologise for the delay in responding to you.

I can appreciate your concerns as it is very important to take every step possible to reduce transmission of Covid-19. I am thankful that we are, as you say, virtually virus-free, but it is good to see so many people in our communities following the government-mandated requirements.

It is clear to me that the issues you have raised need to be looked into, which we will do. I do ask for your patience as this may take a little time, but please be assured that once we have the current check-in arrangements, we will provide you with a follow-up response on this platform. In the meantime, if you would like to discuss this matter privately, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at marie.norris@health.wa.gov.au or by phone on 9956 2403. Alternatively, you can email our generic email address which is: CES.WACHS-Midwest@health.wa.gov.au

Thank you once again for your feedback. We recognise the value of listening and learning from our patients and their families and carers so that we can improve our processes and our services.

Yours sincerely,

Marie Norris

A/Operations Manager

Geraldton Hospital

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Response from Derek Fraser, Operations Manager Geraldton Hospital, WA Country Health Service 2 years ago
We have made a change
Derek Fraser
Operations Manager Geraldton Hospital,
WA Country Health Service

Submitted on 3/06/2021 at 11:51 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 12:07 PM

picture of Derek Fraser

Dear oscarqy67

Thank you again for sharing your feedback about the entry requirements at Geraldton Hospital and our apologies for the time it has taken to fully investigate and understand the issues you raised. It is disappointing to us that our staff did not listen to your concerns when you raised them in person and we appreciate that you have taken the time to make us aware via Care Opinion.

Please rest assured the delay in responding is because we were fully reviewing our concierge processes to ensure they are in line with COVID safe principles. Along with use of the mandatory SafeWA digital COVID contact register, Geraldton Hospital is also maintaining a supplementary paper-based concierge register and this enables us to undertake screening, particularly around any self-isolation requirements to protect the safety of our consumers and their families and staff. This register is paper-based and completion is supervised by staff to ensure it is kept secure. Once each sheet is completed the information is securely stored.

I was also concerned about the hygiene issues you raised and as a result of your feedback we have placed signage at the point of manual registration, kindly requesting people use the hand sanitiser provided before and after signing in. The team will also ensure that there is a consistent supply of sanitiser available for people to wash their hands and enable good hygiene.

Thank you once again for writing to us via Care Opinion and giving us the time and opportunity to review our entry requirements processes. Whilst my colleague Marie hasn’t heard further from you, please be assured that we would welcome the opportunity to investigate if you have further concerns. I can be contacted me on phone 9956 2369 or email derek.fraser@health.wa.gov.au. Alternatively, you can email our generic email address which is: CES.WACHS-Midwest@health.wa.gov.au.

Kind regards,

Derek Fraser

Operations Manager

Geraldton Hospital

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Update posted by oscarqy67 (a service user)

Thank you. It's nice to be carefully listened to when making suggestions.

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