"Breaches of Covid-19 restrictions"

I attended the Emergency Department at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital as my partner had been taken there by ambulance. On arrival at the entrance to ED, I donned a personal face mask. I felt I was correctly assessed prior to being allowed to enter the waiting area.

While waiting to be allowed to see my partner in the ED, a doctor approached a patient in the waiting area and this is when I observed what I believe to be the first breach of correct PPE procedure - the Doctor's mask was hanging loose at the bottom, not secured.

When I was permitted to enter the ED area, apparent breach number 2: I was not asked to replace my personal mask with a clinical-grade mask - as I understand it, the WA Health guidelines clearly state that all staff, patients and visitors in clinical areas must wear a clinical-grade mask.

While in the ED I observed what I think was breach number 3: a person who I presume to be a consultant, sat with a doctor in the doctor's station (where they all sit at computers), discussing a patient. At no time did they wear a mask, or even, in my opinion, pretend to be complying with the requirements by having it hanging around their neck. My partner was moved to the lower ground observation area, so we followed the maskless person through the ED on their way out. In my opinion, it was no surprise that they didn't bother with any hand hygiene practices either.

Considering the efforts that I believe the general public and the majority of clinical staff, patient support staff and everyone else are making to try and keep ourselves and each other safe from Covid, I am disgusted that, what I feel to be, breaches of the current required protocols are occurring at this major tertiary hospital by some of the front line clinical staff; and needless to say, have serious concerns for my own and everyone else's safety when attending Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.