"Visit to ED"

Recently, I visited the ED of St George Hospital with feelings of tightness in the chest and lower abdominal pain. All staff I encountered were friendly and helpful. I was quite surprised at the number of people in the ED with no face mask protection.

In the several hours I was in the ED I did not notice a cleaner come through once. Things such as used sick bags, blankets and ECG sticker pads were left in the waiting area within the ED (behind the doors) for the entire time I was there. In my opinion it just seemed quite dirty.

In the main waiting area a patient I believe, even asked if they needed to keep 1.5 m social distancing when they were asked to sit on a particular waiting chair next to, another patient with no mask, I believe they were advised that they didn’t. This surprised and concerned me.

I was surprised that patients were seemingly given their medical updates and diagnosis in the waiting area, in front of or next to other waiting patients. These conversations are had with signs all around reminding people about how important patient privacy is to the hospital.

I was surprised a nurse used a piece of rubber to tie my arm for a blood pressure test. I was told it was covid safe. This surprised me as I had had two separate blood pressure tests on my naked arm with a used and I believe, not sanitised arm pressure wrap.

An elderly person came into emergency and was greeted by the very first nurse at the front door. They seemed unstable on their feet, upset and a little lost. They mentioned they were there to see their spouse. They were asked if they could check in with their phone, which I thought was a strange question for such an older person.

They were also asked how well they knew about their spouse. The person, I believe, appeared to be very puzzled and confused by the question and responded with, fairly well we have been married for several years. The staff then said, no I mean about their condition. I believe, the person said they were aware. The person was then told they would be taken to see their spouse. They seemed to struggle to walk. They said they would normally have their walker but rushed in with a driver. I couldn’t understand why this person wasn’t, in my opinion, offered a wheelchair.