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Care Opinion

ED experience

Posted By cetusmc54

"ED experience"

About: Perth Children's Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a parent/guardian),

My child had a systemic allergic reaction and we went to the PCH due to family history of anaphylaxis. Perth recorded 24 cases of COVID recently and yet on entry to the ED I was not asked by triage if I had or my child had tested positive to covid or are a close contact or have been to an exposure site, or am I or my child experiencing any symptoms- nothing covid related at all. I passed a sign as I rushed through the front doors with my child but I could not tell you anything about it as my main focus was to get them to safety.

I am a little taken back that it seemed to me they don't ask any covid questions. My local GP clinic asks the covid question on the phone when making an appointment. Do they expect everyone on arrival to announce such things, because sadly I believe relying on individuals to do so could potentially lead to another instance of exposure to vulnerable people in hospital.

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Responses

Response from Louise Keyes, Nursing Co-Director Medicine, Perth Children's Hospital, Child and Adolescent Health Service 2 years ago
Louise Keyes
Nursing Co-Director Medicine, Perth Children's Hospital,
Child and Adolescent Health Service

Submitted on 28/01/2022 at 12:24 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:09 PM

Dear cetusmc54,

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I do hope that your child has fully recovered from what must have been a frightening experience.

PCH has maintained visitor screening in line with health advice throughout the COVID pandemic. Current screening is undertaken by either our screening or clinical team, dependent on where our families present and how urgent the clinical situation is. The screening does include the questions that you have outlined, however our staff are also aware not to delay urgent medical treatment.

You may be aware that from the 31st January visitor screening in WA hospitals will require us to confirm visitors’ vaccination status. We are currently finalising our procedures to ensure that we are compliant with this directive. I am confident that this revised procedure will strengthen our existing processes and we are working with our teams to ensure these new procedures are well embedded.

We will be communicating our revised procedures to our consumers as soon as possible and definitely prior to 31st January. I am confident that the next time you visit PCH your experience of screening will be very different.

Wishing you all the best.

Louise Keyes
A/Nursing Co-Director Medicine
Perth Children's Hospital ‣ Child and Adolescent Health Service

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