"COVID screening"

I took my young child to emergency at Fiona Stanley Hospital as they had some respiratory distress symptoms secondary to croup. As they had respiratory symptoms we had to have a RAT done prior to entry. I totally agree this was needed and had no issue with them doing it, however as we were going into ED, I told the staff that I also had respiratory symptoms and asked them to do a RAT on me (I assumed they would just do one as I was with my child and reported symptoms). It seemed they were really confused why they should do one, and this concerned me…. I recall just 2 weeks earlier while the same level of restrictions were in place both my child and I (asymptomatic at the time) needed negative RATs just to enter a different hospital for an outpatients appointment. Surely the person accompanying the patient going into ED should be tested if they are also symptomatic, particularly given that there could be immunocompromised children present in ED?

There appears to be inconsistencies in the system. In the end they agreed to test me, however asked me if it was because I wanted to see a doctor too- if I was going to see a doctor I would have presented at the GP, rather than ED which is reserved for urgent care- which is what I wanted for my child.

Overall, I found the screening process was stressful and level of care average. Once we were through to emergency the care improved, with special note of the thoroughness, attentiveness and patience of the waiting room nurse who seemingly made every child and parent very comfortable.