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Care Opinion

Covid PCR Testing

Posted By festivityxs64

"Covid PCR Testing"

About: Armadale Hospital / COVID Testing Clinic (Outpatients)

(as the patient),

I am a teacher with my whole class currently out with Covid/symptoms. I have been testing regularly as I am also pregnant with a young family so being careful.

I had a faint positive so went to the walk-in clinic at my local hospital to have myself and my young children (under 5 years old3.5 & 2) tested as they were showing symptoms. I was told by the nurse that I do not need a PCR - that I’ve tested positive so I should go home and isolate. I mentioned I’m a teacher, pregnant and wanted confirmation for my school so they could organise relief and they said no, that it would be a waste of resources. I found them to be quite abrupt and rude.

I registered my details as the guardian of my children and proceeded through the line to get tested. When we got to the second nurse/checkpoint who was checking details, they asked if we were all being tested and I said yes. We all went in and had our tests and 12 hours later I was negative so I had obtained a false positive via the RAT I did 2 hours prior to the PCR.

Whilst I was waiting; that same nurse seemed to be turning away every person who said they’d tested positive via a RAT. What if those were also false positive? How reliable are they? What about those testing negative via a RAT and not seeking a PCR so therefore transmission in the community is occurring?

I am dumbfounded at, in my opinion, how rude this nurse was and how silly their comment was … the resources are there for us to access for confirmation. In my opinion, the reason this nurse has a job is because people are accessing those resources. I am frustrated as if I did go home to isolate, it is a waste of my sick leave when I may actually need it for when I am Covid positive!

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Responses

Response from Sandra Miller, Executive Director Safety Quality & Consumer Engagement, East Metropolitan Health Service nearly 2 years ago
Sandra Miller
Executive Director Safety Quality & Consumer Engagement,
East Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 25/05/2022 at 3:31 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 26/05/2022 at 11:44 AM

picture of Sandra Miller

Dear festivityxs64,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience whilst visiting our COVID-19 testing clinic at Armadale Health Service (AHS). Feedback such as yours enable Armadale Kalamunda Group (AKG) to reflect on its service which is so important, but even more so when it relates to the rapidly changing guidelines in response to COVID-19.

I am saddened to hear that you were not treated with the kindness and respect we expect our staff to demonstrate when communicating with our consumers. Current guidelines do specify that no further testing is required if you register a positive RAT test, however any consumer wishing to also have a PCR is welcome to have a test completed.

Upon receiving you story, the Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) for the COVID-19 Clinic completed a thorough investigation. She has advised that your situation was brought to her attention shortly after your presentation to the clinic. The identified staff member has been counselled on current guidelines and our clinic protocols to ensure this information is communicated to our consumers appropriately. Please also be reassured that the entire team have had our ‘no patient is turned away’ policy reinforced in team meetings as well. The NUM has also offered her sincere apologies about the way this information was communicated to you, as this does not align with the organisational values of kindness and respect.

The NUM for the COVID-19 Clinic has invited you to contact her so that she may discuss your feedback further. If you wish to do so, please contact us via our Consumer Liaison Office on (08) 9391 1153 or AKG_ConsumerLiaison@health.wa.gov.au to arrange an appropriate time.

I am very sorry to hear of your negative experience and can assure you that our team are committed to working with our consumers to reach the best patient experience possible. Thank you again for taking the time to provide us with your valuable feedback.

Kind regards,

Sandra Miller

A/Executive Director

Armadale Kalamunda Group

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