"Waiting in the cold"

I took my spouse, aged in their late 70s, to the emergency department the other night. I was very surprised to be waiting in the cold outside to be assessed by the nurse. I realize all hospitals have covid and that has to have areas cordoned off, but surely there is a better way to see patients initially than by keeping them in the cold. In our instance, my spouse had a raging temperature. My spouse was admitted later on and certainly can not fault the care they were given once in from the cold.

I was also talking to one of the security officers who very kindly waited with me until my taxi arrived once my spouse was admitted. I asked when they got to go in out of the cold. I was very surprised to find that they all spend all night out there in the cold. Surely there is a better way to treat valued staff members. I believe once again, apparently covid has caused them to vacate their office.