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Covid protocols

Posted By saturnrk63

"Covid protocols"

About: Albany Health Campus / Palliative

(as a relative),

Recently, my relatives were told they should come down to Albany Health Campus to say their goodbyes to their sibling who was not expected to live. On arrival at the campus only one of them was asked for vaccination status, I believe there were no RAT tests done, they were all wearing masks. They swapped their masks out and headed on inside to ask where to go to see the patient. When they got to the nurses station and were told they would have to use full PPE. As I understand it, they were given face shields and gowns, no gloves and were told to go to see their sibling. Once in the room they were told not to leave without there being staff present. When they left the room they were told to put their PPE in the receptacle provided for it. They were not told how to remove it, not that it mattered because they didn't have gloves on. They were holding their sibling's hands without gloves on. Both my relatives are immunocompromised.

They left the hospital and a couple days later I was told by another relative that the patient concerned was tested for covid and was positive and had been positive for quite some time, more than the usual 7 days apparently. I have been to two other hospitals recently and have had to have a RAT test before entering and was told it's WA health policy. Can you help me understand how this has happened please?

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Responses

Response from Jennifer Thompson, A/MPS Operations Manager, Regional Office, WACHS nearly 2 years ago
Jennifer Thompson
A/MPS Operations Manager, Regional Office,
WACHS

Overseas the operation of the smaller hospitals in the Great Southern

Submitted on 15/06/2022 at 4:42 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 4:59 PM

Dear saturnrk63,

Thank you for sharing your relatives’ experience of their visit to their palliative family member on the Albany Health Campus. We really appreciate the feedback we receive from our community as it helps us to identify opportunities for improvement.

Like you, I would like to understand what has occurred to your relatives as there are visitor restrictions and guidelines across all public hospitals. In WA these guidelines are intended to protect the most vulnerable members in our community, patients in hospital, and to preserve the healthcare workforce, whilst allowing people to support their loved ones during a difficult time. Whilst the COVID-19 Visitor Guideline for WA Public Hospital and Health Services applies to all public hospitals in the state we are able to be flexible and consider individual circumstances in exceptional situations.

Managing a hospital during a pandemic is complicated however it is always our intention to put the needs of our patients and their family or carers first. Please contact me, Jenny Thompson, on 0428 758 213, so that I can understand what has occurred to your relatives and to ensure that we learn lessons from their experience.

Yours sincerely

Jenny Thompson

Director

Albany Health Campus

WACHS Great Southern

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