As a nurse in a large tertiary hospital in WA, I believe patients should still continue to be RAT and PCR tested on arrival to ED and visitors RAT tested. COVID-19 is still prevalent in the community and as such when patients are admitted to a ward and have not been COVID tested, they are bringing COVID onto a ward and are causing outbreaks. As visitors are also no longer required to be RAT tested or wear masks, they also could be bringing COVID into hospitals.

We also request the reinstatement of COVID sick leave, as true front line workers, our health is put in jeopardy on a daily basis, we should not have to worry about using our own personal sick leave when we catch COVID.

These outbreaks are causing added stress to the nurses and midwives who have to take care of these patients. With the continual worry that we may catch from a patient prior to them testing positive on the ward or visitors bringing it in with them. As we no longer have access to COVID leave and now must use are own sick leave if we catch COVID, not testing is unfair, when the government has made it easier for the general public to bring COVID into the hospitals in the first place.

Testing patients on arrival to ED will eliminate several things. Firstly, a lot of people who do not need to be in the ED are less likely to present when knowing they have to have a COVID test. This was obvious during the main COVID outbreak. Secondly, COVID testing patients in ED and visitors on arrival will help stop the spread of COVID on wards throughout the hospitals. Bringing back COVID leave will also give peace of mind to many nurses and midwives, who often use their sick leave to look after children and other family members. 

Nurses and Midwives are some of the hardest workers in Australia. Why make it harder for us than it has to be? Help us keep ourselves safe but also out patients, many who could die if they catch COVID due to comorbidities and weakened immune systems.