Does RFK jnr have an ally in Sydney’s RPA Hospital?
Sydney's RPA Hospital has a COVID outbreak impacting patients and staff. They'd rather not talk about it.
Last night at around 3am in my shared four-bed room at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital, a fellow-patient opposite me was wheeled away with COVID. I hope he’s OK.
He’s been here a long time with another serious condition. He must have contracted COVID from hospital staff, another patient, or a visitor.
In three weeks as a patient here, I’ve watched this COVID scene play out 8 - 10 times.
Some of the nurses on my ward last night were working 18 hour shifts because nurse ranks have been smashed in recent weeks by COVID and flu too.
It’s Saturday today - a big day for family visits. My small room has had people of all ages filing through to visit sick family and friends. Often there are 9 - 10 maskless visitors in close proximity to patients and hospital staff. I've no idea of the total number of visitors that passed through the room across the day and can only wonder how much COVID accompanied them?
Nor do I know how things are going in other parts of this or other major Sydney hospitals.
No matter, neither visitors nor patients are made aware of the COVID issue till they see infected patients wheeled away, hear of reduced nursing teams on account of the virus, or get tested or infected themselves.
There are no efforts to contain visitor numbers or adjust visitor behaviour on account of risks.
There seems to be a reluctance to talk about COVID here at RPA. There are no indications as visitors arrive that COVID is presently impacting hospital operations or that patients and their visitors should exercise care.
I know of the issue in my ward because staff have told me, I've seen it first hand and I'm being tested regularly.
I’m wearing a mask for the first time since I last had COVID in 2023.
I’m lucky that I still have the mobility to go outside the hospital to see my visitors. Unlike most patients I am not yet confined to bed. I'm choosing to stay away from my bed as much as possible this weekend to avoid the crowds. I reckon I'm safer outside on this beautiful but chilly winter Saturday.
Most patients don't have this option
The hospital silence on its COVID problem does not seem like prudent health policy. I would imagine patients and visitors would appreciate some advice. Many would modify behaviour to mitigate risks for everyone.
But in NSW Health and across the country and the world, everyone from governments to health administrators would prefer to forget that COVID happened and that it continues to menace. The conspiracy theorists and anti-science lunatics have won the argument. RFK Jnr and Joe Rogan factions control the post-COVID analysis. Are they influencing Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney? UFC fan, Premier Chris Minns? I’ve no idea.
From my bed, I can't quantify the scale of the COVID outbreak at RPA nor the real risks it poses to hospital care. It has certainly impacted me, my fellow- patients and staff.
The hospital's apparent silence seems imprudent - especially for a hospital.
SPECIAL NOTE
I have been a patient at Sydney’s RPA Hospital for 3 weeks with a serious condition. I have had many long hospital stays in Sydney over 3 decades with complex, often life-threatening illness. I am always astonished by the dedication, professionalism and compassion of nurses, doctors and other hospital staff. That has not shifted. These are heroic people doing vital work in an economic system suspicious of empathy, integrity and human kindness. There’s little sign that the longstanding neglect of nurses’ pay and conditions after more than a decade of coalition rule, still being haggled by the Minns government, is impacting the dedication of nurses. Though it must be impacting the available pool of talent wanting to join the profession.