The daughter of a Meadow Heights resident who required a rapid antigen test (RAT) in order to have surgery is calling for tests to be made readily available for others in the same situation.
Fatima said her mother had already waited nine months for her surgery that is considered quite urgent, but had to wait several weeks to get her hands on a RAT.
“We asked the hospital for one but they weren’t able to provide one, due to the huge test shortage,” Fatima said.
“Waiting three to four hours in the car for a PCR test… it was just not valid or realistic.
“We didn’t know what would happen if we didn’t get our hands on a rapid test.”
Eventually, Fatima phoned a friend who was able to get a test and deliver it to her mother.
Fatima said while Victoria’s testing shortage was a “sticky situation”, there was a solution.
“The best way to do it is to have a designated spot in hospitals to push people through [who need tests for surgeries],” she said.
“Otherwise, hospitals need to be provided with rapid tests to give them out.”
Fatima’s mother will be travelling to a private hospital in Kuwait to receive her surgery, which will then require her to stay in the country for six to eight weeks to recover.
She is making the journey because she was unable to get the surgery in Australia for another seven weeks after contracting COVID.
“Even if she could wait the seven weeks, there’s no guarantee she’d get it then, or if it would be months of waiting again,” Fatima said.
“It’s going to be pretty hard.
“I’m not able to oversee it and make sure she’s okay and that she gets the best care.
“She’s not able to have her family around her.”
