Respiratory patients in the waiting room

The problem

A shared waiting room puts people with respiratory infections next to babies, older people and people with weak immune systems. Influenza, COVID-19, RSV, whooping cough and measles can all spread in waiting rooms. Practices plan for this as a system, starting before the patient arrives. The details differ between clinics, so follow your practice's procedure.

Before they arrive

• Ask about fever, cough, sore throat, rash or recent illness when the patient books.
• Offer a telehealth consult where suitable, or a time at the end of a session.
• Ask the patient to call from the car park on arrival so they can be brought straight to a room.
• Use signs at the entrance asking people with respiratory symptoms to tell reception and put on a mask.

On arrival

• Give the patient a surgical mask and hand rub, and show them how to use them.
• Move them to a separate room, an outdoor or set-aside area, or at least as far from other patients as possible.
• Tell the clinician so they can plan PPE before they go in.
• Keep tissues, hand rub and bins with lids in the waiting room.

Suspected measles or other airborne infections

Measles is highly contagious, and a patient with suspected measles shouldn't wait in a shared space at all. Follow your practice's airborne precautions: a single room with the door closed, staff in fit-checked P2/N95 respirators, and the room left empty afterwards for as long as your procedure says. The doctor will contact the public health unit if needed.

Air and ventilation

Good ventilation lowers the amount of virus in the air. Practices may open windows, adjust air-conditioning settings or use portable air cleaners. These decisions belong to the practice, not individual staff.

After they leave

• Wipe the chair, armrests, door handles and anything else the patient touched.
• Clean the consult room surfaces and equipment as your procedure requires.
• Remove PPE in the right order and clean your hands.

Staff

Stay home when you have respiratory symptoms, and keep your vaccinations up to date as your employer recommends or requires.