Double-quarantine patient tells parliament medi-hotel detainees ‘treated like lepers’

A woman has told parliament authorities have struggled to properly feed and care for confused patients in Peppers.

Alex Tweedie gave evidence to a Parliamentary committee about her experience detained in Peppers Hotel. Picture: Supplied

After three cancelled flights home from South Africa then 13 days in quarantine in Peppers medi-hotel Alex Tweedie had her bags packed ready to leave — then was told she faced another 14 days thanks to the Parafield cluster being traced to the hotel.

Disappointment was fuelled by confusion with little information, then no laundry service for days, and food problems such as not meeting her vegetarian requirements — then they were told to order their in own food.

“The lack of communication has been the biggest downfall of this whole debacle,” Ms Tweedie told a parliamentary inquiry into medi-hotels via a video link from her hotel room.

“We have lost all trust. We were treated worse than prisoners.”

Ms Tweedie said her last “meaningful face-to-face conversation” with another human was on October 31 as she left South Africa, where she said expatriates had been “left to their own devices” trying to get home.

Since the second enforced quarantine fellow travellers communicating via social media have had panic attacks and stress headaches, while her male neighbour had a violent outburst that saw police attend.

While the food is now “hot and nutritious” thanks to a new supplier, Ms Tweedie said she “felt like a leper” — and fears how she will be treated on release despite six negative tests.

“We are people in here, not individuals that can be put away in a box,” she said.

Earlier, the committee was on the receiving end of a robust defence of the medi-hotel security guards by Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, backed by SA Health chief executive Dr Chris McGowan.

Asked about protocols involving security breaches in medi-hotels Mr Stevens said he could give some perspective.

Police and medical staff preparing to test all travellers at Peppers Hotel for coronavirus. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“Before I do, it is my observation that we seem to demonise security officers who are subject to circumstances where we have an infection control breach, whereas if it is a health professional working in a hospital we seem to put them on a pedestal and treat them in a very different way and I don’t think that is particularly fair,” he said.

“The staff working in our medi-hotels from private security in the order of about 120 people a day are doing an exceptionally good job working extended shifts under trying circumstances.”

He noted strict protocols meant even minor breaches, such as touching a mask, were logged through to more serious instances such as “falling asleep during a 12 hours shift” and each dealt with accordingly.

Mr McGowan said the security guards had done “an outstanding job” and while forcing them to quarantine while working might be good for health security, it would mean there would be no-one willing to do the job.

“I’d reiterate the comments of the Commissioner, I am eternally grateful for the security guards, they do a fantastic job,” he said.