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Overnight stays

Posted By Busy mum

"Overnight stays"

About: Broome Health Campus / Theatre

(as a parent/guardian),

I am writing this to express my concern regarding the hospital's policy on overnight stays for children. My child is scheduled for surgery at Broome Hospital and will require an overnight stay.

As a single parent, I also have another child who is still breastfeeding and has never spent a night away from me. Unfortunately, I have been informed that the hospital does not allow younger child to stay overnight with me and my child during this time.

I understand that hospitals must have policies in place, but I am struggling to comprehend why the current policy excludes single parents who are breastfeeding. I am aware of other single parents in Broome that have been accommodated with their children whilst inpatients at Broome Hospital.

I do not have family in Broome, and they are unable to travel from interstate to assist me.

I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter further, and I am hopeful we can come to an arrangement that supports my family’s unique situation.

Thank you for your understanding, and I look forward to your response.

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Responses

Response from James Sherriff, Operations Manager, Broome Hospital, WACHS Kimberley yesterday
James Sherriff
Operations Manager, Broome Hospital,
WACHS Kimberley

Submitted on 30/04/2025 at 5:29 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia on 1/05/2025 at 1:35 PM

Dear Busy Mum,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concerns regarding your stay at Broome Health Campus.

We appreciate you taking the time to raise this issue, and we understand the stress that can come with coordinating care for more than one child—particularly in the context of a hospital admission along with parents’ unique circumstances.

We sincerely regret any distress caused by the advice you were given at the time.

While we have policies in place, we also try to be flexible and supportive of families with special circumstances, we’re sorry to hear that you feel unsupported, and we’d like to talk with you to better understand your needs and see if there’s a possible solution.

Please do get in touch with myself - James Sherriff, Broome Hospital Operations Manager via: Broome.ExecutiveAssistant@health.wa.gov.au and we’ll do our best to work with you on this.

Thank you again for reaching out.

Warm regards,

James

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