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"Family and domestic violence court orders demanded to be disclosed at emergency triage"

About: Rockingham General Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a parent/guardian),

I presented to Rockingham ED earlier this month with my child, who required medical help.

The triage receptionist demanded I read out my family court access orders in the reception as the clerk was insisting they contact the other parent.

The clerk would not take my word that we were victims of domestic violence and was insisting to call the other parent who was on the medical record. This record was last updated in 2011 - we have lived in another state for 14 years, where we were victims of family violence, escaping back to WA where the kids parent has no knowledge of our whereabouts.

Due to a football injury sustained and us presenting to ED, the medical clerk/receptionist was adamant to phone my child's other parent. My child was hysterical not to contact the other parent, and I had to stand in the ED and read out word for word our court orders, which details the parent has no contact with us and they are not to know our whereabouts. This highlights a very dangerous lack of compliance and breaches within domestic violence health policies where protection against victims is absolutely vital.

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Responses

Response from Clive Mulroy, A/Executive Director , Rockingham Peel Group, South Metropolitan Health Service 2 weeks ago
Clive Mulroy
A/Executive Director , Rockingham Peel Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service
Submitted on 20/05/2025 at 1:59 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 2:57 PM


picture of Clive Mulroy

Dear skyqs37,

I am very sorry to hear of your experience at Rockingham General Hospital (RGH) Emergency department (ED). The combination of your child’s injury and the interactions with the triage staff must have been extremely distressing for both you and your son, and for this I am very sorry.

The Emergency Department (ED) aims to see and treat all patients as soon as possible, and for this to occur there are procedures and policies in place that clerks are required to follow. When a presenting parent/carer is requested to provide addition supporting documentation, it is to reflect an up to date next of kin for the child/patient.

In addition to this, there are more private rooms available to our clerks and nurses’ in RGH ED for sensitive discussions to take place and I’m very sorry that this wasn’t offered to you. As care opinion is anonymous in nature, I am unable to comment further as to why an alternate area was not provided for this discussion, and why the triage team insisted on this information from you. If you would like any further information or if we can assist you further, please contact our consumer liaison team on 9599 4323 to provide your son’s details so that a thorough investigation can occur.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, and I hope that your son is recovering well. I hope that you will consider contacting the consumer liaison team so that we may use your feedback to help improve our future practice.

Kind Regards

Clive Mulroy

Acting Executive Director

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