"Not listening about complex post-operative bleeding"

I had some post op bleeding. I contacted my surgeon who told me go to Fiona Stanley. Tell them the surgery I had had and tell them I probably need a contrast CT and they could contact her.

Sounds easy yeah? Apparently not.

I felt the triage nurse was rude and dismissive.

The language barrier made it additionally challenging.

I'm explaining why I'm there, the surgery i had and giving the relevant information and why me having heavy vaginal bleeding is not good.

The nurse kept focussing on my incision wound, but that wasn't the issue. The very heavy vaginal bleeding and the possibility of my vaginal cuff having dehiscence or burst was the concern and my surgeon wanted me to have a CT. No matter how many times I repeated that my wound was not the issue, the triage nurse focussed on my incision being the problem, I kept repeating it wasn't. Also a very accusation tone that I was in pain because I hadn't taken my pain medication - I had and told them I had. 

It became very frustrating and apparent that the nurse wasn't clued up on any of this and simply thought my incision wound has dehiscence - not an ED issue. 

I was triaged, and told I would be waiting at least 3 hours. I was in agony, bleeding heavily and given no sort of support, just rudeness. I don't expect to jump a queue, but i didn't expect such a long wait for something that needed immediate medical attention. 

I left and went to another hospital where I was triaged, had bloods and in a CT scanner within an hour. I understand that hospital's ED isn't as busy, but I was triaged appropriately and the staff actually communicated with my surgeons to get an overview of how complex my surgery was in the first place.

I believe staff in the public system are overworked, the system is pushed to its max by people who should have sought other care options. 

I very rarely attend ED willingly. And only if I've exhausted every other option. This time I had contacted my surgeon first and this was her advice.

There is no excuse to speak to people rudely, dismiss their concerns and in general treat people with such disdain.

I won't return to FSH if I can help it.