My spouse was admitted to Bunbury Regional Hospital (BRH) last month to have their pain medications rotated. At the time of admission, they reported a new pain located in their neck.
Five days later, they were due for CT scans of brain, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis and upper legs. The CT had to suffice as the PET scan requested was too long for my spouse to lie on their back without heavier pain relief than can be provided.
The doctor who admitted them to the ward decided that - to cut down a 15-20 minute scan to half the time - that the brain and neck scans weren't necessary. This was told to me at a meeting on a few days after my spouse was admitted. I queried the logic, since neck pain was a new symptom in someone with metastatic cancer.
I spoke with hospital staff over the weekend prior to the scans and the full gamut was conducted 5 days after admission; they found that the top vertebra of my spouse's neck was fractured. I believe that in the course of a day, when they had an MRI booked, my spouse could have decapitated themselves, i.e. severed their spinal cord cutting of electrical impulses to their heart and lungs and died on the spot.
They also decided that my spouse wasn't showing signs of serotonin syndrome (treated with an antidepressant for the off-label purpose of pain relief) that had been addressed by our GP and the weaning process had begun. Rather, they put my spouse back on full dose and added another antidepressant medication (also used off-label wasn't told about this) and melatonin to help them sleep.
Within a couple of days, my spouse displayed new symptoms, i.e. twitches and muscle spasms as they drifted off to sleep. I asked a nurse to observe and told them this is not normal for them; the nurse said they'd keep an eye on it.
After discharge, I have not received requests for regular blood tests to ensure one chemical element effected by their cancer medications is within normal range (being low or high can be potentially fatal, I was told).
I also wasn't informed of how long to keep giving my spouse the melatonin, only that it was for "short term use".
The twitches/spasms were getting worse, and other symptoms started, i.e. being jittery and restless. The ward clerk wouldn't let me speak to the ward pharmacist or the prescribing doctor to discuss as my spouse was no longer a patient.
There is much more to tell, but not enough time or space in here to give the full picture.
Recently, I contacted a senior staff member whose colleague rang me back instead. My medical knowledge was questioned to which I feel demonstrated a greater-than-normal education on the topic.
I felt I was given the big run-around and many denials of the seriousness of the nature of my complaints, of which I already have many against WACHS-SW in play. But the one thing that this staff member agreed with me on is that the off-label medications may be contraindicated and could have caused the symptoms reported by my spouse and observed by me.
I asked the staff member if they were aware that, if left as prescribed, these symptoms can create a permanent disability (tardive dyskinesia), and I believe they knew this.
But no admission was forthcoming.
I believe that things need drastic overhauling, and not just in medical technology.
I believe staff I've seen are unaware of the Carer's Recognition Act 2004 and the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (2nd edition), of which the A4 posters are placed on walls all throughout the hospital.
"Hospital admission"
About: Bunbury Hospital Bunbury Hospital Bunbury 6230
Posted by Angry Advocate (as ),
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Responses
See more responses from John Brearley
Update posted by Angry Advocate (a carer) 3 weeks ago
See more responses from Jeffrey Calver