"Emergency Department"

I am the carer for an advanced melanoma patient recovering from extensive surgery.

We have attended the Bunbury hospital ED on 3 occasions in the past few weeks for problems related to the varivac wound drainage canister. The patient is also undergoing immunotherapy and we have a card explaining that which is supposed to fast track their care.

Earlier this month we were there for so many hours it was exhausting to both of us. When we finally were seen it was many more hours of waiting for blood test results etc. 

I believe the Emergency department is chronically understaffed and moved ridiculously slow. Patients were over heard stating they were going to leave as treatment was at a snails pace.

Surely the management can fast track simple cases like ours instead of wasting a whole day waiting around.

At 9pm we returned for help a second time and the waiting room was full of various sick patients. Cancer and immunotherapy patients are at high risk being exposed to various illnesses.

I feel the management needs to prioritise cancer/immunotherapy patients as a matter of urgency.

Some people there were vomiting loudly and also 2 prisoners accompanied by police were there for non urgent treatment. It had a circus atmosphere and we couldn’t wait to leave this place.

Something has to change with the Bunbury Emergency department in my opinion as this is dangerously high risk for immunocompromised patients.