Recently, I brought my over 100 year old grandparent to Charles Gairdner Hospital. Despite being extremely unwell, with a blood pressure reading of 221/123, they insisted on walking in unaided and declined both an ambulance and a wheelchair. They live independently and it was clear to me they were in distress.
Upon arrival at approximately 9:00 PM, the head triage nurse attempted to take their blood pressure but I recall they stated, “It’s not working, there’s nothing I can do about it.” The nurse then looked at my grandparent and asked, Why are you here? Do you know where you are? When they replied, “I think I’m at Hollywood,”. I recall the nurse responded, You’re in a place where actual sick people are. I felt their tone and comments were deeply disrespectful and inappropriate, especially toward a vulnerable elderly patient.
Throughout the evening, I witnessed this nurse behaving rudely toward multiple patients, laughing and joking behind the counter with apparent disregard for the seriousness of the environment. At midnight, we asked them again to check my grandparent’s blood pressure, which they did reluctantly, in my opinion.
When we decided to take my grandparent home, I recall they dismissively said, well, we can’t keep you here, and waved us off without any apparent concern or courtesy.
I sincerely hope that this nurse never finds themself or a loved one in need of urgent care, but if they do, may the healthcare professionals treating them show the compassion, respect, and professionalism that I feel was so clearly lacking in their conduct during our presentation
"My elderly relative's presentation"
About: Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital / Emergency Department Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Emergency Department Nedlands 6009
Posted by Disgusted-grandchild (as ),
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