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"Dismissed by drs and nurses"

About: Sale Hospital / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

I presented to CGH Sale in early December 2025 with severe hip pain. It was so bad I needed to use a walking stick

There was no accident, it came out of no where

After waiting in waiting room for 2 hours I briefly saw a Dr in a room to the side. They didn’t examine me as the bed sheet was dirty. After sending me back to waiting room a porter came and got me to go get an xray. They told me that the Dr said I had to walk? I was upset because we’d walked past 2 wheel chairs.

After xray a couple more hours I was called back to side room and told Dr couldn’t see anything on xray and they’d get me some pain meds,

After 7 hours I was finally put in a room, Dr checked my reflexes and then gave me 2 panadole and a script for celecoxib

I told them I wasn’t comfortable going home as I couldn’t walk properly. I recall they argued with me and wouldn’t let me get a word in. They brought in the senior Dr who told me there’s nothing they can do and they can’t treat my pain because of some safe script as I’d had a lot of opioid pain meds earlier this year before I had my gall bladder out.

I didn’t know I’d apparently been ‘flagged’ and asked if that’s why I’d been treated so poorly and they agreed. I was so so upset that I was crying uncontrollably 

I was then told that I need to leave as they needed the room for someone else.

I still have no idea what’s wrong with my hip and still need help in the bathroom, shower etc.

I can’t get into my GP until next week.

I believe I was made to feel like a criminal because of my pain and made to feel like I don’t matter 

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Responses

Response from Mandy Pusmucans, Director of Nursing, Sale, Central Gippsland Health 4 weeks ago
Mandy Pusmucans
Director of Nursing, Sale,
Central Gippsland Health
Submitted on 22/12/2025 at 11:25 AM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 1:02 PM


picture of Mandy Pusmucans

Dear Voiceless

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. I am very sorry to hear how distressing and frustrating your visit was, particularly while you were in significant pain and uncertainty. What you have described is not the experience we want any patient to have, and I can appreciate how upsetting this must have been for you.

We take concerns like this seriously, especially when you have felt dismissed or stigmatised during a time when you were seeking support and care. Your feedback will help us review what occurred and identify where improvements can be made.

If you would like to discuss your experience in more detail or provide any further information, please feel free to contact us directly on 03 5143 8700 or at mandy.pusmucans@cghs.com.au. We are here to listen, support you, and ensure your concerns are followed up appropriately.

Thank you again for bringing this to our attention, and I hope you are able to get the care and answers you need as soon as possible.

Kind regards,

Mandy Pusmucans

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