"Experience during iron infusion"

I went in to Day Ward to get an Iron Infusion (referred by my Haematologist) as my iron was very low. It was busy at the time with Day patients being wheeled in and out of surgery and others recovering.

Nurse Paige was superb looking after me really well and helped me settle in given I hadn't had one before. Nurse ??? was also superb in doing the infusion for me. No side effects so she did a fantastic job.

Dr Sophia/Alicia? had two Uni Junior Doctors with her and I was happy for them to learn what the whole process was (One female (Rural Health) and one male (UWA)). I have a rare blood vessel.  disorder - HHT - and was able to show them what HHT does and how it affects me medically as I've had it since I was a teenager and not many see it in Hospitals. Most people read it in books/journals. When the Hospital needs to put a needle in - it either works or doesn't work. In this case the canula wasn't being friendly and didn't want to go in. Finally it went in.

The sad part was it seemed that there was not enough staff in the Day Ward to accommodate all the patients and they were run off their feet.The Day Ward then closed and all patients were transferred to the Surgical Ward - a huge transfer of patients and beds and paperwork from sitting there watching it all happen.

2 Surgical patients I saw then saying they want to leave under DAMA creating more paperwork for the Nurses and also calling in a Doctor who can authorize it. Why can't the Day Ward stay open until the last patient goes? They could have a day shift and night shift team. I can understand that surgical patients need to transfer to be kept an eye on overnight if they decide to stay but 2 of them left and that could have been done in the Day Ward and not the main Surgical Ward seemingly creating chaos.

The hospital were wonderful to me. and I felt sorry for the staff because they looked like they were looking after too many patients at a time. I know more staff were employed but they said the number of patients rose again so it seems to methat we are back at square again with no new staff so it's a vicious cycle.

I think more emphasize should be placed on having a staff meeting in the departments and asking them how things are going and what ways can be improved. I believe that staff working long hours is not the answer.

I am very grateful that the Hospital is here and the staff that work in it