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Not being taken seriously

Posted By Relative1508

"Not being taken seriously"

About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / Orthopaedics & Ward 4A

(as other),

My spouse has a prolapsed disc in their back and is in constant pain, cannot work and barely sleeps even though they are on various medication and seeing a physio.

The GP has sent a referral, which we were told my spouse was category 3 which is not true. So we went to the ED at the Fiona Stanley hospital only to be told that they couldn't do anything but medicate my spouse and send them on their way and wait for the specialist to contact us.

We then had another referral sent to escalate the previous one and after 2 weeks rang to be told that my spouse had been out in the routine category which is again untrue.

We are now over 2 weeks and no contact from the hospital.

My spouse is not in a good way and the stress of being pushed away and not taken seriously.

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Responses

Response from Luke Dix, Acting Executive Director, Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Group, South Metropolitan Health Service last month
Luke Dix
Acting Executive Director, Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 25/02/2026 at 6:33 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia on 26/02/2026 at 9:37 AM

picture of Luke Dix

Dear Relative1508,

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding your partner’s referral to the Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) Outpatients Department. I was very sorry to read of the ongoing pain and discomfort your spouse is experiencing.

I am particularly sorry that your partner felt dismissed when seeking care, and I understand how frustrating it must be to feel unheard while dealing with ongoing pain. Please be assured that patient safety and the delivery of timely and high‑quality care are our highest priorities at FSH. I regret that this has not been your partner’s experience, and I am sorry for the stress this has caused.

As this platform is anonymous, we are not able to review the specifics of your partner’s care. I encourage you to contact our Patient and Family Liaison Service (PFLS) on (08) 6152 4013 during business hours, or via email at FSHFeedback@health.wa.gov.au. This will allow us to investigate the concerns you have raised and provide you with a more complete response.

Once again, thank you for your feedback and for bringing this matter to my attention.

Kind regards,

Luke Dix

A/Executive Director

Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Relative1508 (other)

Hello Luke,

I have sent 2 emails already to that email address and we have phoned the out patients only to be told that my spouse has been triaged yet again as category 3. It's been 5 weeks now and no update on when they'll get seen by a specialist.

We've now called their doctor to send the escalation referral yet again but it will probably have the same outcome.

We are struggling financially as they are unable to work and this waiting around and being put back on category 3 is mentally draining.

I'm worried that my spouse will have permanent nerve damage if they're left any longer without any treatment.

Response from Luke Dix, Acting Executive Director, Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Group, South Metropolitan Health Service 3 weeks ago
Luke Dix
Acting Executive Director, Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 6/03/2026 at 10:25 AM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 10:38 AM

picture of Luke Dix

Dear ‘Relative1508’,

Thank you for your update. I am very sorry to hear how challenging this experience has been for you and your spouse. Ongoing delays and uncertainty can be incredibly difficult to navigate, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns.

As Care Opinion is an anonymous platform, we are limited in what we can confirm publicly. However, based on the information you have shared, I believe PFLS have been able to identify your correspondence.

Due to a high volume of correspondence, I acknowledge that there was a delay in acknowledging your concerns initially and apologise for this. I understand that PFLS has now provided you with an acknowledgment and outlined the formal complaints process, which they will now commence. PFLS has also requested that the Neurosurgery and Outpatient teams review your situation to determine whether any immediate assistance can be offered, and they will continue to keep you informed as the matter progresses.

If you have further questions or would like to speak directly with someone, please contact PFLS during business hours on (08) 6152 4013 or FSHFeedback@health.wa.gov.au. The team are available to support you.

Thank you again for bringing this matter to my attention.

Kind regards,

Luke Dix

A/Executive Director

Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group

South Metropolitan Health Service

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
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