"Care following bowel blockage"

Background I had a bowel blockage where local ED felt it could be a twisted bowel. I was in pain and unable to eat as every time I did, I was in a lot of pain. I was transferred from local GP surgery to Local ED . The local ED did Xray and I was advised that I needed to have a CT scan and may need surgery. I hadn’t eaten since the day before. The local ED advised me to be nil by mouth since 9am the day after and they had me on drip and pain medications. I was transferred to Albany ED via St Johns Ambulance and arrived at Albany ED at 2.45pm.

I was admitted and had blood pressure and observations down straight away. I was advised that I was going straight into the CT scanner and they took me off the drip. I had my CT scan, and the staff were great and helpful. But after the CT scan I was wheeled out to the corridor at 3.30pm and left there with no one observing me or helping me. I was not re hooked back up to the drip. The surgeon came to me at 7pm and said I didn’t need surgery and to drink 3ltrs of water, take laxatives and that I could be discharged. I said I was so dehydrated and the surgeon replied that I needed to drink water. They didn’t give me any or ask staff to give any. I advised the PSA that I was dehydrated and not on my drip. I saw them go to the nurse’s station and ask a number of staff but no one came.

At 8.30pm a nurse gruffly said to me has the surgeon spoke to me yet? I said yes and advised that I was not having surgery and need to drink water and take laxatives. I advised that I was so dehydrated and no-one hooked me up to my drip – the nurse replied gruffly that you not going back on the drip & they walked off. The nurse came back and shoved a table with a bottle of water, apple juice, sandwich and biscuits in front of me, they asked if I was allergic to egg and walked off. I skulled down the water. I flagged the nurse down when they walked past me and said I had a headache and I was in pain that I couldn’t eat the food in front of me and that my spouse is coming from Perth, when would I be discharged. The nurse walked off without answering me.

The nurse came back and gave me Panadol and watched me take it and walked off. At 9.30am, the shift coordinator asked when my spouse was coming and I said they are at Cranbrook and on their way. I asked for more water, and the nurse went and brought back a bottle of water. I skulled the water. 9.45pm the ED Dr came and said sorry for the wait, that they have spoken to the surgeon and that I didn’t need to do surgery and that they would write me a doctors certificate and gave me 2x Movicol’s satchels and 2x Buscopan tablets and that I was ready to go once my spouse gets to the hospital. 10am a nurse took out my canula and was very nice. My spouse got to ED at 11.45pm and the nurse said I was allowed to go and they gave me a bottle of water.

I was left for hours with no drip/water, there was no one telling me who was responsible for me, I was unable to get any medical staff to help me (as I was so dehydrated that my lips were cracking, my tongue was sticking to the roof of my mouth & I was getting a migraine). I got worse in hospital and I wasn’t able to get any assistance.

I never want to go back to Albany ED as I felt I was just a number and left to advocate for myself (as no call bell or medical staff looking after me).

In my opinion, this level of care is disgusting.