"Impact of patient transfer refusal"

My child had an accident which resulted in lacerations from broken glass over most of the body. They presented to Busselton Health Campus ED. After fabulous care at Busselton it was determined further specialist treatment was required in Perth from both ophthalmology and plastics specialties. The Dr in Busselton explained to us that PCH would not accept my child as a patient despite PCH having both specialties on hand. Instead they were to be sent to FSH. I queried the Dr in Busselton as FSH has no ophthalmology.

The Dr called PCH again and advocated strongly for a transfer to PCH as FSH could not cater for both specialties. My child was denied once again by the Dr at PCH. My child was transferred to FSH and fasting commenced in prep for surgery. After being at FSH for several hours, it was determined by the FSH staff that they could not meet all the medical needs as there was no ophthalmology. My child was then transferred to PCH.

The wait as PCH was extremely long. My child ended up fasting for over 28 hours. Their blood pressure and heart rate dropped. They finally entered surgery more than 10 hours after arriving at PCH.  I believe if my child was transferred to PCH in the first place the wait would not have been so long an it was a mistake for PCH not to accept their transfer from Busselton.