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"Experience in rehabilitation"

About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / State Rehabilitation Service Wards A&B, Wards 1A& 2A

(as the patient),

I arrived recently to Ward 2A and my mental health is already struggling severely. I had the most amazing care and kindness from Drs to nurses, Physio/OT, hospitality and the whole team at FSH ward 4A and Medihotel ward 5A that I cried when I left as it felt like family. I was however shocked when I came to Ward 2A, I have not had a great experience with any of the nurses I have seen except Remi. 

My first day I arrived around in the afternoon, I felt I was treated by 2 nurses as if I was in prison and treated roughly, even not letting my guests move the chairs so I could see them whilst I am in bed as they were sitting behind me. Then a nurse came in the early evening to tell my visitors visiting finishes in 45 minutes, my visitors left 15 minutes later. 5 minutes later that nurse opens my door looking around and says, have they left! I said yes, then they goes good! and closed my door.

That night I rang the bell over and over due to excruciating pain in my knee and was in tears biting my hand from unbearable pain and kept getting the AIN who kept saying they had told the nurse. I was left in pain for two and a half hours before the nurse came. I felt they were nice but didn’t see them again, the AIN is who came every bell ring. 

Day 2 morning nurse once again I saw once and not again, afternoon nurse seemed lovely but I started seeing their eye rolls, took a very long time to answer bell even though I could see a bunch of nurses including mine just standing around at the desk seemingly on their mobile phones and chatting and laughing whilst bells rang.

My nurse would come turn off the bell and say back in a sec and then not come back at all or take 30min minimum to come back. I rang my bell for help as something got stuck in my wheelchair tyre, I saw it was a piece of plastic and after waiting so long I decided to try bend over the side of my chair to remove it. Upon doing that I felt a pop where my rib is and a lot of pain, when the nurse finally came, I told them what happened and said I think I did something to my rib as due to my severe osteoporosis their are weak and break easily. I recall they rolled their eyes and seemingly mocked me saying I highly doubt that haha, so I asked for a Dr.

Night time It was mainly AIN again. It seems to me that only AINs are working on this ward. Instead of 2 assist I was getting only 1 assist. The nurses I saw all seem like they hate their job and I have heard them talking about myself and other patients, then when they realised I could hear, my nurse came and closed my door! I keep my door open because my room is stuffy and very hot, which I have advised about when I came and nothing has been done. I asked all day for nurses to fix my allergies on my food and kept being told in a sec and still never got fixed. 

Day 3, morning AIN answered my call and I needed the bathroom, they were pulling my covers off roughly in my opinion and hurt my surgery leg so I said “ouch” and I recall they got angry and yelled that they didn’t even do anything. I said "I have a torn MCL possibly in my knee so it really hurts any small move and it still hurts from surgery area due to swelling”, I recall they seemingly angrily repeated themself and said fine you move yourself then. I stated I cannot move my legs, I need help, my nurse and an ECU student where also there and the nurse said nothing to defend me as a patient. I said as per Physio I am 2 assist to move in bed and 2 for Sara Stedy, but I got no assistance to get up on the Sara Stedy and same in the bathroom.

I haven’t showered even though I keep asking for it since I arrived. 

I have been miserable and crying since I came here. The room is stuffy and all damaged and the nurses issues is making me fall apart mentally. I don’t know how I can survive a minimum 2 months here.

In my opinion, only nice people I have seen are the Drs, OT Monique, fill in Physio Joel and the hospitality staff. 

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Responses

Response from Nyrene Jackson, Acting Executive Director, Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group 4 days ago
Nyrene Jackson
Acting Executive Director,
Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group
Submitted on 14/04/2026 at 4:31 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 4:42 PM


picture of Nyrene Jackson

Dear Patient913,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I appreciate how difficult it can be to speak openly about care, particularly when you are already managing significant physical and emotional challenges.

It was positive to read about the supportive and compassionate care you received in Ward 4A and at the Medihotel. Feeling safe, respected and well supported can make a significant difference during a hospital admission, and I am pleased this was your experience initially. I regret that this level of support was not sustained following your transfer to the rehabilitation ward.

I am very sorry to read about the distress you have described since your transfer to Ward 2A. I acknowledge the impact this experience has had on your wellbeing. The matters you have raised suggest that some aspects of your care did not align with the standard of compassion, dignity and patient‑centred support that I expect for patients at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH).

I was particularly concerned to read about the difficulties you described with responsiveness, pain management, and support with mobility and personal care, and how this affected how supported and listened to you felt. These elements are fundamental to a patient’s sense of safety and trust during periods of pain, recovery and vulnerability.

Rehabilitation wards are supported by multidisciplinary teams, including nursing and allied health staff, who each contribute to patient care. Rehabilitation also aims to encourage recovery and independence where it is safe to do so, and this should always be balanced with clear communication, appropriate assistance and sensitivity to individual needs. I am sorry that this balance was not achieved in a way that felt supportive for you.

I would like to reassure you that your feedback has been shared with senior nursing and clinical leadership for Ward 2A and the State Rehabilitation Service. Your experience will be reviewed to support reflection and learning, including consideration of communication, responsiveness, assistance with care needs and the ward environment. Feedback such as yours is important in helping us identify opportunities to strengthen our care.

If you feel comfortable, 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, should you wish to discuss your experience further or seek additional review.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. I am sorry for the distress you have described and appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention.

Yours sincerely,
Nyrene Jackson
A/Executive Director
Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group

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