"A fall in hospital not documented"

I had a fall overnight. The next morning I had no feeling in my left leg and my foot was very cold so we went to Dongara hospital. They were fantastic, they got onto telehealth doctors. I had to get transferred to Geraldton Regional Hospital.

When we got there they asked where we’d come from. We said Dongara and that they’d rang and said I was coming but they said they’d had no phone call. I explained about the fall and that I’ve been waiting for surgery on L4, L5 an S1 on my spine and was waiting to see a vascular surgeon.

The doctor said to come out back and asked me questions about why I needed to see a vascular surgeon and why I’m having L4 surgery. I had to show them the letter on my phone that surgery is happening. I kept having to repeat it like we’re a parrot on their shoulder. They moved me to a bed and my partner went home because they said they were admitting me.

I was then told by another nurse that I’m not getting admitted. I asked how I was supposed to get home and they said to ring my partner to come back and get me - this was at 10pm! They then came back and said I’m staying but because they lost my CT scan, they didn’t know who to put me under, so I didn’t get moved until 1am.

The next morning the medical team (8 of them) saw me. They didn’t introduce themselves but immediately asked why I needed to see a vascular surgeon and why I needed surgery. I explained how some time ago I slipped over and hurt my back. I’ve got 2 steel rods either side of my spine, I explained the problem - L4, L5 and nerve on my left hand side (S1). I gave them a copy of the letter which is on file with RPH.

I then asked what’s next and they said they want to have a physio come to see me. I said don’t want physio to touch my back. My old doctor who did my operation when I was 15 said no physio is allowed to touch you. I’ve been seeing a spinal doctor since last year who confirmed they want to do a frontal fixation in my left groin but because I’ve had 4 hernias, I have to see a vascular surgeon first.

They said the physio won’t touch my back but will give me exercises. The physio put their hand underneath my foot and wanted me to push onto their hand but I know as soon as I do that pain runs from the bottom of my foot straight to my back so I said no. The physio then left.

I asked to speak to someone senior – that came about 2 hours later. They asked if I was ok and I said no. They got Kelly, the Liaison Officer. She was beautiful and took everything into consideration. I was crying. Staff had been asking me why I’m living in a caravan – it’s because I can’t get a rental. They had said they were thinking of getting social worker to talk to me because they think my accommodation is bit dangerous. I spoke to the social worker who was looking to see if I can get one of those bracelets I can press if I have a fall. But I ended up discharging before the social worker came back. I asked the social worker if the medical team can ring RPH, I recall Kellie and the social worker thought is was a good idea but the medical team didn't. 

After that I had an OT turn up. We are putting in a formal complaint in about them because of some of the things they said and did.

That night I went to the toilet, and my leg gave way and I ended up on toilet floor. I was lucky I didn’t knock myself out and could press buzzer for nurse. They came in and pressed the assistance buzzer then I was surrounded by 4 doctors and 8 nurses asking why I fell, why my leg gave way. I nearly had to walk through whole thing with them.

The staff did not do a proper log roll with me when I was on the floor or ask if I had I pins and needles they were rough with me and it hurt more. They got this blow-up thing to help move me back to bed. They did ring my partner an hour later who missed the call and then they called my parent so they were good with that bit.

When the doctors came the next morning, they hadn’t been told I’d had a fall. Later that morning, I asked for help going to bathroom and nobody would take me so I had to take myself to the bathroom.

The next afternoon, Jenny, who works as a Coordinator and knows me walked past and saw me. She has most beautiful smile, and any time I’m in and she’s in another part of hospital and she knows I’m in – she comes and sees me. She came in my room and took over from the other coordinator. She asked me if I was ok and I said I’m not. She asked me what I’d like to do and I asked if she can get my discharge papers, that I’d like to go home. She said you have been cleared by medical team and she’ll get it sorted.

I came in because I had a fall but didn’t see anyone until the next day. After they read my notes, shouldn’t they have been watching me or told me to call them if I needed a hand and someone would come and help me?

On my discharge summary, there’s nothing to say that I had a fall. I think that’s wrong and feels like they’re covering it up. It also says I refused Panadol which I did because it doesn’t help my back. I was waiting for my pain meds – they didn’t even ask if I wanted my pain meds.

Now I’m home and I’m scared of falling over again and having to go back to hospital.