"ED nightmare"

I am a senior citizen. Last week I went to the ED of Armadale Hospital dehydrated after days of illness that was not improving. After over 5hrs I was eventually seen and had blood tests ordered. On their return I was given a CT scan and put in a ‘short stay’ ed bed to wait for a bed to become available on ward after having been admitted.

All I can say about the next 2 days is that it was traumatic and stressful…not at all a calming healing experience! As is procedure, as soon as I was are admitted I then became ‘under the care?’ Of the medical team up in the ward. So basically besides the occasional routine obs that are taken by emergency staff, I was told nothing and have no contact except for a ‘drs round’ once. My diet wasnt taken into consideration as I was only offered the emergency ‘box’ meals. eg.. after days of severe gastro like symptoms and was given weetbix and orange juice for breakfast…. Not that I could eat anyway.

The second afternoon I was told I was finally getting a bed on the ward. 4 hrs later I was still waiting and had to ask myself what was going on. Yep, the room was given to someone else so I was in for another night of no sleep and a feeling of abandonment. Asked nurse for something to help me sleep. Was told they would see if any of the ward drs were around to sign it off. Obviously there wasnt because I was given nothing. At 10pm that night I was put in a wheelchair and moved to a different bed in ER as the cubicle I was in was needed by another patient as it was longer. Whatever!

From then on there was no sleep as I ended up in what I believe to be the noisiest part of ed firstly next to an elderly patient who after he had been there for an hour was found to be covid positive so was quickly moved then the cleaners came in. Got to love the smell of bleach washing up the floor near your bed at 1am. Another very distressed patient then arrived and proceeded to scream in pain on and off for the next 3hrs. I just gave up any hope of sleep.

I was finally discharged, without even finding out the last of my results that afternoon.

The feeling I had nearly the whole time I was there was that it was somehow my fault i was there and was just in the way. Im sorry. But as I was deemed ill enough to be admitted … no matter how long, I at least deserved to feel cared for in an environment that was conducive to getting well.

This whole experience has left me mad, upset and traumatised. I do appreciate the care that was given me, however limited because of ‘procedure’ by nursing staff in ER. They were wonderful and were sympathetic to my plight which I was told a common occurrence. Just not good enough in my opinion!