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"Experience in the ED"

About: St George Hospital / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

I attended ED as a healthcare professional that just finished a shift and was so shocked at how poorly I believe I was treated. The nurse that seen me was, in my opinion, extremely condescending, rude and incompetent. I felt they lacked compassion and spoke to me like a child. I believe they ridiculed me for having sweaty hands even though it was because I have anxiety.

The nurse the missed two cannula attempts and kept shoving the cannula in and out of my arm which was extremely painful and left extensive bruising and well as bent a major infection risk. I know I don’t have difficult veins as I’m a regular blood donor. The nurse told me to the got sit down and they could not cannulate me and I asked just have my bloods taken so they could be processed while I waited and they dismissed this.

In the end I never even had any bloods taken which I’m not happy about as I think these needed reviewed to make a plan for my care.

I then seen the ANT who told me I just needed oral antibiotics even though the previous nurse told me I needed IV antibiotics, to fast and likely admission.

Admission and IV ABX compared to discharge home was surprising and left me questioning. My friend who is an ED doctor said this was very poor management and in their opinion, bloods and a surgical review should’ve definitely taken place.

I would’ve liked to have seen a doctor for a medical review and second opinion. Overall very unimpressed with my experience.

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Responses

Response from Lauren Sturgess, Director of Nursing, St George Hospital last month
Lauren Sturgess
Director of Nursing,
St George Hospital
Submitted on 29/05/2026 at 4:52 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia on 1/06/2026 at 10:27 AM


Dear pepper14,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I am disappointed to hear that the care and treatment provided to you in the Emergency Department did not meet your expectations and apologise for any distress this may have caused you. I am also disheartened to learn that you felt your interaction with a staff member was below standard. Staff of St George are trained to provide patient-centred and compassionate care to all our patients, and I regret that this was not your experience.

We take concerns like yours very seriously and will investigate this further with the Emergency Department team. As this platform is anonymous, we are unable to access the details needed to properly review what happened. We kindly invite you to contact our Patient Experience Manager on (02) 9113 2687 or via email SESLHD-STG-ConsumerFeedback@health.nsw.gov.au, who can assist and ensure your concerns are fully investigated. Your feedback is important, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention.

Warm regards,

Lauren Sturgess

Acting General Manager

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