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Wait times at outpatient appointment

Posted By Patchee33

"Wait times at outpatient appointment"

About: Royal Perth Hospital / Outpatients Surgical Clinic

(as a carer),

Our appointment was mid-morning. We waited over 3 hours just to be called. Then another 1.5hrs to even be seen in the treatment room. Had to ask for a blanket as it was quite chilly waiting. My partner has bad skin cancer. When they eventually came, they undid the bandages and left it open for half an hour waiting for a doctor to inspect. During this time my partner (who is elderly) wanted to go to the toilet. When the doctor finally came, it was a 2 second look see. Then to do the dressings another 5 mins. So all in all it took over 5 hours to do a 10 min dressing. Absolutely disgusting in my opinion.

I think that someone at the top needs to get down off their perch and be one of those angels that have to, in my opinion, put up with this system. Not just be at the top.

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Responses

Response from Ben Noteboom, Executive Director, Royal Perth Bentley Mount Lawley Group last month
Ben Noteboom
Executive Director,
Royal Perth Bentley Mount Lawley Group

Submitted on 11/08/2026 at 2:51 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 3:08 PM

picture of Ben Noteboom

Dear Patchee33

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. I am very sorry for the long delays you and your partner faced, particularly given their previous skin cancer treatment. Waiting more than five hours for a short dressing appointment is understandably distressing, and I apologise that this occurred.

I was also sorry to hear the room felt cold and that you needed to ask for a blanket, and that your partner was left with dressings undone while waiting. I acknowledge this would have been uncomfortable and unsettling, especially when they needed to use the bathroom. I can appreciate how frustrating it must have been to then have only a brief review before the dressing was completed.

Your feedback about the overall experience and the impact it had on both of you is important, and I am sorry that you were left feeling upset and disappointed. I will ensure your concerns are shared with the relevant team so they can reflect on what occurred.

Thank you again for taking the time to let us know.

Kind regards

Ben Noteboom

Executive Director

Royal Perth Bentley Group

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