"Ankle injury"

I slipped in wet patch of dirt in car park. I got to Clare Hospital within 20 minutes of ankle injury. Xray done - ankle dislocated  & fractured (2 bones). 

Dislocated ankle put back swiftly.  Dr looked into where i could be taken & discussed.   Hospital room available until 7pm that night. Dr said they would organise ambulance.   

No ambulance arrived - so stayed the night in hospital.  

Next morning - still nothing happening. 

It wasnt until just after 4pm that ambulance arrived to transfer me to hospital. Arrived 7 pm in Adelaide at hospital.

By this time ankle & leg very swollen.

Seen by dr who was doing operation 2 1/2 days later. Says they told Clare hospital that if they can get me here asap they can operate straight away. 

(They didnt) so can't operate now as ankle too swollen.

Tomorrow  and it will be a week until since my injury. Hopefully tomorrow i will have surgery.!?

A drs decision not to get me asap to Adel. for operation has cost - 

$10,000 as of yesterday for stay here that insurance company has to pay. (Due to still being here its most likely going to be $15,000)  And we wonder why our health insurance premiums go up all the time.!!

Had it not been private health it would have been pick up by us tax payers - hence why I believe tax keeps going up!!

1 weeks additional stay in hospital for me.

This bed could have gone to someone else who is waiting to get in here. 

In my opinion, the lack of quick thinking by Dr on duty has resulted in over $15,000 undue cost. 

Sad when it depends what dr you get on duty.  Eg. My relative was having hip problem & presented to Clare hospital. Xrayed & they had broken hip. Dr immediately organised to have them flown to Adel. My relative had surgery within hours of arriving in Adel. Home in 2 days.

Moral of the story - Get the patient to Adel immediately if they need to have surgery - I believe it will save thousands of dollars in the long run.