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"Wait Time - 2 days post partum"

About: King Edward Memorial Hospital / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

An absolutely shocking wait time, not even 2 days post partum.  I write this as I am sitting in ED waiting to be seen, having already waited for 7 hours...

I was sent to ED with a letter from my nurse/midwife at my 2 day post partum check for potential retained product after natural delivery. I was not even 48hrs PP at the time of my appointment/ presentation to ED. 

I gathered being told I needed to attend ED because of my symptoms that were present, and also having physical mobility symptoms due to said symptoms, I would of been seen in a rather timely manner. The waiting chairs are extremely uncomfortable for a mother who has not long given birth. Not to mention horrendous if you have experienced tears/ episiotomy. 

In my opinion, the level of care as a mother not even 2 days post partum was appalling. I was separated from my baby whom is being breastfed, who had to stay with their Dad whilst I waited to be seen. 

I presented a further 3 times to notify staff my level of pain was increasing substantially within the 7 hour time frame of waiting, before I was taken through to a bed. 

At the 6hr wait time mark, I called the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit to try another alternative to be seen and attended to, to be advised that now being post partum I would need to attend ED, my GP.. I explained to the switchboard receptionist, I was merely 2 days post partum, and the response I received was that even if I was a couple of hours post partum I couldn't be seen or even speak to a midwife on the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit.. 

As a second time mother, regardless of the fact, I am utterly disappointed and absolutely disgusted that the (supposedly ) best Woman & Infants hospital in the State of WA has such poor aftercare for mother's post partum, especially so fresh after delivery! 

At the time of submission, I was waiting 8.5 hours before a Dr came to see and assess me.
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Responses

Response from Delaney Gibbons, Director, Safety Quality and Performance, Women and Newborn Health Service, North Metropolitan Health Service last week
We are preparing to make a change
Delaney Gibbons
Director, Safety Quality and Performance, Women and Newborn Health Service,
North Metropolitan Health Service
Submitted on 31/08/2026 at 4:35 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia on 1/09/2026 at 10:35 AM


picture of Delaney Gibbons

Dear Southwest Mum,

I was very sad to read about your recent experience attending the King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) Emergency Centre (EC). It must have been so worrying to be advised to attend EC by your midwife, and I would like to extend my apologies for the considerable impact that the extended waiting time had on you and your family so soon after your birth. While Emergency Departments prioritise patients based on clinical urgency, I acknowledge the distress that arose from the length of time you waited and the impact this had on your overall experience.

Your feedback highlights some important opportunities for us to review the EC waiting room, as it sounds like there may be ways to more effectively and compassionately care for women presenting in the post-partum period. This includes reviewing the seating arrangements, ensuring that pain is appropriately managed during waits, and supporting breastfeeding by keeping mums and babies together wherever possible. I will provide your feedback to the EC team so they can consider your feedback and make improvements where possible.

As Care Opinion is anonymous, we are unable to review your care in detail or investigate why you experienced such a delay. If you’d like the chance to speak to someone on our team directly, please do reach out to our Consumer Liaison Service on 6458 1444 or via email at wnhscls@health.wa.gov.au. They will be able to put you in touch with one of the EC senior midwives, who would be grateful to offer you a direct apology, and review the specifics of the care you received to see whether any other improvements can be identified.

Thank you for taking the time to share at such a difficult time – I hope you are recovering well, and wish you and your family all the best.

Kind regards,

Delaney

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