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Pediatrics

Posted By Hsk98

"Pediatrics"

About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a parent/guardian),

I went to fiona stanley as it was closer to me off of the advice of the healthline advising me to seek immediate medical care for my baby. My 4 month old baby arrived shortly after 3pm, we were initially greeted really kindly by the lady at the advice desk then proceeded to wait to be seen.

The wait time to be seen was about 2.5-3hrs we were then taken through to a room with an adult bed, and 2 chairs, we then had to wait for the dr after a nurse did their paperwork etc and asked a few questions.

We waited quite some time to be seen by a doctor, when discussing our concerns the main one being constipation and pain after the rotavirus vaccine i mentioned the word reflux, which was already being addressed with medication. I felt the doctor dismissed my main concerns and ran with the word reflux advising to up dosage for my baby's existing medication. I asked about my child's constipation, which the doctor then asked if we wanted to speak to a specialist, we said yes.

We waited for another 2.5hrs and when i asked at that point if we could leave, i was told its my choice but the specialist is reccommended to be spoken to prior to leaving. There was no timeframe given, we then waited another 40+mins and i asked to leave again given that my child is 4 months old, drenched in spit up and we had alresdy went through the 2 bottles of formula we had with us.

We ended up leaving after waiting further, without any discharge paperwork as they advised another 20 minute wait for that. It was after 9pm, my child was further made uncomfortable as the room was bright, it was loud and I believe there was no way they would be able to sleep unless being held. After 6+ hours we did not feel heard, nor cared for and our concerns for our child were dismissed.

The doctor did not address our main concern for our child in any way and there was no solution provided at all in the time we were there to help our child who is waking up screaming and unable to sleep properly due to tummy pain which is clear from them pulling their legs to chest and crying out.

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Responses

Response from Luke Dix, Executive Director, Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Group, South Metropolitan Health Service last week
Luke Dix
Executive Director, Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 16/10/2026 at 7:33 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia on 19/10/2026 at 9:58 AM

picture of Luke Dix

Dear Hsk98,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at Fiona Stanley Hospital's (FSH) Emergency Department (ED). I am very sorry to hear of the distress you and your family experienced while seeking care for your baby, particularly when you were understandably concerned about their wellbeing.

I appreciate how difficult it must have been to spend more than six hours in the ED with your young baby, particularly while they were uncomfortable and unsettled. While patients are prioritised according to their clinical needs, I recognise that lengthy waiting times can be especially challenging for families with young children, and I am sorry for the additional stress this caused.

I was particularly concerned to read that you felt your concerns regarding your baby's symptoms and discomfort were not fully heard or addressed during your attendance. As a parent, you know your child best, and it is important that families feel listened to, respected and involved in discussions about their care. I am sorry that your experience left you feeling dismissed at a time when you were seeking reassurance and support for your baby.

FSH provides care for children through a dedicated Paediatric ED, and where clinically appropriate, emergency clinicians may also seek input from specialist paediatric teams. I acknowledge, however, that waiting for further review and treatment can be difficult, particularly when there is uncertainty about what will happen next. Clear communication throughout a patient's care is essential, and I am sorry if this was not your experience.

As Care Opinion posts are anonymous, I am unable to comment on the specific circumstances of your baby's care. However, if you would like to discuss your experience further, please contact our Patient and Family Liaison Service via FSHFeedback@health.wa.gov.au. We would welcome the opportunity to review the concerns you have raised.

Thank you again for bringing your experience to our attention. I hope your baby is now feeling much better and that you and your family are doing well.

Kind regards,

Luke Dix
Executive Director
Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group

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