My mother was given an intravenous antibiotic that she was allergic to after I left her in the Emergency Dept. one night at 1am as I was too sick with a bad head cold to stay any longer.
She then developed a raging rash on her body which I noticed the next morning when I went in to see her. When I commented on the rash they agreed she had a rash and seemed to wonder why. I had to ask them if she'd had antibiotics and which one she' been given. When I was told which one I informed them she was allergic to that one. Her medical records were then checked and the staff agreed that yes it was documented as an allergy!
They did not apologize or admit their error ...just that yes she was allergic to that antibiotic.
I was told by a Registered Nurse at the hospital (when I rang and complained) that I should contact the HCCC (Health Care Complaints Commission) which I did but the person there was unable to talk to me at that point in time and took my phone number to ring me back.
When she rang me back approx. 4 days later I was too upset to talk to her as my mother had been readmitted to hospital in a critical condition and died the next day of Acute Renal Failure as stated on her Death Certificate.
I don't know if this error resulted in her death or if she was going to die of renal failure anyway as she had chronic 'Heart Failure' anyway.
"Emergency dept at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital"
About: Wagga Wagga Base Hospital / Emergency Department Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Emergency Department Wagga Wagga 2650
Posted by Maura (as ),
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