"Insensitive comment about a patient at the Royal Perth Hospital."

Recently, my mother was admitted to Royal Perth Hospital for a procedure to remove a cancerous lump from her breast.

At the admissions area I was told to knock on the door of the recovery room to get information about my mothers progress. A nurse told me to wait outside the recovery room and I would be informed of the outcome of the operation. During the first two hours while I waited the nurse gave me two updates. At about the third hour the Nurse in Charge came to the waiting area and said who is waiting for and called out my mother's surname. I indicated it was me and the nurse proceeded to tell me that they were waiting to find out what room my mother would be admitted to. The nurse then said is the person a male or female? I said that she was talking about my mother. The nurse made no further comment and disappeared into the recovery area. At this stage it was 6. 00 pm and there was no indication that I would get any further information. I went home and returned to the hospital the next day to find out where my mother had been admitted.