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"Lack of co-ordination"

About: Broome Health Campus Kununurra Hospital

(as the patient),

I saw a dermatologist in Broome earlier this year. The recommendation / referral was for non urgent minor surgery by my doctor, who is based at Kununurra Hospital. I commute regularly between Broome and Kununurra.

As I hadn't heard anything from the Kununurra Hospital some time after, I spoke to the Kununurra Practice Nurse. The nurse who couldn’t see anything on my file in Kununurra, suggested I contact Broome for them to re-fax the referral to Kununurra, addressed attn Practice Nurse, so that it doesn’t go on to the rather long surgery wait list.

The Broome specialist clerk said the referral has been sent to Kununurra Theatre and that I need to contact Kununurra Theatre, as they can’t send it to the Practice Nurse, as the referral mentions Theatre.

I felt like I was going around in circles and not making progress. So I contacted my doctor directly and it was all resolved easily. How do patients who do not have direct access to doctors cope with the 'system'?

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Responses

Response from Regional Medical Director, Medical, WA Country Health Service 8 years ago
Submitted on 11/04/2016 at 2:12 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 12/04/2016 at 10:40 AM


Dear Going around in circles

I'm sorry that you had what sounds like a very frustrating experience and am glad that it's been resolved. Ideally the Specialist Clerk in Kununurra would be the person to sort this out. I'll try to ensure that in future, problems like this are referred to them.

Thank you for pointing out this problem with our systems. I hope that your surgery goes well.

Kind regards

Barb

Acting Regional Medical Director.

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