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"Recent visit to Boonah Emergency"

About: Boonah Health Service / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

I visited the Boonah Emergency for severe headaches, runny nose and trouble with breathing. When I arrived the nurse attended to me and she was very nice. She explained there were a few people in front of me. At that stage I was in so much pain I was happy to wait to seek medical help.

I was taken into the consulting room by the doctor. On the way to the consultation room the doctor made a sarcastic comment inferring that they had only seen me recently. If they looked at my records it's been a few years.

Anyway, when I entered the consultation room the doctor asked me questions, but walked out of the room. The door to the emergency area was open so there was absolutely no privacy. I started to answer but then stopped. The doctor said from the other room - I'm still listening. 

I find it amazing that a doctor can consult with a patient and not be in the room. Anyway the doctor did this a few times and finally came back in with the blood pressure monitor. My blood pressure was taken and it was high. Of course it was, I was ill.

Anyway, the doctor looked at my throat and ears. The doctor never checked my face for possible sinus infection. They then checked my chest and said it was clear. They also asked me "do you smoke? " I said no. I believe they said it can't be asthma then. I then said "I smoked 25 years ago". The doctor then said - oh..ok...

The doctor diagnosed me with a cold and gave me nurofen and sent me home.

I know what was wrong with me, I knew there was a possible sinus infection due to the pain I was experiencing in my head. I also know that I had a chest infection which I get every two years and I know the symptoms. I spent half the night sitting up not being able to breathe. My head was exploding from pain.

The next day I went to visit my doctor at Kalbar Medical Centre and was diagnosed with a sinus infection and after listening to my chest the doctor could hear wheezing and rumbling. I certainly had an infection. I was given antibiotics with a repeat.

The doctor at Boonah emergency did not ask me any history and was not in the room while asking me questions. And if the doctor did their homework they would have realised that nurofen maybe a problem with people with Asthma and high blood pressure. I never took the medication they gave me.

I can't imagine what would have happened to my infection if I had listened to this doctor's diagnosis. I was in bed for three days. Some cold that was.

The doctor at Boondah emergency had a duty of care and this was not adhered to. I knew what my problem was, which was confirmed by my own doctor.

I would suggest that the doctor in Boonah emergency learns the difference between a cold and an infection and to improve on their consultation.

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Responses

Response from Sandy Lewis, Senior Consumer Liaison Officer, Clinical Governance, Queensland Health - West Moreton 7 years ago
Sandy Lewis
Senior Consumer Liaison Officer, Clinical Governance,
Queensland Health - West Moreton
Submitted on 15/05/2017 at 11:49 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 12:57 PM


Dear Some cold

A sinus infection can be very painful and distressing, so we hope you are well on your way to a full recovery.

While at West Moreton we aim to provide the best patient care possible, we acknowledge that there are always opportunities for improvement. We welcome your feedback because it provides potential learning and improvement opportunities.

We would like to speak with you further about your experience and to offer any assistance possible. If you want to make contact with us, you can call the Consumer Liaison Office on 0409275503 or email WMH_CLO@health.qld.gov.au.

Please be assured this offer of assistance is genuine and we would welcome your call.

Yours sincerely

Consumer Liaison Office

West Moreton Hospital and Health Service

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Update posted by Some cold (the patient)

Yes well, this complaint was made on May 8 and it's now July 1 and still no resolve. I have contacted a Consumer Liaison Officer at West Moreton HHS a few times and they said they were looking into it. A couple of weeks have passed since my last contact and I have heard nothing back. This will be going to the Health Ombudsman.

Response from Sandy Lewis, Senior Consumer Liaison Officer, Clinical Governance, Queensland Health - West Moreton 7 years ago
Sandy Lewis
Senior Consumer Liaison Officer, Clinical Governance,
Queensland Health - West Moreton
Submitted on 5/07/2017 at 4:13 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 4:21 PM


Dear Some cold

We are so sorry for the delays in responding to your concerns. I understand a senior doctor called you on 3 July 2017 and has undertaken a review of your concerns.

Yours sincerely

Consumer Liaison Office

West Moreton Hospital and Health Service

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