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Excessive wait list for chronic pain referral

Posted By Category 1

"Excessive wait list for chronic pain referral"

About: Royal Perth Hospital

(as the patient),

A number of months ago my local GP referred me to the Pain Clinic at Royal Perth Hospital as a category 1 patient (to be seen within 30 days ). I got a letter back saying that I would be made aware of my appointment by letter just before I was due to go. I went to my GP again this week and she asked me if I had heard when my appointment was and when I told her I hadn't, she phoned the hospital and inquired as to when my appointment would be and she was told a date for next year. She asked if it could be brought forward as I was in a lot of pain but she was told, no the appointment could not be brought forward

I'm disappointed that despite meeting the category 1 wait list category my appointment will be that many months away. What is the point of categorising patients if Royal Perth Hospital cannot satisfactorily manage the wait lists?

I'm concerned about my ability to manage my pain in the interim

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Responses

Response from Lesley Bennett, Chief Executive, East Metropolitan Health Service 6 years ago
Lesley Bennett
Chief Executive,
East Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 22/11/2017 at 6:29 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 23/11/2017 at 9:47 AM

picture of Lesley Bennett

Dear Category 1,

Thank you so much for telling us about your referral experience to the RPH pain service, and I can only begin to apologise that something may have gone very amiss with your appointment.

Having looked into the scheduling of all appointments for this service across the patient categories of urgency, the picture is not adding up to show where we could have fallen down here. If you would be willing therefore, to help us a little further untangle specifically what’s contributed to delaying your appointment time, and see where we can best help you, please come forward to us directly here at RPH.

Contact may be made through the Consumer Engagement Unit staff (08) 9224 1637 or RPBG.Feedback@health.wa.gov.au, who will liaise with the key staff that can directly look at the needs and concerns described on your referral.

We hope to hear from you soon, your story is of concern to us and I would like to again thank you for raising it.

With apologies

Dr Lesley Bennett

Director Clinical Services

Royal Perth Bentley Group

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