"Diabetic needing a syringe"

Recently one evening, I contacted the Emergency Department at Central Gippsland Health in Sale. The lady who spoke to us on the phone, I believe was quite abrupt when we inquired about obtaining a syringe, as my teenager's insulin pump had shut down and their sugar levels had gone sky high. We were advised that there was an emergency and all hands were on deck for it, so we would have a wait before the triage nurse could see us. I said that was fine.

Upon turning up to the desk at emergency we greeted by the same staff member and said we'd called about a syringe. Not one word came out of her mouth. She bent down grabbed a brown paper bag and I felt threw it under the little slot in the glass and walked off. It seems compassion was nonexistent. She appeared to show no concern. Did not ask for details. No mention of seeing a triage nurse not a single thing! We left embarrassed, humiliated and angry, with a blood sugar level of 28 and I believe not one care was given. As this staff member walked off, the triage nurse smiled as we walked away.

Regardless of who we were and what reason we were there for, this staff member was given nothing but respect. We feel it is an absolute disgrace that she mans a desk where people are at their most vulnerable and shows complete inability to display kindness, care and compassion.

My teenager has had Type 1 diabetes since they were 18 months old. They are now a young adult. My child has spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital and this is the first time I have felt that treatment was so utterly disgusting that I considered driving a further 45 minutes to Traralgon.