"The influence of medication."

I have recently watched a news report highlighting the trauma and physical abuse experienced by doctors, nurses and staff in general at the Emergency Department at Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia. I felt saddened that these caring and dedicated people have to experience this out of control behaviour and viewing this program has prompted me to relate our story.

This is actually about my late husband. My husband had a fall at home, late one afternoon. He was very elderly and a little unsteady on his feet. He was admitted to the Royal Perth Hospital and settled for the night. He was sleeping peacefully when I left him late that evening.

His niece visited him the following morning to find him completely naked and quite violent. The young staff were equally disturbed and unable to get close enough to help him. We as a family believe that whatever medication my husband was given changed his demeanour completely, as he was a calm and loving man. My husband's behaviour changed dramatically two years earlier when once again he was admitted to hospital (in this case Hollywood Private Hospital). The staff asked me on that occasion if this was my husband's usual behaviour and I explained that this was not normal and what we were witnessing was completely out of character.

I wonder, could there be more education, training and understanding of the effect medication can have on the individual patient? Surely this could only be beneficial to the patient, the family and all staff involved.

My husband's five days in Royal Perth Hospital were very traumatic and we were very grateful when the decision was made for Palliative Care only. He was a Department of Veterans Affairs Patient and so was transferred to Hollywood where he passed away five days later (last year).

My son, on reading this letter said, "Waste of time Mum, but if it makes you happy." It's not about me being happy, but that I have a point to make that might make other's lives better and to feel that I've been heard. It's taken a number of months to finally finish and post this letter.

Hopefully it will be read and maybe it might help someone, somewhere, someday.