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"Fiance's hospital visit"

About: Rockingham General Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a relative),

My fiance was rushed to Rockingham Hospital recently one evening due to having heart pains running through his chest, due to a condition he has. We arrived at Rockingham Hospital around 6:30 pm where we checked in and didn't take long to get a bed, so he could be checked over, x-rayed and scanned with a huge amount of blood tests to see what the issue was. We were there until about 9 pm which wasn't too bad as the staff were very good and attentive. They made sure we were up to date with what was going on and tried to figure it out, so we could be out asap as it was the last place we wanted to be. So after a few hours of him being monitored and the blood tests being evaluated, we were sent home.

All was good until we ended up back there as the pain got worse (please note the first person who sent us home is not to blame for this) - so ended up at the hospital as the flare ups are at random and unfortunately this one was worse.  So at around 9: 30 we ended up being checked back into the hospital where we had a nurse hook him up to the heart monitor machine and walk away. This is where the issue started. We sat there for 2 hours and another nurse came and checked on the monitor making sure everything was going ok, then he walked away. After another 2 hours the doctor finally came to us and checked over him, where she said the same thing as the first nurse. By that time the pain had eased massively, so it was easier for her to check everything.  Once she had checked him she went to get advice from her boss on what to do. That was all well and good.

Another hour passed and I went and asked a nurse what was going on, in which her response was, our job is hard enough without your questions and smart arse remarks. We are doing our best, so just shut up.  In which my partner asked, well can we leave then? Which her response was, yep just go. I don't care.

Now normally I don't complain, but as this wasn't necessary and this nurse fully yelled at us for asking what was going on - as we were sitting there for so long, I found that it was the only thing I could do. I wish I had of gotten her name as I believe she was so rude not only to us, but to other patients too.  I understand that their jobs are important and they have a hard job. I respect them to the utter most, but when treated like that and told she doesn't care and to just leave, when my partner could have had a potentially life threatening heart condition was another story. If she hated her job so much I think she should quit, because I feel she will one day kill someone due to her lack of care.  

Finally the doctor came back and we were able to leave, but by that point it was 2 am in the morning. We were at the hospital for roughly 7/8 hours and I find that completely inappropriate for a heart condition and I must say, I have never come across such worse treatment in a hospital in my life. I think the staff we saw need to be retrained, as they seem so incompetent. They literally deal with people's lives, which we trust in their hands and to be told that the nurse doesn't care that's something I'm concerned about. Both my fiance and I said we would never go back to Rockingham Hospital. We would rather drive to Royal Perth, and this is all thanks to the one nurse who seems to hate her job.    

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Responses

Response from Kath Smith, Executive Director, Rockingham Peel Group, South Metropolitan Health Service 7 years ago
Kath Smith
Executive Director, Rockingham Peel Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service
Submitted on 17/04/2018 at 10:09 AM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 10:09 AM


picture of Kath Smith

Dear angry and concerned

Thank you for taking the time to share your story on Patient Opinion. I am very sorry to hear about you and your Fiance’s experience in the emergency department at Rockingham General Hospital. I am also very concerned about the way you were spoken to and treated in the ED and for the long stay that you had before being able to leave. This is not how we strive to run our service at Rockingham nor does it fit with our values of providing compassionate and respectful care to our patients. I would like the opportunity to discuss with you the concerns you have raised so that I can fully investigate what happened and would appreciate you contacting me via telephone on 95994331 so I can speak with you directly.

Kind regards,

Kath Smith

Executive Director

Rockingham Peel Group

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