I personally have been taken to the emergency department by ambulance on 3 occasions over the last 4 years (2 in the last year) as well as being taken by my wife on 2 occasions. The last occasion I had an erratic heart arrhythmia (a condition I have experienced and received treatment for the year before). I was admitted into emergency and seen by the junior doctor who, after asking me questions about my history, had the senior doctor see me. The senior doctor, after looking at the heart monitor, said to send me home. After this, the staff discussed among themselves my health and continued checking the monitor. (I was in the bed nearest the nurse station and heard everything being said). The junior doctor came back and again, having checked the monitor, raised their concerns only to be told that - we don't read the ECG like that. I was sent home even though my heart arrhythmia continued. The opportunity to send me to another hospital (as we have private health cover) was not considered even though I had advised the staff of the heart specialist I have been seeing for that very condition. This appeared to be ignored and no contact was made. I was sent home.
Two days later I collapsed in my doctor's surgery and the ambulance was called again. Once again the same things happened, only this time the junior doctor asked me if I would like to be sent to another hospital with a cardiac unit (instead of being sent home again untreated as the leading doctor again advised). Of course, I said yes and I was in the Holmesglen Private Hospital for the next 5 days receiving the treatment that I should have been given access to from the start.
Unfortunately, this failure to provide adequate medical care has happened before to my family at this hospital. A close relative was totally misdiagnosed as having indigestion when in fact they had a major infection in their intestine. They collapsed in another hospital the next day.
Another close relative was given eye drops that they were allergic to even though they told the doctor that they had a reaction to that particular medication.
The first time I was experiencing chest pain and generally poor health the attending doctor decided that I had an ear infection even though I did not have a temperature or have any discomfort in my ears. They checked my pulse and reported that it was a little low. There was no other checking of my heart condition. I had extensive tests through my family GP after raising my concerns with him. The test showed that I have a partially enlarged heart. After having experienced the symptoms for heart arrhythmia I now believe that this was the first time that this had occurred where I was able to feel the results.
"Emergency care service failing on several occasions"
About: Wonthaggi Hospital / Emergency Department Wonthaggi Hospital Emergency Department Wonthaggi 3995
Posted by Faulty Ticker (as ),
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Update posted by Faulty Ticker (the patient) 5 years ago