My husband was taken ill with liver cancer some distance from Cairns Base Hospital, but transferred there for assessment.
He ended up there because the specialists had never relayed to me the seriousness of his illness at a previous stint he did at the hospital.
As we live some distance away and I am not well myself I could not also get there immediately. I did have some phone contact and one talk with junior doctors, but at no time did I see the specialist himself to make things clear to me and answer my questions.
Suddenly, after three days I was phoned and told my husband would be going back to the Tablelands. This was decided on and done without my consent.
Phone contact is useless and gives you no time to think about what is being said.
Furthermore, when I spoke to the junior doctor it took place right outside my husband's door so I could not ask delicate questions or speak freely.
My husband returned to the Tablelands and died the next day.
There has to be better communication and explanation to family members and not just to the sick person who is usually too ill, tired and frightened to take everything in.
I was very unhappy about my husband's treatment at Cairns Base.
"Lack of communication"
About: Cairns Hospital Cairns Hospital Cairns 4870
Posted by scared7 (as ),
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Update posted by scared7 (a relative) 5 years ago