"Wonderful care on Geraldton Regional Hospital Paediatric Ward"

Dear indigoym99

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience on Patient Opinion. Having a child unwell and in hospital is a stressful experience for any parent, I was so pleased to read that despite the seriousness of your son’s condition your experience was a positive one. I will take great pride in passing on your lovely compliment to our team at Geraldton Hospital with a special mention to Dr Apaks and Nurse Katinka, who is fondly known as Tinkerbell.

WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Midwest is committed to working in partnership with patients, their families and carers to provide positive patient experiences and recognises that taking care of parents, families and loved ones is just as important as taking care of the person in hospital. It is very encouraging to read that you, as a mother, were cared for with the same level of high quality, professional and compassionate care as your son.

As parents, we know our children best and are often aware of subtle changes in their physical health before clinical staff, this is the same for any carer, family member or loved one of anyone in a hospital environment. In September 2017 WACHS implemented the Call and Response Early (CARE) call program. CARE call is a 3 step process patients, their families or carers can initiate to raise their concerns with clinicians about the physical health of themselves or a loved one in hospital.

Step 1. Reminds the patient, their family or carer to talk to the nurse, midwife or doctor caring for them if they have any concerns about the health of themselves or their loved one.

Step 2. Encourages the patient, family member or carer to ask to speak to the shift coordinator /nurse/midwife in charge if they still have concerns and feel that these have not been addressed by their primary carer.

Step 3. Provides the ability for the patient, family member or carer to make a CARE Call (1800 316 729) and speak to another clinician if they still have concerns that they don't feel have been adequately addressed in Step 1 or Step 2.

Information about how to initiate a CARE call is displayed in patient areas in WACHS Hospitals.

Thank you again for sharing your story on Patient Opinion. Feedback like yours allows us to recognise our staff for the wonderful work they do each and every day. I trust your son has recovered well and wish you all the best for the future.

Warm Regards,

Jeff Calver