"Frankston Hospital"

Recently I suffered a couple of disc protrusions in my lumbar/lower back and most recently I have experienced an intense pain in my hip and down the front of my thigh, to the knee. I've been to see my local GP on a couple of occasions in relation to the matter and unfortunately the problem has only become worse with the pain becoming ever more intense, despite a course of pain killers, anti-inflammatories, etc. prescribed by my doctor. My doctor then suggested that I needed to go to hospital for treatment and possibly another MRI, to check for any nerve impingement as it seemed to fit with the symptoms I was showing.

After arriving at Frankston casualty I went through the standard procedures, and gave the nurse all the paperwork provided by my doctor explaining the situation and my predicament.

I fully expected to be in for a long wait as clearly my condition was not life threatening. I was informed that it would be a long wait, and I asked the nurse if it would be ok if I could lie on the chairs in the waiting area as standing was not possible for me, but also because sitting normally only aggravated my condition. She of course replied favourably to my request. I found that due to the gaps in the chairs, that laying on them only placed extra pressure on my back, so I proceeded to lie on the floor instead (very much to my embarrassment). After approximately 30 minutes of lying on the floor... (and being asked by another nurse if I was ok, to which I explained my predicament and reasoning for lying on the floor) I found that my lower back was beginning to cause me some discomfort again). I quickly came to the conclusion that the situation was untenable, and was only exasperating my condition. I didn't want to complain or make a fuss, so decided to return home, as in my opinion, the care I receive there is head and shoulders above anything Frankston Hospital could ever hope to provide!

The irony is that when sent there by my GP my main issue was the pain in my hip/leg. I have now returned with the same problem, but even worse, my lumbar disc issues have now become inflamed again due to lying on the chairs/floor. I am mostly disappointed because when questioned by another nurse as to my reasoning for lying on the floor, I was quite clear that I had a couple of protruding discs, and the suspicion of a possible nerve impingement also. It seems at Frankston Hospital that this not considered a serious enough issue to perhaps find more suitable arrangements for someone with my condition, and lying on the floor is quite acceptable for both myself and no doubt any stray dogs that may wonder into the casualty ward.

Hard to believe that in a country as wealthy as ours that situations like this seem to be the norm and acceptable.

Extremely disappointing on so many levels, and I have no doubt that my story is just a small drop in an ocean of dissatisfaction at what appears to be  the pure unprofessionalism of not only Frankston Hospital, but most probably the state of health care Australia wide!