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"Not a happy patient"

About: Maroondah Hospital

(as the patient),

It's been over a year since my initial complex foot fracture, and three operations later I am still on the waiting list for further surgery. 

I have had no aftercare appointments since late last year (two weeks after surgery to remove hardware). I had limited coordinated care through the Physio Department and I have had to re-refer (which took many months). I only recently had my "initial" appointment and now I sit in the waiting list with no date arranged! It's been a long year and several months with my care hanging in your balance. I cannot walk unaided, I have a foot deformity with toes not healing correctly after initial surgeries... and I have severe pain in my foot. 

Recently I rang to see if I have had my operation date confirmed, and I was basically told to be patient and that I'd only been on the waiting list since a recent month- do you not look at case notes and contexts?  (Months earlier I had my initial referral, which failed twice in administration errors with myself nor my doctors being told) - was told I had a fracture - which has been cleared through a CT scan I ordered with my GP. Had I had the appropriate aftercare at 6 or 12 months this would have already been taken care of. I am not sure how more patient I can be...I am concerned for my long term health care and foot after not receiving appropriate coordinated care from Maroondah Hospital. Not a happy patient.

Treatment

Treatment


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Responses

Response from David Plunkett, Chief Executive, Eastern Health 4 years ago
David Plunkett
Chief Executive,
Eastern Health
Submitted on 17/09/2019 at 7:43 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 18/09/2019 at 8:50 AM


picture of David Plunkett

Dear centaurusky88

Thank you so much for taking the time to share these comments regarding your experience. I am sorry it has not been a positive one and that you are waiting for further surgery.

You have commented that you are in severe pain in your foot. If this has changed since you were added to the elective surgery waiting list, please ask your GP to send a letter to this affect to the Eastern Health Elective Surgery service.

Further to this and in order for us to follow up your particular circumstances, I would like to invite you to contact one of our Patient Relations Advisors in the Eastern Health Centre for Patient Experience either by calling 1800 EASTERN or by emailing feedback@easternhealth.org.au. If you choose to call please be aware that it is possible that the Patient Relations Advisors may be on another call at the time you ring and if so you will be invited to leave a message so they can return your call.

Many thanks again centaurusky88 and I hope we hear from you / your GP soon.

Kind regards

David

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by centaurusky88 (the patient)

Thank you for your reply David,

I've since had a long chat with a manager today which was reassuring and helpful who appreciated my frustration, and apologised. I'm on the waiting list now.

I've been in pain for months, if things do get worse I will follow up with my doctor.

I feel like my concerns have been heard and that things have progressed.

Thanks.

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