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Care Opinion

Cancelled surgery

Posted By greenwz84

"Cancelled surgery"

About: Geraldton Hospital

(as a relative),

My child was scheduled for a follow-up surgery recently. Original surgery performed a few months ago was unsuccessful.

Upon admission around mid-morning we were told my child would be the third patient for surgery commencing after midday. A few hours had gone by after midday when we were advised by a theatre nurse that my child's surgery would not be occurring due to theatre closing! My child had not eaten for 21 hours nor had any fluids for 19 hours!

I believe nursing staff sat at their station the entire 5 hours that we were there (yes I stayed with my child the entire time) gossiping and carrying on and I believe all the patients could hear them - too bad if anyone was trying to sleep/recover quietly. I felt they were useless in providing me with any information/updates. I was offered 1 cup of coffee the entire 5 hours, no water, nothing.

I had to take the day off work and now I will have to do so again when they reschedule the surgery of which I was meant to receive a phone call about it a few days ago and have not! I have other children and my spouse works away. I have no family to help me either. The surgery cancelled that day was perfect as my spouse was home to look after our other children and to assist me in bringing my child home after surgery, as my child does not recover well from the anaesthesia. Trying to ensure their safety is a struggle! I am disgusted with the way the staff and hospital treated us.

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Responses

Response from Liz Kelly, A/Coordinator Executive Services, WA Country Health Service Midwest 4 years ago
Liz Kelly
A/Coordinator Executive Services,
WA Country Health Service Midwest

Submitted on 9/12/2019 at 5:33 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 5:36 PM

picture of Liz Kelly

Dear Greenwz84,

As a mum, I was concerned to read your story and have first-hand experience of the difficulties preparing a child for surgery so I am very sorry their surgery was not completed as planned. I can certainly appreciate your frustration with the delay and the communication and care from the nursing staff.

As an immediate action, I have contacted Derek Fraser who is the Geraldton Hospital Operations Manager, to discuss the issues you have raised. Derek has commenced follow up with the teams responsible for the surgery and the care. Your experience of the lack of professionalism amongst the nursing clinicians and the reassessment of pre-operative fasting will be addressed by the senior nurse responsible for the professional nursing care. The lack of professional communication will be the highest priority.

From my discussion with Derek, there are goals for improving our services that would be great to have some help with. One is to ensure another day for surgery is provided to you given this has not yet occurred. The other is to understand the journey for both your child and yourself and make sure we have a clear understanding of when the care and communication was not professional and did not meet your needs.

We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss your experience further. Would it be possible for you to contact Derek on 9956 2403 or email derek.fraser@health.wa.gov.au or myself on 9956 8695 or email liz.kelly@health.wa.gov.au. Your call or email would be very welcome.

Feedback helps us to improve the care we provide so thank you for taking the time to contact us with your story. I hope that Derek or I hear from you soon.

Regards

Liz

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