"Specialist and nursing staff at the Prince of Wales ED"

My elderly relative recently presented to the Emergency Department (ED) at the Prince of Wales Hospital (POWH), Randwick. They had signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Despite having seen their GP a week previously, who had prescribed a course of antibiotics, their symptoms had become worse over the weekend and were affecting their mental alertness. The complication with my relative is that they have multiple drug allergies to the main oral antibiotics that are usually the first and second line for the treatment of a UTI, therefore, we felt it necessary to attend the ED to obtain a doctor's opinion on treatment options.

It was weekend morning and the POWH ED was very busy and full of patients both in the waiting room ambulance bay and in all acute areas. We were triaged by a competent and helpful nurse by the name of Kelly who directed my relative into the fast track area where they were seated in a comfortable recliner chair and had their observations promptly recorded.

We were regularly informed that there was a wait due to the large patient volumes and that my relative's case has been assigned to the ED staff specialist Dr Marian. After a wait of just under an hour, Dr Marian came in and introduced herself and said that she would be back soon to examine my relative.

While she was talking to us another patient who was being seen by another doctor next door to us had become very unwell and Dr Marian then ran to assist and help in the care of the patient who I believe was then wheel-chaired into the acute area for intense treatment.

Dr Marian then came back and took a comprehensive history and examined my relative and assured us that the best way forward would be for an intravenous stat dose of Gentamicin as this was a powerful antibiotic that my relative was not allergic too.

Dr Marian was extremely professional in her attitude but was extremely caring and sympathetic of the difficult situation our family was facing having limited oral treatments available. Dr Marian canulated my relative and promptly prescribed the medication which was administered by the caring ED nurses over 1 hour. After the infusion, Dr Lee discharged my relative home and had all the discharge paperwork as well as follow up prescriptions done in advance of the discharge. My relative left the ED after receiving appropriate care within a 3 hour period. 

Over the course of the next 24 to 48 hours, the UTI signs and symptoms were fully resolved and my relative's health status improved where they were more alert and settled.

I wish to gratefully thank Dr Marian for her expert medical knowledge care and compassionate treatment that she gave my relative and the efficient manner in which their care was administered. We also would like to thank the wonderful ED nursing staff for the professionalism, respectful and caring attitude given to my elderly relative.