"Poor care of my parent"

We took my parent to Maroondah Hospital earlier this month with what we thought might be a UTI. Hours later we were told my parent had a brain mass. Dr Matthew and nurse Jordan were fantastic in ED.

We were told my parent would have an MRI the next day or be transferred to another hospital. The MRI didn't happen the next day, we were told the documentation didn't go through. The following day we were told it wouldn't happen again as it was busy. My parent's confusion was increasing and we asked for the MRI, they thankfully squeezed us in, confirming the brain mass which initiated a transfer to this other hospital. The biopsy taken a few days later confirmed the diagnosis - an aggressive brain tumour.

Chemo-radiation was suggested as the tumour was too deep to operate. My parent was transferred back to Maroondah 3 North where I believe their confusion increased. Oncology doctors stated that my parent was not a good candidate for chemo due to significant confusion and reduced mobility. We asked if my parent might be able to come home for Christmas and were told no, they weren't safe to. We were happy to follow the experts' advice. My parent would need to go to Angliss Hospital for intensive rehab. They were transferred a few days later which caused further confusion and disorientation for my parent but we would ride with that if it would benefit them. The next day we were told that with only skeleton staff on, my parent would be discharged home as they would get more rehab there (by us?) as in hospital they would have to be supervised and would probably just sit for long periods. "Improved mobility" was written on the discharge. We were told to go to the GP for a script for the medication changes, we weren't sure why. We took my parent home at the start of that week (thanks to nurse Collette as we would not have been able to get my parent into the car without her help) and nobody has called my other parent since to see how they are managing. 

Stage 4 glioblastoma multiforme.

I received a call recently from a nurse to say that they'd been trying to call my sick parent to organise personal care but they hadn't answered they phone. I reminded them of my parent's diagnosis, the nurse said that they were just following instructions. They said nobody would be able to assist my parent with a shower until early January, a few days after discharge. They were very nice by the way, most staff have been but I feel everyone works in silos, the right hand doesn't seem to know what the left hand is doing. Why isn't there one person or team to oversee my parent's care? I have to go through the same story every time I speak with someone. We had no conversation with a doctor when we were discharged from Angliss, no plan, no information, just told they only had skeleton staff on over Christmas. That's not my parent's problem and health waits for no one. Why did Maroondah make the decision to move my parent on the Friday if they were just going to be transferred home on the Monday? I felt this was not ideal.

3 weeks wait for outpatient oncology with an aggressive brain tumour - why? And I had to push for mid-January! Even though I was told by a doctor recently it would be early January. Why? I feel the bedside manner is lacking. I believe the information is lacking and the care is lacking. We will do our best from our end, we're there every day to support both our parents at home and keep my sick parent out of hospital. I believe now it's your turn please. 

Written on behalf of our family, thank you.