"Ill-advised discharge"

This story is in relation to my spouse and dates back a year at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH). My spouse was admitted through emergency as they'd been advised from a previous CT scan that they had chronic Hydrocephalus.

During the time of this admission, I felt the system failed us in so many ways. Due to their Hydrocephalus, my spouse had severe memory loss, was unable to recall information, was physically impaired (unable to walk properly), suffered severe headaches and changes in personality. My spouse was certainly unable to retain any information given to whenever the Doctors would come by and see my spouse during their rounds. I felt totally helpless, terrified and exhausted. I wasn’t getting a clear picture of what was going on with my spouse at all despite my numerous attempts to try and speak with their neurosurgeon or team. We have young children so it was extremely difficult to get there early in the morning to catch the Doctors on their rounds. 

My spouse was discharged 5 days later with no answers. It wasn’t until we sought a second opinion that I discovered my spouse was in fact offered surgery (their only option) but due to their impairment couldn’t recall this even happening. Not only that, no one even thought to tell me that my spouse had apparently refused surgery. There was no mention of this offer of surgery when my spouse was discharged, no record of it on their discharge papers either.

If I had been informed of this at the time then their story may have been a lot different. My spouse's story still continues (a year later) with multiple hospital admissions. I have made a formal complaint through the Patient Liaison Service in regards to the above story but was certainly not happy with the response.

Even after making multiple attempts to speak with the neurosurgeon treating my spouse I was told the neurosurgeon was unaware that I wanted to be informed of all of my spouse's pre-operative care. I believe it’s not a matter of wondering whether I would like to be informed, it was absolutely necessary in my spouse's case due to their inability to think rationally because of their Hydrocephalus.

In my opinion, it is clear that someone suffering from chronic Hydrocephalus would be unable to make such a huge decision. To put it into perspective, my spouse saw the Doctors only 20 minutes prior to me ringing them and when I asked my spouse what the Doctors had said, their response was “Ummm, well I did see them ... I think. But I don’t really remember what was said. I don’t think they said much actually”. 

I will also add that our most recent stay at SCGH in the High Dependency Unit was faultless. This requires another story as there are so many truly amazing nurses on this ward. We are forever grateful for their care.