My elderly parents were both taken in through the Emergency Department (ED) and subsequently admitted into the Critical Care Ward at Midland Hospital, WA, with a diagnosis on Para Influenza Type 3. One of my parents was admitted that day, and the next day, their spouse was admitted.
While in the ED, my parent who had first been admitted was also diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation, which now requires ongoing mediation. Late evening, their Systolic Blood Pressure (BP) was over 200 - which I had to raise with nursing staff to get any attention. Their primary carer (my other parent), was in the room next door in the same ward where they remained for a further few days.
The following morning, I received a call from the hospital to say my parent who had Atrial Fibrillation was ready for discharge. I advised that I believed they were at too great of a risk to go home alone and I could not understand how they would be discharged from Critical Care without being moved to a general ward first to ensure their health condition had stabilised.
This was also after I explained that they could not go home as they would be alone (significant falls risk), and I was the only family member who could take them in, but I was also the primary carer for a family member with brain cancer and another with a significant cognitive disability.
I was told they are not a babysitting service, to which I responded that their comment warrants a formal complaint. This was in the holiday season and therefore I felt my parent was discharged to manage the staff roster over the holidays and had nothing to do with their health needs.
"Direct discharge from Critical Care Ward"
About: St John of God Midland Hospital / Critical Care Unit St John of God Midland Hospital Critical Care Unit Midland 6056
Posted by mintel (as ),
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