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Poor staff treatment while in extreme pain

Posted By atropos

"Poor staff treatment while in extreme pain"

About: Angliss Hospital / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

I suffer from a number of complex issues including chronic pain. Recently, one evening I was transported to the Angliss casualty department after being given morphine to help with my pain. I was triaged into casualty department and waited in a cubical for nearly four hours, in that time I was not seen either by a nurse or a doctor despite my screaming aloud in pain.

My spouse who was with me took action and arranged that we discharge ourselves after a nurse was able to give me two endone tablets.

I am now at home, I have not been able to see a doctor and have an appointment coming up in the afternoon.

I have now taken three times my prescribed pain medication with very little effect, to be honest, I feel I want to die.

I have lost all faith in the Angliss Hospital and never wish to return. If it was not for my spouse I would have ended my life that day.

I feel there is no pathway left for me.

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Responses

Response from David Plunkett, Chief Executive, Eastern Health 4 years ago
David Plunkett
Chief Executive,
Eastern Health

Submitted on 28/02/2020 at 1:16 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:28 PM

picture of David Plunkett

Dear atropos

Thank you for taking the time to share these comments regarding your experience when attending the Emergency Department at Angliss Hospital. I’m very sorry you were left feeling this way.

I understand you have also made contact with the Patient Relations Advisors in the Eastern Health Centre for Patient Experience and that the staff within the Angliss Emergency Department have spoken with you regarding your experience and the plan of care for you that you are happy with.

Please accept my apologies that you needed to raise these concerns in confirming your plan of care and I hope your confidence in the service we provide will improve.

Kind regards and best wishes

David

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Update posted by atropos (the patient)

Hi folks

Yes, I was contacted by the hospital but unfortunately due to an issue with my mobile phone the call was cut short and I really did not get enough information.

The staff in the emergency department were run off their feet, they were unable to provide a fair and compassionate level of service.

I believe when you are in severe pain things seem very different.

At the moment I am coping but only just. I feel there are huge issues in my treatment that need to be considered in a holistic manner it will be very easy for me to think that my quality of life is unacceptable.

I feel sorry for the staff, I don't want to make things difficult for them.

The good thing was the kindness and compassion shown to be by the ambos who I felt went above and beyond in an effort to help me.

Your comments would be appreciated.

Regards

Response from Gayle Smith, Executive Director, Quality, Planning and Innovation, Eastern Health 4 years ago
Gayle Smith
Executive Director, Quality, Planning and Innovation,
Eastern Health

Submitted on 2/03/2020 at 1:06 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:33 PM

picture of Gayle Smith

Dear atropos,

Thank you again for providing your feedback on Patient Opinion. I am aware that there was direct follow up with you in response to your earlier Patient Opinion post and I am sorry that you felt that not all your issues were adequately resolved and you would like further comment.

I would like to assure you that we take all feedback very seriously and it is followed up by the local manager and discussed with staff. It would not be appropriate to provide detail of individual circumstances and issues on a public website and we do not do this but we would be most happy to discuss any further issues with you directly.

If you would like to do this can I please request that you contact the Patient Relations Advisors in the Eastern Health Centre for Patient Experience. They can be contacted via either calling 1800 EASTERN or by emailing feedback@easternhealth.org.au. Please note that, if you call them they may be on the phone, so please leave a message and they will return your call.

Regards,

Gayle Smith

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