"Poor service and lack of follow-up"

I’ve had a terrible experience with the Kalgoorlie Health Campus. After injuring myself early last month, I went straight to ED hoping for some help. Although I was only one of three patients there, I was made to wait for over an hour before seeing a clinician. The clinician then proceeded to look at my injury for about five minutes, before I had to wait another 45 minutes before seeing the X-ray specialist. During this time I was not offered any pain killers or given any indication as to how long the wait would be. 

After having an X-ray and confirming no breaks, another clinician came and explained the results to me - giving very, I felt, vague and unclear advice - before fitting me with a moon boot and sending me on my way. I felt there was no clear indication as to what I needed to do next or when I would be contacted. I was eventually told I would need an ultrasound, but that the hospital was backed up in the radiology department. I was told to wait for the hospital to contact me to organise such, which they didn’t attempt to do until over two weeks later. After an appointment with the hospital orthopaedic specialist, I was told someone would contact me regarding physiotherapy. I was not contacted about physiotherapy until over a month after my injury, by which point I had already given up on the public system and begun private rehabilitation elsewhere. 

While I understand that hospitals can get busy and  I believe there aren’t always staff members on hand, I felt the increased waiting periods were an absolute joke. As someone working in the government sector, I had more faith in our public hospital system until this experience. I am fortunate enough to have been able to pay for a private ultrasound and physiotherapy, otherwise I believe my treatment would have been significantly delayed and my return to work would have been further prolonged.