This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?

"The really bad interaction"

About: Albany Health Campus / Emergency Department

(as a parent/guardian),

I went to the hospital in the early morning after I spent the night with my child who had terrible back pain. Went through the exam thingy at the entrance and we’re told the waiting time was 1 hour and asked if I want to wait, where I said yes please, my child is in real bad pain and asked if they could lay down on a bed as it helps a bit. 

I wouldn’t have taken my child there if I didn’t feel they really needed it, because I've had a previous experience personally of a doctor, I believe saying things to me like they can’t help the pain because of my weight.

We went in 40 minutes later so my child could lay down, not long after, I asked if my child could have a heat pack and some pain medication. The nurse said no, the doctor will have to come and see them. About an hour later, the nurses came back and said my child needs to do a urine sample and they are going to give them Panadol and Nurofen; by this time we still hadn't seen the doctor. Hours passed, I asked the nurse how long it will still be to see the doctor, where they replied we're not a real emergency and that the doctor is busy.

I needed to start work in a couple of hours and the only thing I wanted was a doctor to have the compassion, I believe they get trained to have, tell me my child will be ok, it’s not something really bad and what we could do from there but I eventually got up and walked out of the hospital with my child. I was almost in tears because of the circumstances of my child I believe feeling cruelty and that I am going to be late to work. In my opinion, no child should feel like that and in the one place where I believe we are told from young, is that it's a safe place, everyone is equal.

In my opinion, a hospital is a place you go because you feel utterly useless and feel you can’t help your child because they are in so much pain, that you feel your hands are cut off and you can’t do anything.  I feel heartbroken because I feel I failed my child because, at one stage, I believe my child said no one even cares or has come to check on us, why is that? So I want to know from you now, how would you answer this question?

Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Juan Clark, Operations Manager, Operations, Albany Health Campus, WACHS Great Southern 4 years ago
Juan Clark
Operations Manager, Operations,
Albany Health Campus, WACHS Great Southern
Submitted on 31/03/2020 at 2:19 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 2:21 PM


Dear Heartbroken parent,

Thank you for sharing your experience of your child’s visit to Albany Health Campus.

It is a stressful and worrying time for any parent to have to bring a child to the Emergency Department and you and your child certainly should feel safe and supported when you come to hospital. I am very sorry this experience did not meet the care you were expecting and from what you have written I can see a number of obvious areas of care that we could improve on.

In this regard, I would very much welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your experience further and investigate your particular circumstances. Please can you can contact me on 9892 2620 to set up a time to meet.

Yours sincerely

Juan Clark

Operations Manager, Albany Health Campus

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k