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"Back injury"

About: Esperance Health Campus / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

At the end of last year, I had a nasty fall. I was transferred to Esperance Health Campus via ambulance. When I fell flat on my back onto the hard ground, I felt something go pop in my back and a warm sensation came over my body. The ambulance crew were amazing and very careful in the way they treated me. The nursing staff were kind and caring. The Doctor who attended me, in my opinion, was another story.

I will never forget the words they spoke to me after assessing me - that I don't warrant an x-ray or CT. They then proceeded to ask me to get off the bed and walk around; which I did although it was very painful. I was sent home with pain relief. I was told to see my GP if it didn’t improve.

Two days later, I was feeling worse and saw my GP who was very understanding. I was sent for a CT and the result was fractured T12. I am very very lucky not be in a wheelchair. I spent 3 months in a brace and am no longer able to work.

I will never forget those six words. I believe this could have been a very different outcome.

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Responses

Response from James Harris, Regional Director Medical Services, WACHS Goldfields, WACHS Goldfields 4 years ago
James Harris
Regional Director Medical Services, WACHS Goldfields,
WACHS Goldfields

Regional Medical Director

Submitted on 24/04/2020 at 10:54 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 10:55 AM


picture of James Harris

Dear Backup,

Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us.

I am sorry to read about the fall you had last year. This would have been a very painful and frightening experience for you.

I am concerned about your experience at Esperance Health Campus and would like to learn more about what happened so that we can look to identify areas for service improvement and potentially help and support you with your rehabilitation.

In order to avoid overexposure to X-Ray radiation, WA Country Health Service doctors consider the national guidelines around when X-Rays and Scans are recommended and when they are not. I would like to investigate your specific circumstance to establish whether these guidelines were followed in your case.

I would also like to reflect on the comments made by your Doctor. People in our care should always feel safe and empowered to be able to initiate processes for escalation if there is any concern about the quality of their care. We should have been more open in our communication with you so that you were able to understand the reasoning behind the Doctors recommendations and participate fully in decisions relating to your care. I’m very sorry that this didn’t happen.

My name is James Harris and I am the Regional Director of Medical Services in the Goldfields. I would appreciate it if you could please call me at your convenience on 0417 992 147 or, alternatively, via email at James.Harris@health.wa.gov.au.

I do hope that we hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Dr James Harris

Regional Director, Medical Services

Goldfields

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