I live in Kununurra in the East Kimberley area of WA. I was booked to have a total hip replacement in Perth recently. This was done at a private hospital. Perth is 3000km from Kununurra.
The pre-operative information that I was given by my specialist stressed the fact that you had to prepare your home ready for your post-operative stage.
I contacted the Allied Health team at Kununurra Hospital to organise a shower chair, a toilet raiser and a high back chair. I believe these items are very necessary after a hip replacement. When I went into the hospital to request these items a few days before my flight to Perth I was told that I could not have them until the items were requested by the hospital where I was to have my procedure. I was quite distressed about this as I am a senior citizen and especially wanted the toilet raiser ready at my home after the flight home from Perth.
I feel that if this is the case, then I feel the residents in the Kimberley are at a disadvantage, in Perth, you are able to hire these items from numerous outlets. There was nowhere in Kununurra that I could hire them.
During the discharge process at the private hospital, I mentioned this to my physiotherapist. They then went and asked an Occupational Therapist to come and see me. I explained the situation to the OT, it is not their normal practise to contact the Allied Health people in Kununurra to advise about the equipment needed. They did this though, at my request.
I would like this matter to be looked at, please? I feel that if a patient is not able to safely set up their home prior to the long trip to Perth for surgery, then, in my opinion, they are potentially being set up for failure. To not have these items available after a hip replacement risks dislocation of the new hip.
"Setting up your home after Total Hip Replacement"
About: Kununurra Hospital Kununurra Hospital Kununurra 6743
Posted by perseusjq73 (as ),
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