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"Long term pain"

About: Royal Perth Hospital Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital / Pain Management Clinic

(as a service user),

I have been searching for the cause of my pain for over 5 years now, I was conducting a process of elimination with my previous GP.

Results from an MRI returned with brain lesions in my frontal cortex. 

It was over a 12-month waitlist to the neurology department at Charles Gairdner.

In the meantime, I attended Royal Perth hospital emergency department because I could no longer cope with the pain. 

They sent me home, and sent my GP a letter to refer me to the Chronic Pain Clinic at Charles Gairdner. 

After a long wait time, I seen a pain doctor, I didn’t want medication, I was given patches that I believe didn’t work.

A few months later a different doctor called me, they asked how I was doing, I told them about the new meds I have been taking for my depression. I told them I felt no pain at the time of our phone conversation. They told me they would make another appointment to check in a few months time. 

When I called the department after not hearing back, they informed me I had been exited from the pain clinic and I would need another referral from my GP.

I was infuriated, as I was in so much pain, I was seeing a different GP at the time that didn’t understand my needs. I felt like this was impossible. I was in so much pain and after waiting for so long, with the hope that I would somehow have my pain resolved. I have still done nothing about this and living with the pain. 

I had another MRI done as directed by the Neurology department. They have told me nothing. 

My new GP sent me for another MRI at a different place, to get a different opinion. It turns out that my C5 in my spine is cracked. They said it’s an old injury, possibly from a car accident I had 10 years ago. I’m frustrated, I was an ED patient at Royal Perth Hospital after the car accident. Why wasn’t my injury noticed then, why wasn’t I looked at when I went there the second time in pain.

I feel frustrated, attending so many different appointments, living in fear and anxiety waiting for these appointments as a public patient. Been told I have brain lesions but they can’t tell me anything else. I feel I have not been taken seriously, and just sent away. The effect this has had on my mental health the past few years is huge.

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Responses

Response from Janet Zagari, Executive Director, Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group 3 years ago
Janet Zagari
Executive Director,
Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group
Submitted on 2/03/2021 at 1:14 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:15 PM


picture of Janet Zagari

Dear swingcp98,

Thank you for providing feedback on your experience of services at SCGH. I am so very sorry to hear how frustrating this has been for you whilst trying to manage your chronic pain and other health concerns.

I have contacted the Pain Clinic and they have advised that the usual process is to request a new referral to enable the clinician to have up to date information on the patient’s medications and medical conditions to inform ongoing care. Communication between the Pain Clinic and GP’s is vital to planning care for patients to assist in management of their condition.

I encourage you to contact the Consumer Liaison Service (CLS) at SCGH on 6457 2867 so that we can investigate your concerns more fully as Care Opinion is an anonymous platform. Once you have been in contact with CLS it will be possible to help guide you through the process and provide you with further information.

Wishing you the best.

Kind regards,

Janet Zagari

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Response from Lesley Bennett, Chief Executive, East Metropolitan Health Service 3 years ago
Lesley Bennett
Chief Executive,
East Metropolitan Health Service
Submitted on 2/03/2021 at 1:15 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:15 PM


picture of Lesley Bennett

Dear swingcp98,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience regarding the care and treatment you received at Royal Perth Hospital. I am truly sorry to hear of your concerns and the challenges you faced when accessing treatment at the Emergency Department.

Without specific details it is difficult to ascertain why your injury may not have been identified when you presented to the Emergency Department. I am concerned to read that you felt dismissed by staff and that this experience has impacted your mental health, as this is not the standard of care we aim to provide.

I acknowledge these concerns may be causing you additional distress. I would like the opportunity to follow up with your care journey personally. To do this I would need some further detail. I encourage you to contact our Consumer Engagement Unit on (08) 9224 1637, 8 am to 4 pm or email RPBG.feedback@health.wa.gov.au.

I respect you may like to remain anonymous, so please be assured that the Head of the Emergency Department has been made aware of your story and will be reviewing your experience with the team.

I hope we are able to be of assistance in resolving your concerns and wish you well for the future.

Kind Regards

Dr Lesley Bennett

Executive Director

Royal Perth Bentley Group

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