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Care Opinion

Patient eviction

Posted By DEADEND

"Patient eviction"

About: Royal Perth Hospital / Short Stay Surgical Unit Ward 4A & Day Surgery Unit Ward 4B/4G

(as the patient),

I was up for my regular 6 weekly trip. Morning of discharge, team came around, nothing unusual about that, then from the rear of the pack, an individual emerged, who I felt did not have the manners to introduce themselves so I have no idea who they are. They told me, after the next procedure which was last week, you will be transferred to FSH for future treatment. I thought what? why? I recalled they said I am in the wrong catchment area and it is too much paperwork to keep coming here.

What about what is good for me? Do they really think that I put them and paperwork before the fact that I have been with both the short stay ward and xray theatre for 9 freaking years. I trust them all. Instead, I felt if they had bothered to notice, I am a human being, not a number. I have been cared for exceptionally well by these people for all that time. Recently I had a complete mental bust from a nurse I didn't know and who I felt never bothered to find out what my medical situation was. (Agency I believe). I have still not fully recovered from that.

I believe they want me out because I am too outspoken. I have researched my medical conditions and ask for results to blood tests etc., which I never receive.

I am a public patient with multiple illnesses, including mental ones, I believe you can not refuse me treatment! I asked Radiology for my next Procedure date and I will be there then. 

I don't care about your paperwork. It seems to me that it must be such a hard job when that is all they are worried about. Maybe when they are sick sometime, somebody should treat them like a number and not a person, see how they like it!

I know the teams that look after me and I refuse to start that process all over again. If transfer tried I will present to RPH ED when procedure is due.

I am not a number!

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Responses

Response from Lesley Bennett, Chief Executive, East Metropolitan Health Service 2 years ago
Lesley Bennett
Chief Executive,
East Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 9/08/2021 at 11:04 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 11:07 AM

picture of Lesley Bennett

Dear DEADEND,

I am deeply sorry to hear of your experience and your ongoing health challenges.

I was very disappointed to hear of your recent experience. I would like to acknowledge your distress with being informed you would be transferred from your current team who provide you with exceptional care; and particularly in a manner that I agree was not acceptable. I am pleased; however, you found that the team cared for you exceptionally well. Thank you for this feedback.

In the event that a change of team is required we expect this to be communicated in a compassionate and caring manner and I would like to apologise that this did not occur.

With respect to hospital catchment areas, we are guided by Department of Health policy, however, I can assure you that both your continuity of care and treating each patient as an individual is important to us. I would like you to contact the Consumer Engagement Unit on (08) 9224 1637, 8am to 4pm or email RPBG.feedback@health.wa.gov.au so we can investigate what is best for you and your ongoing treatment, especially noting you have a long association with such a caring team.

Royal Perth Bentley Group is committed to safer health care and improving the service they provide to individuals, so I appreciate you letting us know of your experience, so that we can learn from this.

Kind regards,

Lesley Bennett
Executive Director
Royal Perth Bentley Group

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by DEADEND (the patient)

Dear Lesley,

I acknowledge your job is a very difficult. However, in my opinion, your response felt more like platitudes to prepare me for something that wasn't going to be changed no matter what my feelings and problems are.

Anxiety is an awful thing just in my everyday life. My 94 yr old mum passed away in May and since then I have had blow after blow. I got decarded from a micro alert, without any swabs being done, now I am anxious about other patients in the room with me, (I love sharing rooms because being from the country I know I will be alone).

I have been living with a drain in my pelvis for going on 3 yrs, this drain produces a very strong odour, which I feel the Urology team should be trying their hardest to find some solution to. Since being put back in shared rooms, I have had one breakdown from an, in my opinion, inconsiderate agency nurse, over this odour, and end up being moved to a single room in the middle of the night on every visit. I can't live like this, I am in my 60s. I don't go anywhere because of it. I will not go to enclosed spaces. I feel the Doctors have not taken their duty of care seriously and have no concern for the problems this has caused. The Urology teams, I feel, have a duty of care and responsibility to fix this problem.

Why now, after all these years does Health Dept. Policy come in to play. Fiona Stanley has been operating for years now. Why now, when I am at a level of depression and anxiety, that I don't know if I will survive another upheaval. Why was this 'policy' kept til now to force on me.

I believe I have been put in the too hard basket and shunted around teams like a football. I am end stage CKD. Survived cancer! Fought tooth and nail every day to try to have quality of life! When it comes to the oath Doctors take "to do no harm" I feel they have failed. In my opinion, the harm that is being inflicted on me is both physical and mental and I should not be handed off for someone else to fix the harm they have caused.

I apologise for the long response and yet, there is so much more affecting me in other ways.

PS I wrote 2 yrs ago about my GP not getting test results etc.! He still doesn't!

Not sure if Care Opinion really counts for anything. You said you would give the positive feedback I gave for X-ray theatre and wards 4a and 4b to them yourself and yet it seems they never heard a word. I may néed to find a more serious approach to my problems, as it seems things are promised but never fulfilled.

Regards,

DEADEND

Response from George Eskander, Acting Executive Director, Royal Perth Bentley Group 2 years ago
George Eskander
Acting Executive Director,
Royal Perth Bentley Group

Submitted on 30/08/2021 at 1:24 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:44 PM

picture of George Eskander

Dear DEADEND,

Thank you for making contact again. I am sorry that my colleague Lesley Bennett’s response seemed like an offering of platitudes and did not acknowledge your feelings and problems. I was saddened to hear of your mother’s passing and the ongoing difficulties you have been facing since then.

It is difficult to offer more than a generalised apology without knowing an individuals’ circumstances, however, I understand that you have now made contact with our Consumer Engagement Department and that your complaint is being investigated.

Please be assured that your continuity of care is important to us. We expect to have a letter to you by 3 September.

Kind Regards,

George Eskander

Acting Executive Director

Royal Perth Bentley Group

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
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