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

The real country issues

Posted By Changecountryhelp

"The real country issues"

About: Northam Health Service / Emergency Department York Health Service / Emergency Department

(as a carer),

I am a paid carer in regional York WA. After a client had a fall, I called for an ambulance. 1.5 hours later the ambulance arrived (not their fault in my opinion, they are only volunteers). After an 8 hour wait in the York Hospital, my client needed an x-ray which is not available in York Hospital so had to be transferred to Northam.

After the 8 hours, it was discovered there were no available ambulances to take my client over to Northam. The telehealth doctor advised strongly my client needed an x-ray and wouldn't allow them to go home. It was now nighttime. As my client had no family, I was asked to privately transport my client to Northam (this is out of my work hours hence no pay for my time or travel).

We arrived at Northam and I had to wait with my client. Initially told they would not call in the x-ray people but fortunately, they were called in for a CT scan for another patient. Neither York nor Northam were apparently willing to place my client in a bed overnight in case there was no x-ray that night, even after the telehealth doctor had advised of its necessity.

This is not the first time I have had to do this with a client. I have also had to collect from Northam on a weekend. Sadly, my employer doesn't reimburse me nor offer any solutions. In my opinion, this is not good enough for our aging population here. 

So this was me, after already working for over 16 hours, we were still in ED in Northam Hospital and yet to drive the 30 minutes home and I was also on call for the next day.

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

Responses

Response from Trenton Greive, Operations Manager Western Wheatbelt, WA Country Health Service - Wheatbelt 2 years ago
Trenton Greive
Operations Manager Western Wheatbelt,
WA Country Health Service - Wheatbelt

Submitted on 27/08/2021 at 2:27 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 2:41 PM

picture of Trenton Greive

Dear Changecountryhelp,

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback concerning your experience with York Health Service and Northam Health Service.

First I would like to acknowledge the important and valuable work you do as a carer.

WA Country Health Service Wheatbelt aims to provide a high quality and safe service at all times, and I regret that these standards have not been maintained.

I was sorry to read of your long wait at York Hospital for an x-ray and further wait for an ambulance to take you to Northam Hospital where the doctor was un-willing to call in the after-hours x-ray operator to perform the x-ray.

I hope the following information will be helpful to you.

York Hospital does undertake x-rays. The hospital has two trained x-ray operators who are also nurses that work in the York Emergency Department. The hospital x-ray operators are limited to x-ray of extremities; that is legs and arms but also chest. If the x-ray operators are not on shift when a patient presents or that the injury requires a trained medical technologist to undertake a more complex x-ray, then there will be a requirement for that patient to transfer to Northam Hospital.

Once a patient has been reviewed by the Emergency Telehealth doctor, they will advise Northam Hospital Emergency Department doctor that the patient is being referred for further assessment. On arrival at Northam Hospital ED, a physical examination will be undertaken by the ED Doctor which determines what investigations, management plan and the urgency of this is required for the patient. After hours, the Northam ED doctor will call in the on-call medical technologist for emergency imaging. If an x-ray is determined not urgent, then patients generally will either be kept in the ED until normal Medical Imaging services resume or return if appropriate as a booked examination. Patients will not be admitted to the Northam Hospital ward, based solely on the need for an x-ray, but rather on the medical condition of the patient. Patients who need an x-ray but who do not need to be admitted will be discharged home from the Emergency Department.

I note the concerns raised by you regarding the ambulance wait times. I am happy to raise this issue with our colleagues at St John Ambulance when we next meet.

Thank you again for bringing this matter to my attention. I apologise for the inconvenience and cost to you and, the delay in care to your client. I would very much like to investigate your experience in more detail to help us improve our services. I would be grateful if you call me, Trenton Greive, Operations Manager Western Wheatbelt on 9690 1315 to discuss the matter further.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Trenton

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