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Cancelled operations

Posted By System Gone Wrong

"Cancelled operations"

About: Royal Perth Hospital / Elective & Emergency Orthopaedic Surgery & Bone Tissue Bank Royal Perth Hospital / Older Adult Orthopaedics (Orthogeriatric) & Ward 8B

(as a carer),

I have a parent, who has now had their hip replacement cancelled twice. I really don't think that Royal Perth Hospital understand the pain they are going through! My parent is almost 80 years old and has been suffering for several years with a hip joint that is basically no longer there.

Not only is their body twisted from how long they have been going through this prolonged time to get into having an operation to replace their hip, they are having to take heavy pain killers to see themself through the day. How long should an elderly person wait for the help they so desperately need?

How, in my opinion, can the system be so ignorant to the needs of the patients they have under their care and when will someone do something to correct it?

How am I supposed to care for someone in such agony who is now, I feel, being let down by a system that treats a hip replacement such as this an "elective" surgery? As I can assure you, in my opinion, it is not elective it is critical care!

I am ashamed to say, that what I feel was once one of the best health systems in the world is letting our elderly down so, I believe, inhumanely.

I would love to hear from someone who can explain why?

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Responses

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 14/09/2021 at 2:38 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 2:38 PM

picture of George Eskander

Dear System Gone Wrong,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your story. I am deeply sorry that your parent’s elective hip replacement surgery has been cancelled on two occasions.

Following a meeting with the Western Australian Department of Health and Health Service Providers, it was decided that WA public hospitals will scale back some elective surgeries to help alleviate ongoing high demand.

From Wednesday 1 September 2021, all metropolitan public hospitals have been directed to not make further bookings for some elective surgeries for a period of one month. Existing bookings in these categories also had to be rescheduled. This change allows for redeployment of staff to key areas, deliver additional bed capacity and help reduce hospital demand. I acknowledge this does not help your family’s situation and would like to unreservedly apologise for any distress this has caused as a result.

The decision to scale back elective surgery was not taken lightly and the Department of Health regrets that this will cause disruption to many families, like yours who are affected by the change. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience and frustration your family has endured.

As your parent is experiencing high levels of pain, I encourage you to visit their General Practitioner (GP) to discuss your concerns. If the GP feels there is a need for more urgent assessment they can contact our Orthopaedic department directly to provide updated information that will assist in prioritising their referral. We welcome this opportunity to assist your family further.

It is really important to us that patient’s receive the highest quality of care and Royal Perth Hospital is working tirelessly to reschedule elective surgeries as soon as the restrictions are lifted.

If you feel comfortable, please contact the Consumer Engagement Unit on 9224 1637 Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm or email: RPBG.Feedback@health.wa.gov.au should you wish to discuss your concerns more personally.

I sincerely wish both you and your parent all the best.

Kind Regards

A/Prof George Eskander

A/Executive Director

Royal Perth Bentley Group

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