"Patient centred care"

My spouse was transferred to Broome Health Campus in the early hours for a CT due to abdominal pain from another hospital.

I received a call from my spouse the other day explaining that they were being discharged and would return home on the bus but that they would be required to present to Broome Hospital for further investigations in a couple of days as it could not be done at the other hospital. My spouse would need to find their own way there and this would involve a 4 hour drive one way. 

At that point I believe there was no plan for pain relief for my spouse and I had received no contact with nursing or medical staff involving a plan of care or even a diagnosis. I phoned the nurse, who was understanding and helpful, but who explained that because the hospital needs the bed and because my spouse would not be being actively treated after tomorrow, they would need to be discharged.

As I understand it, the hospital had already booked my spouse's bus ticket with no consultation with family about what was going on and seemingly prior to any plan for managing their pain, which comes on suddenly and severely. I believe my spouse's nurse was also not aware of key symptoms that they had experienced at the other hospital, which may indicate infections and are yet to be explained as part of their diagnosis.

Rather than allow my spouse to be sent on a 5 hour bus trip home I have booked them 2 nights in Broome at our expense. This is in excess of $800 as there was nothing else available. Apparently PATS will pay up to $100 a night in situations such as this. My spouse has no ID and no money, which the hospital is aware of, and I have made arrangements with the hotel manager to charge money to my spouse's room so that they are able to have cash on hand to buy meals. 

I will be driving to Broome and back to collect my spouse as I was told that we would need to book accommodation for a couple more days in order to have paid transport home on the next available bus. This is all so I can ensure that my partner is safe and so they can stay the extra night that is needed to get an essential investigation done. 

We are privileged to be able to afford this option and I feel for those in this situation who would not be so lucky. Based on my experience, there is a lesson learnt: Don’t get sick in the Kimberley.