"Lack of support with Telehealth appointment"

My spouse had emergency surgery a few weeks ago at Geraldton Health Service through the fracture clinic for their fractured collarbone which needed plating and a bone graft. Surgery went well and they were sent home on the same day. We actually live in Karratha but was on holidays at the time my spouse injured themselves. 

On the discharge summary, it was said my they needed a 6/week follow up with an X-ray prior to the appointment. I recalled we were told at the time telehealth could be arranged. 

I’ve been trying for about a week and a half at the time of writing this story, to organise this follow up appointment and constantly being told by the fracture clinic and doctors there that, sorry we don’t do telehealth appointments, you’ll have to see your GP get a referral to see a visiting orthopaedic surgeon. So that’s what I did but we actually don’t have an orthopaedic surgeon that specialises in upper limbs till next March 2022. I’ve contacted the surgeon's private rooms who have simply said the Regional hospital need to sort it for you.

I’m so disappointed in the lack of support we have had in order to get a simple follow up appointment so that we are assured my spouse's collarbone has healed and that they can go back to work. We live over 1000kms away from any large hospital and as I’m a health care worker myself, I’m shocked at the dismissal we are receiving because we live in a remote and rural area.