"Poor pain management and service"

I was a patient in another hospital in Bundaberg for a few days with severe pain in my left groin and was unable to pass urine. They found that there was 40% urine left in my bladder after going to the toilet. They also found that I needed injections to clear my bladder and also found that my lungs were also affected.

After a few days, they sent me to the Mater Hospital for treatment in the afternoon by ambulance.

At the Mater, they had great difficulty using the heart monitor/analyser because it was the old type I believe, which has problems sticking to the skin, unlike the modern trouble-free type used at the other hospital.

While I was being tested I told the nurse that I was very hungry but had not eaten because of the pain. Just then the meal trolley came round and I told the nurse to put the meal to one side after my journey to the Mater. The other nurse finished the heart test and went away. I waited for a long time for the nurse to come back with my meal, but they did not come back.

I looked for the nurse call remote and did not see any. Waited for someone to pass my door and called out for a nurse and one nurse came. I asked for my meal and was asked would I like a sandwich and they went away and brought a sandwich but nothing to drink.

Later around nighttime, a doctor came and said that I would have X Rays the following morning, then walked out of my room after turning off the ceiling room light I believe, which left only the passage light to light the room.

I felt that I would be better treated back at the other hospital and got up and packed my hospital case. Someone came into my room and I told them to get an ambulance to take me back to the other hospital. That person asked me to sign an admission document which I refused. Suddenly my Severe groin came back half an hour later. The nurse told me to lay on my bed and then left my room. I layed on the bed for over an hour and no one came to my room to give me treatment of any sort for the very severe pain. Later that night, I turned in my bed and suddenly the pain was nearly gone.

Some minutes later, two people came into my room with a hot pad and pain medication which was not needed at this time, taking into account that this medication was needed an hour before when the pain was severe.

I again asked for an ambulance to take me back to the other hospital, but none came.

After waiting about an hour I got up out of bed and picked up my hospital case to find a way out of the hospital.

I walked through a few passageway to find my way out but could not find an unlocked exit door.

I went back to my room and got out my mobile phone and phone 000 for the police to come and take me out of what I felt was this hell hole. The police tried to phone me back a couple of times but I had forgotten how to answer an incoming call. Keeping in mind that I keep this mobile in my car for emergency use only.

After I had contacted the police the hospital staff came in and said that they had ordered a taxi for me, but I told them that I would wait for the police after having contacted them.

The police came and took me back to the other hospital's emergency where they took me in.

Next morning when I woke up I had no idea where I was as I had lost my memory including who I was. I recalled the doctor said that my bladder problem could have caused my memory loss? However, I felt that the deep stress that I was put through at the Mater was more likely the cause.

I have no doubt that the staff at the Mater are not fit to run a hospital after what they put me through.

I am now at home at the time of writing this story, waiting to have my severe hernia and my urine flow blockage operated on and have no idea when this will happen, but put my hernia as first priority.

I felt that the first hospital I went to is the best hospital that I have been in. Their doctors and nurses must be praised for excellent service for their patients like me. I feel that there is an infection problem preventing them from operating on my hernia. They gave me 10 days supply of 500mg capsules to take when I am home.