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Frustration with hospital disorganisation

Posted By uniformqf84

"Frustration with hospital disorganisation"

About: Albany Health Campus

(as a carer),

My late mother was admitted to Albany hospital with an undiagnosed issue, she spent two and a half months in the Albany hospital over a 3-month period with the other time spent at another hospital in Perth. Whilst at Albany she was moved from ward to ward every 3-5 days, even spending time in the maternity ward. Each time she was moved it was extremely stressful and distressing to the family who was trying to be supportive. As a Private health patient with a chronic illness having to share a room and bathroom was difficult I believe, she was required to measure fluid input and output which is difficult when sharing a room. 

When she returned from the hospital in Perth, she was placed in an isolation room and in her final hours, we were unable to spend quality time with her without full PPE. I believe the nurses didn't want to have to enter the room and get kitted up every time and she often had meals left in the air gap room and when she did get it, it was cold and ice cream was melted. There were two occasions I believe where her high-flow oxygen would stop working, her stats would drop below what I believe the doctors prescribed and as I understand, it was not noticed by the nursing staff. I felt the quality of her care dropped off substantially when put into the isolation room. In my opinion, it was disgusting and it wasn't until she was moved to the Hospice that she got the quality of care that was acceptable.

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Responses

Response from Jennifer Thompson, A/MPS Operations Manager, Regional Office, WACHS 2 years ago
Jennifer Thompson
A/MPS Operations Manager, Regional Office,
WACHS

Overseas the operation of the smaller hospitals in the Great Southern

Submitted on 2/12/2021 at 11:08 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 11:09 AM

Dear uniformqf84,

Firstly, I would like to offer you my sincere condolences on the passing of your mother. Losing a parent is such a difficult time and I hope you have support around you as you grieve your loss.

I would like to apologise sincerely for your mother’s experience at the Albany Health Campus and the impact this has had on you and your family. We want all of our patients and their families and carers to feel safe and well cared for and I am so sorry to hear what happened and how you have been left feeling.

I completely understand how unsettling it can be if patients are moved to different rooms and I would like to assure you that we do try to minimise this happening as much as possible. I acknowledge your disappointment in relation to your mother not having the opportunity to be in a single room and apologise that we were not able to accommodate this for your mother.

I am very concerned by your description of the care that your mother received when she returned from Perth and was placed in an isolation room. I would really like the opportunity to thoroughly investigate this and the other concerns you have raised and would be very grateful if you could contact me so we can talk about what happened. My name is Jenny Thompson and I am the Director of Albany Health Campus. Please feel free to call me on 0428 758 213 or email me at Jennifer.thompson@health.wa.gov.au.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to share your experience which has clearly been distressing for you.

I do hope to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Jenny Thompson

Director, Albany Health Campus

WACHS GS

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