"Waiting for emergency surgery"

Feeling devastated. I broke my wrist and shattered and dislocated my elbow and was admitted straight away to Maroondah Emergency to treat my dislocation. I was told by doctors I would be operated on the following day and so I fasted for 23hrs till when I was told I was no longer on the list. I was told I may be transferred to another hospital the next day for surgery but by that day, this had changed to being moved to a third hospital for surgery in a few more days.

My partner was told by my doctor that it seems the reason for the delay was that my surgery was complicated and a plan had not been finalised. This makes no sense to me as I thought surgery had been scheduled prior to this. Nearly a week since my accident and I was told the likelihood of surgery in the next couple of days is 50% or maybe next week but will likely be done within 3 weeks and I’m welcome to go home and wait! 

I understand triage priorities however, as main carer to a parent with advanced dementia and MS and my own child, I am feeling abandoned and overwhelmed by the conflicting information I’ve been given. Grappling with the knowledge that I am not a priority and that, with the pressure on beds and surgery lists, I feel I am now taking up a bed that could be better used by someone else. I am dreading returning home.

I believe the nursing care has been exceptional and for that I am extremely grateful. The government's decision to no longer send public patients to private hospitals during Covid pandemic, I have been told, has impacted my access to surgery.