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Care Opinion

How my spouse was treated

Posted By likeablerr33

"How my spouse was treated"

About: Kalgoorlie Health Campus / Emergency Department Kalgoorlie Health Campus / Medical Ward

(as a carer),

My spouse arrived in the ambulance at Kalgoorlie Hospital in a very confused state. Their symptoms were high temperatures, unable to walk and with a cough. They obviously thought of Covid and did a PCR test straight away, I told them that my spouse had had Covid 5 weeks earlier and their symptoms were the same as last time they had pneumonia, so they did a chest X-rays and blood test which showed my spouse had an infection in the lungs. My spouse was admitted to hospital and then it seemed the nightmare started. My spouse was isolated and I was told they were allowed no visitors until the PCR results came back, they never mentioned that they had to go to Perth and took over 2 days to get the results. In the mean time I felt my spouse didn’t get any care, they had wet themself in emergency and I believe stayed in those soiled clothes for 2 days. My spouse also has legs that need to to be dressed everyday and I believe they were not attend to also.

You can imagine how distraught my spouse was on the phone to me when all this was happening, I rang the hospital straight away and after a heated discussion with a nurse, my spouse was attended to. their PCR came back negative about 4 o’clock on day 2, what gets me is the health department are, as I understand it, making all these decisions, they are telling the public you are safe for 12 weeks after getting Covid and then they treat you like apparent prisoners while your in hospital, in my opinion.

I feel sorry for the nursing staff who have to deal with angry and upset patients and families because of some of the rules, I feel their job is hard enough as it is. We witnessed a patient who was violent to a number of the staff while they were having to try and clean them up after they had messed themself.

It seemed to me the nurses are all over worked, I think they need to go back to the days when they had nurses aids to take the pressure of the nurses so the can do the job they are trained to do, which is caring for patients. 

A big plus to the kitchen, my spouse enjoyed the meals bearing in mind I am a cook by trade, so well done.

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Responses

Response from Peter Tredinnick, Executive Director, Regional Office, WACHS Goldfields nearly 2 years ago
Peter Tredinnick
Executive Director, Regional Office,
WACHS Goldfields

Executive Director WACHS Goldfields

Submitted on 20/06/2022 at 12:49 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:26 PM

picture of Peter Tredinnick

Dear likeablerr33

Thank you for taking the time to post about your experience at Kalgoorlie Health Campus. I hope your spouse is now recovering well.

As you have described arriving at a hospital site is very overwhelming and there are often procedures in place, such as testing those that have recently recovered from COVID-19, that are different to the information that we hear in the community; that this is not necessary for a period of 12 weeks. It may however, still be necessary to test and isolate patients in a hospital, whilst other respiratory infections, such as influenza, are ruled out. However, as you have identified the need for the team to communicate the reason and process of the matters with patients and their family is critical. I will be speaking with the team to remind them of how important this clear communication is.

I am sorry that the personal care your spouse required was not provided, for hygiene and comfort care as well as dressing changes; these are all critical for patient wellbeing. At Kalgoorlie Health Campus we undertake regular audits of the clinical care provided to ensure that it meets the standard. I will look to increasing the frequency of these audits, for the time being, as a response to your reports to ensure that we are delivering the level of care our community deserve.

Thank you for taking the opportunity to also acknowledge our team. You are correct our staff are often faced with difficult situations and work hard to provide compassionate and high standards of care, even at times when our patients can be vulnerable and a challenge to work with.

I am glad you found the meals to your liking and will pass your praise on to our team. They will be very proud, especially given this feedback has come from a professional in the area. As another point we are often recruiting to positions so should you or someone you know in the industry be looking for employment the positions are advertised at Careers (health.wa.gov.au).

Again, thank you for your feedback, both the positive and the negative. We will strive to make the improvements we have outlined and will pass all of your feedback to our team.

If you have any further enquiries, please don’t hesitate contact Alicia Michalanney, Director - Kalgoorlie Health Campus on 9080 5817 or Alicia.Michalanney@health.wa.gov.au.

Kind regards

Peter Tredinnick
Regional Director
WACHS Goldfields

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