My family member presented to the Geraldton Emergency Department with what is in my opinion, a very severe health state. A 170cm tall adult weighing only 37kg, unable to eat and intentionally over-dosing on medications (20x the recommended dose), would appear to me to be very high risk. After waiting for many hours, they were eventually seen and had a blood test, waited more hours to get put on a teleconference just to then be sent away with the promise they will call us later in the week, probably in a couple days.
Someone in such a severe state clearly isn't going to last until then and so of course they were back at the Emergency Department 2 days later. After being left in the waiting room for 4 hours they were told it's not a medical emergency and that they will give a medical certificate for a week off work. Tell me, how is an emaciated adult going to magically get better, to go back to work in one week, with zero treatment? How nearly dead do you have to be before it's a 'medical emergency’? I'm no expert but it seems like once your organs start shutting down it's already too late.
"Emergency department disappointment"
About: Geraldton Hospital / Emergency Department Geraldton Hospital Emergency Department Geraldton 6530
Posted by Gero99 (as ),
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