My relative is a stage 4 bowel cancer patient aged in their 80’s. We have had 3 horrendous admissions in the last 9 months. Recently, we had a GP appointment which resulted in my relative being admitted for treatment of very swollen legs, very unwell, possibly an infection, or tumour related. I had all the relevant paperwork from their GP, and had spoken to the cancer nurse, regarding being fast tracked to avoid the lengthy wait. I was given my relative's ID number, and I was advised to inform the staff they were an expected patient, which I still have the text message from the cancer nurse...
Upon arrival we were told to sit on the red chair, then a rat test was performed on my relative, but not me, and tested negative. We were taken in to be triaged and I had all the paperwork and letter from the GP, to be told that's not how it works here, and I felt my concerns had fallen on deaf ears yet again with your ED Department. We fully understand the situation in the hospital system is certainly strained, to say the least. We were told to go and sit on a blue chair, and there we sat for another 3 hours with my relative’s legs up, taking up 3 chairs.
When we finally got taken in, my relative was put in a kids bed again. Finally we had a lovely doctor who administered a cannula, drew bloods, and made my relative comfortable. Scans were ordered, and I had settled my relative before I had to reluctantly leave them. I spoke to the doctor before leaving, asking them to keep me informed as my relative's short term memory sometimes isn't the best from previous chemo and radiation. The doctor did call me later that evening.
My relative was taken for an xray, to which my relative advised that they were having a scan not an xray, so my relative gave up telling them. My relative was taken for an xray, and again let them know, they were having a scan, I believe staff asked my relative if they were a different patient. My relative was also asked, while I was there, if they were a second incorrect patient’s name! Another covid test was carried out, which resulted in a positive result.
Around midnight, they moved my relative into an isolation room and it seemed just left them. My relative felt like they were in a prison cell and I couldn't be there for them, which has been very intense as we are on this horrible cancer journey together and it's the first time I couldn't be there for them. I understand my relative had no meals, which is unacceptable in my opinion, the same towels for 3 days, not once did anyone come and ask my relative if they were in pain. I recall my relative had urinated themselves after calling the nurses bell for over 30 minutes, as their legs were so swollen they needed help to get out of the bed. When my relative asked if they could have some paper bags for their colostomy bag, I believe they were told just throw it in bin as is! I recall my relative’s bin still wasn't emptied even on discharge. My relative told me they didn't feel safe. The stoma nurse found some biscuits for my relative to eat.
We found this hospital stay nothing short of disgusting and demoralising. My relative deserved to be treated with dignity and respect. I was able to contact a staff member who works in emergency and is an angel in disguise as they went and got my relative some food, got a ward bed organised, put a sheet on and organised some meals. In my relative's words, they felt like a new person…Thank you to this amazing staff member.
Unfortunately my relative now has lost all trust in your hospital and, it's going to be extremely difficult for me to get them there again when it's needed, which is not a good situation to be in considering how ill they are...I believe there simply isn't any excuse for such poor patient care, even during a world wide pandemic or staff shortages, what ever happened to empathy at the very least?
"Patient care"
About: Bunbury Hospital / Emergency Department Bunbury Hospital Emergency Department Bunbury 6230
Posted by Cancersucks (as ),
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Update posted by Cancersucks (a service user) nearly 2 years ago
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