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Being turned away from a hospital in an emergency

Posted By Whatisanemergency

"Being turned away from a hospital in an emergency"

About: Ravensthorpe Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a parent/guardian),

My child needed stitches and a possible tetanus shot (I was unsure of their last one) as they fell off a fence and landed in a rusty start picket. I called up Ravensthorpe hospital and explained the situation and what they needed, only to be told that they can’t do that here, I’ll have to go to Esperance.

It was on a weekend night and Esperance is over an hour away from me. It was dinner time and the roads were wet. I was very frustrated and disappointed and driving with hungry kids whilst maintaining that I actually don’t do well with blood, was super hard!

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Responses

Response from Debra Eggleston, Director of Nursing/Health Service Manager, Ravensthorpe Health Service, WA Country Health Service Great Southern nearly 2 years ago
Debra Eggleston
Director of Nursing/Health Service Manager, Ravensthorpe Health Service,
WA Country Health Service Great Southern

Runs a small hospital in the Great Southern

Submitted on 3/08/2022 at 5:18 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 4/08/2022 at 8:29 AM

Dear Whatisanemergency

Thank you for sharing your story on Care Opinion. I am very sorry that you were not encouraged, as you should have been, to attend the emergency department at Ravensthorpe Hospital so that your child’s injury could be assessed and managed if appropriate. I also agree that sending you off to Esperance with a couple of hungry children in the car on a wet weekend night was unnecessary. I will share your story with the whole team and would encourage you to always attend the emergency department if you need to. There is no reason to call ahead.

I hope your child is fully recovered from their encounter with the rusty star picket.

Best wishes,

Deb Eggleston

Director of Nursing/Health Service Manager

Ravensthorpe Health Service

WA Country Health Service Great Southern

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