"Injury to right index finger"

I am an Australian citizen with dual nationality living in the UK.

I recently took a touring holiday in WA by motor home to spend some camping time with good friends in the North West.

I was holding some firewood for my mate who was cutting it in the sand dunes near where we were all camping.

The chainsaw bounced and hit my right index finger causing a nasty cut and cutting half way through the bone. We rushed to Karratha Health Campus 60 kms away where I was triaged, X-rayed and assessed by excellent staff. The decision was made that I had to be flown to RPH the next morning and I was kept in Karratha Health Campus overnight. I was treated excellently.

I was transported next morning to Karratha airport and subsequently flown to Perth and arrived at Royal Perth Hospital via a taxi.

On arrival at RPH where I was expected by the admittance team, a very caring intern Doctor called Justin assessed my condition along with one of the surgeons from the plastic surgical team and the process was well explained to me.

I was then admitted to Ward 6H and the nurse on duty (Josh) along with trainee nurse (Justine) made me as comfortable as I could be. They also provided me with necessary toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, razor and shaving foam) as I only had the clothes I arrived in which were also blood spattered!

The night nurse (sorry forgot her name) looked after me excellently at night.

I was taken to theatre next day and operated on by the excellent theatre team and returned to the ward where once again Josh & Justine were on hand to offer excellent care. the nursing team change came and Hannah took over from Josh with her trainee nurse Zoe. Hard to believe that these two were at very least equal to Josh and Justine and were to care for me for the next two days. Believe it or not Hannah even washed out my bloodstained tee shirt so that I had something wearable to leave the hospital in!

I was released the following day and Zoe helped me to book my flight back to Karratha so that I could continue my holiday. Zoe escorted me to the taxi and Hannah even ran downstairs to catch me with some paperwork I had forgotten!

A few days later we arrived in Broome via motor home where an arrangement was made for me to have a tele link up with the team in RPH who viewed my wound and asked the local nurse Tara to dress the wound which she did, providing me with all necessary dressings etc. to be able to continue with the rest of my holiday/

I'm not sure I have the literary talent to be able to adequately describe what an amazing experience the whole scenario was with Health Care in Australia.

Obviously nobody intends for an accident to happen and mine was a nasty one although one very soon realises, relatively minor compared to some of the unfortunate people the nursing staff had to deal with in RPH.

At the time of writing this, now that I am back in the UK I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who I had the good fortune to meet throughout my stay in hospital. You were all so very brilliant and I want to extend my sincere gratitude to you all. Thank you so much.