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Shortage of staff

Posted By bargainek73

"Shortage of staff"

About: Perth Children's Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a parent/guardian),

I took my child to Perth Children's Hospital recently around night time as they had one of their tooth chipped and was not able to eat dinner at all. After triaging in 10 minutes we were waiting till 00:00am and there was no update provided to us. During this time I recall there was many kids n families who were waiting for 4-5 hours with no update provided to them until requested. There no communication from the nurses on the floor regarding the wait time or even checking on the well being of my child. My child didn't have anything since that afternoon and was almost getting very un-comfortable and worried with no one looking after them. I felt like I am failing in my duties to look after my kid and was not happy with the response from the Nurse who I recall said that I will be looked at that night sometime. I believe another comment made was that I am free to complain if I want.

I am surprised how a state run specialty hospital is seemingly not able to provide healthcare services to the next generation and I feel is failing kids and families again and again. I have to leave the hospital after midnight as I felt there was no assurance given to me that my kid will be looked after. My child is now scared to go to the hospital again as they had an experience which no one wants. In my opinion, there is some serious problem there as how can we seem to be so bad to provide services to our kids. I don't believe money is the issue here and there has to be someone with answers as I believe this will again lead to an incident which I feel will be traumatic for someone.

I hope that this doesn't end up as another complaint and something good comes out of this.

Regards

bargainek73

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Responses

Response from Louise Keyes, Nursing Co-Director Medicine, Perth Children's Hospital, Child and Adolescent Health Service nearly 2 years ago
Louise Keyes
Nursing Co-Director Medicine, Perth Children's Hospital,
Child and Adolescent Health Service

Submitted on 19/09/2022 at 11:49 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 12:55 PM

Dear bargainek73

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your recent experience at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH). I am sorry to read about your experience. I understand how worrying it can be while waiting to be seen when your child is unwell and uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, our long waiting times are a result of an unprecedented increase in activity and presentations to the hospital. This has not been unique to PCH but has affected all the Emergency Departments in Perth. We are looking at strategies to improve wait times, including employing additional staff, looking at different models of care and encouraging via social media messaging lower acuity type patient presentations to attend GPs, urgent care centres or local emergency departments.

While we endeavour to keep families informed of waiting times through regular updates on an electronic screen, I acknowledge how important it is that families feel reassured in these circumstances. It is important to us that families always feel welcome to attend the emergency department if they are at all concerned about their child’s condition.

Thanks again for sharing your experience on Care Opinion.

Warm regards,

Louise Keyes

Nurse Co-Director, Medicine Division

Perth Children's Hospital

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