This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?
Care Opinion

Treatment and management of complaints

Posted By jupitersr73

"Treatment and management of complaints"

About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / Acute Medical Unit, Wards 5A &5B, AMAC (Acute Medical Ambulatory Centre)

(as the patient),

Late last year, a night of terror for me, an elderly patient, and trauma behind closed doors and a darkened room of Fiona Stanley Hospital Murdoch Western Australia. I believe an agitated nurse, acting alone, seemingly frustrated with a Blood Infusing machine assaulted me, a defenseless patient, with cannulas in both arms - the patient's arm which was unable to be straightened due to an accident many years ago - and was causing the Blood Machine to stop when the arm moved - it was around midnight and as I recall it, the patient was screamed at to keep their arm straight while they are asleep (an improbable action to achieve) - a transfusion took nearly three hours for 500ml of blood - slapping of arm further screaming into an ear.  The patient went into deep shock resorting to child-like and absolute silence - a defense to prevent further abuse but which exacerbated the volume and agitation.  The patient in the early morning hours following complained to the Aishwarya Care Line and the 'Doctor on Duty' who they found were unsympathetic, argumentative and unhelpful. 

The patient followed up with written feedback and felt their situation was ignored for three weeks - no concern no follow up welfare - the wall of denial commenced and has continued through desktop investigations; what are felt to be patronising letters from the South Metropolitan Health Service, Minister for Health and Fiona Stanley Hospital - the regulators appear to have fallen into line - and not one has asked the patient to discuss their notes and images taken at the time.

More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Kellie Blyth, A/ Executive Director, Peel Health Campus transition, South Metropolitan Health Service about a year and a half ago
Kellie Blyth
A/ Executive Director, Peel Health Campus transition,
South Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 18/10/2022 at 3:10 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 3:10 PM

picture of Kellie Blyth

Dear jupitersr73,

I am very sorry to hear your feedback, and of your discontent with the complaint process. The complaint response letter, and subsequent email to you, offered you a meeting with senior staff to discuss this matter further. I would encourage you to contact the hospital to arrange this. Please phone 6152 4013 during office hours or email FSHfeedback@health.wa.gov.au with some possible days and times that would suit you. I have asked our Patient and Family Liaison Manager to also try calling you to arrange a meeting.

We look forward to meeting with you to discuss your concerns.

Kind regards,

Kellie Blyth

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by jupitersr73 (the patient)

I found the Fiona Stanley Hospital and South Metropolitan Health Service have been unhelpful in resolving matters since the incident occurred late last year - a seemingly vague contact message (I am confused, I recall said the staff member's voice) after three weeks post 'hell' for an elderly sick and vulnerable patient is neither liaison nor caring; in my opinion. My GP was not and has never been contacted; the 'Duty Doctor' (it was apparently the Nurse Manager I discovered months later) was not contacted to enable me to be discharged and to safety; my Next of Kin was not contacted; I was moved but the nurse stayed on duty (approximately 16 hours -apparently it was work as long as they like, double shifts etc) I recall to carry out a further incident on the patient later that morning in a different ward - and the hospital wants to set up a meeting nearly twelve months later!...As I understand it, to add to the trauma to their patient of re-living the experiences?

Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k