"Lack of infliximab communication"

I visit Fiona Stanley many times in a year to see many specialists. Every six weeks I attend Day Ward for an infusion of Infliximab. This is organised through the Rheumatology Clinic. I am a medical student studying to be a clinician and in the coming months have an 8 week placement where I live in the country and will then stay home there until I return to Uni. I have been trying to organise my upcoming infusions at my local hospital as I have had 2 there in the past. I believe they are more than happy to do these there for me.

Unfortunately I cannot get anyone to return calls, e-mails or see me to discuss this when I have attended the Rheumatology clinic and spoken to the clerk. I have had the clerk send an e-mail to have some-one contact re this but as yet we have had no response.

I fully understand that there may be some organisation involved in doing this as I will not require all infusions to be done in my local hospital, but I believe there is more organisation involved for me to travel to Fiona Stanley every 6 weeks for this infusion.

For me it is not just travel to the hospital, have the infusion and return home. This involves an 8 or more hour car ride along Great Eastern Highway, which unfortunately is in a very poor state of repair. I also am unable to do this trip on my own so I require one of my parents to accompany me. This means they must take time off work to do so. Because of the poor condition of Great Eastern Highway we can only travel during daylight hours. As I understand it, this highway has been recorded by the RAC as the 2nd worst road for repair in Australia. Depending on the time of the infusion a visit to FSH can, and usually does for me, become a 3 day occasion. We also have to make sure we are able to stop frequently as I am unable to sit for long periods because it causes me pain. I would prefer to be able to Fly from my home to Perth but the cost of flights is prohibitive and again we have to be able to work our flights around appointment times.

While at a recent Gastroenterology appointment I spoke with the Dr about the issues we were having with organising this. It seemed to me they could not understand the issue as the Gastro department regularly organise for patients to have there infusions at there local country hospitals, to save on travel, costs and patient care. I am are already at a disadvantage when it comes to health care by living 6 months of the year in the country when not at Uni, but if we are able to from time to time organise treatment in my home town, not only does it mean less stress, cost and travel for me it also means one less patient for your already under-staffed and over-worked nurses, in my opinion, at FSH. These infusions have made a great deal of difference to my life and I would not be a functioning adult without them. I am not asking for anything more than a chance to make things a bit easier for myself while I work my 8 weeks of prac and take time to spend with my family before returning to Uni in the coming year.

I look for to hearing from you in the near future.