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"Terrible"

About: Royal Perth Hospital / Elective & Emergency Orthopaedic Surgery & Bone Tissue Bank Royal Perth Hospital / Orthopaedic Surgical & Trauma & Spinal Care Ward 3H/5G

(as the patient),

I feel I was treated like I'm less than ****.

We had a massive mix up after I broke my arm very badly recently - so much so that the arm needs a specialist.

I've been told numerous times by multiple nurses that the surgery to fix my arm will go ahead as planned. Then each time the surgeons cancel it over the phone. I feel they don't even bother to come tell me to my face.

I ended up sitting for 9 hours in a waiting room, wearing nothing but a hospital gown and underwear, starving and in pain, because nurses told me I was definitely having surgery today.

First thing in the morning I had my nose swabbed with anticeptic, signed all the forms and was ready to go in.

Then I was left alone for the rest of the day, only to get a phonecall to say the surgery was cancelled. Again.

By that time I had nothing to eat or drink for 14 hours because I was told I had to fast before the surgery.

Upon leaving RPH, my fiance felt forced to sign a release form which implies my leaving without surgery is not the fault of the hospital.

I'm absolutely fed up with how disorganised and seemingly neglectful the surgeons and nurses are at RPH.

I feel the way you have treated both myself and my fiance is disgraceful.

I hope no one else ever has to go through all the pain, frustration, and humiliation RPH has caused to myself and my partner in our time of need.

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Responses

Response from Lesley Bennett, Chief Executive, East Metropolitan Health Service about a year and a half ago
Lesley Bennett
Chief Executive,
East Metropolitan Health Service
Submitted on 17/11/2022 at 12:43 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:16 PM


picture of Lesley Bennett

Dear _spook_

It was disheartening to read of your recent experience waiting for surgery at Royal Perth Hospital and I would like to acknowledge the disappointment and frustration you and your partner felt. The Head of Department for Orthopaedic Surgery has been made aware of your comments and has passed on his sympathies for the pain and delays you experienced during such a vulnerable time. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Regrettably, patients awaiting surgery that are not deemed to require immediate surgical care may be cancelled as unplanned urgent cases arise. It appears the arrival of new and more urgent cases may have been the cause of your delay.

I am unsure on reading your story whether you have received your surgery yet; however, I would like to invite you to contact the Consumer Engagement Unit on (08) 9224 1637, 8am to 4pm or email RPBG.feedback@health.wa.gov.au, so they may investigate and / or assist with your individual case.

I am deeply sorry to hear of your experience and thankful that you have brought it to my attention through Care Opinion.

I wish you well in your recovery.

Kind regards

Dr Lesley Bennett

Executive Director

Royal Perth Bentley Group

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