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My health care, or lack of it

Posted By Peper100

"My health care, or lack of it"

About: Northam Health Service / Emergency Department St John of God Midland Hospital York Health Service

(as the patient),

At the time of writing this, it had now been a month that this started, the last week of my overseas holiday I started having pain and diarrhea and bleeding, when I returned to Australia I saw my doctor the next day, I explained that a couple of years ago I had part of my colon removed due to diverticulitis, they gave me antibiotics, they are a good and caring doctor, however a few days later the pain was so bad my partner had to drive me to Northam wa hospital, they gave me pain killers and gave me a ct scan, I was kept in overnight, the scan showed a thickened colon and several cysts on my kidney.

The morning doctor needed to take some blood but could not get any, so they tried to put a needle in my hand, I felt they did this without any care at all just shoved it into my hand without saying a word and walked away, that was very painful I felt no care what so ever. 2 hours later they sent me home no pain killers or inflammation tablets, less than 30 mins the pain started again. I went back to my doctor who got in touch with the specialist who operated on me at Midland Hospital a couple of years ago.

3 days later I get a phone call from the specialist they said there is nothing they can do as it could be Bechets disease, a doctor a few years ago said I may have it, I doubt if I have that as I have never been to the silk road and I believe that is where it comes from, they said if I continue to bleed and I still have pain I should go back to my doctor, they did not ask me to come in for an examination to have a look at my kidney or abdomen or my back (I also have bad back pain).

I can not believe that I now have to sit here and wait for the pain to get so bad again that I have to go to hospital again before they do anything, every day I am in pain and everyday I am bleeding, I can not go anywhere or do anything. I wonder what sort of a country is Australia now? I believe the whole system needs to change so that people like me get the care that they need, how they can leave someone who is in pain and bleeding just to, as I understand, get on with it is beyond me, I see a doctor and they send me to a specialist and the specialist send me back to the doctor, I am just overwhelmed at the seemingly lack of care, where is there duty of care? I feel there is none, so now I just have to sit here and hope for the best, nothing else it seems I can do.

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Responses

Response from Janet Jones, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Clinical Governance, St John of God - Midland 15 months ago
Janet Jones
Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Clinical Governance,
St John of God - Midland

Submitted on 3/01/2023 at 5:14 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 5:14 PM

Dear Peper100,

Thank you for your email and it is concerning that you have not been given a diagnosis for your symptoms.

It is not clear whether you were formally referred to St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals by the Northam Hospital or your GP; however it is important to us that you are referred to the appropriate medical or surgical specialty for further care.

For us to provide further assistance, we require more information, including your name and date of birth.

We look forward to hearing from you and please contact our Patient Experience Team can be contacted on 9462 4901 or via MI.PatientExpereienceteam@sjog.org.au.

Kind regards

Janet Jones

Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Clinical Governance

St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals

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Response from Rachele Ferrari, Executive Director - Wheatbelt, WA Country Health Service (WACHS) 15 months ago
Rachele Ferrari
Executive Director - Wheatbelt,
WA Country Health Service (WACHS)

Submitted on 3/01/2023 at 5:14 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 5:14 PM

picture of Rachele Ferrari

Dear Peper100,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at Northam Hospital Emergency Department (ED). I am very sorry to learn about the distress and pain you experienced when you came to the hospital for care and sincerely apologise for this.

While the process is not always pain free, care should always be taken when withdrawing blood. I am sorry that you experienced pain and that the clinician lacked compassion. We will share your story with the ED staff at team meetings and they will be encouraged to reflect on what can be done better for patients who need blood taken that may be experiencing pain.

I am also sorry that appropriate pain medication was not provided prior to your discharge. This should be part of every patient’s discharge plan and clinicians will be reminded to ensure that they communicate sensitively with patients and check whether the patient has sufficient medication.

We would like to investigate the concerns you have raised. Having the opportunity to speak to you will help us thoroughly review the care that was provided to you. If you are comfortable doing so, please contact Dr Peter Barratt, who is the Director Medical Services for the Wheatbelt. Peter is available on 08 9621 0715 or via email peter.barratt@health.wa.gov.au to discuss your experience.

Kind regards

Rachele Ferrari

Regional Director Wheatbelt

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Update posted by Peper100 (the patient)

Update on my condition, have been in hospital and they found that I have chronic ulcerative colitis burn out. have now started taking meds 40mg of Solone per day, I hope they will work, also have an appointment at another service coming up, I wish it was a little sooner as I am still in pain, Regarding Northam ED...I was not having a go at the staff, I found they were all really caring and helped me with my pain, It was the morning doctor who came in and I felt shoved that needle into my hand without any care at all and then without saying a word they walked off. Not the sort of treatment I feel you would expect anywhere. anyway I just hope they can sort this out as soon as possible, it was not a good end to the year, I am hoping this year will de a much healthier one.

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