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Care Opinion

Rushed discharge

Posted By hulahula

"Rushed discharge"

About: Geraldton Hospital / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

Recently I got transfer to Geraldton Regional Hospital by the Emergency Telehealth Service from another health centre as I sustained a spearfishing injury, possibly pneumothorax. When I arrived to ED brought in by ambulance, I got seen by an emergency doctor who arranged a X-ray and bloods. Sooner after having the results they were going to discharged me on the grounds that everything was looking fine and nothing was seen in the X-ray however my pain was still 6/10 on the chest on inspiration, radiating to my back at times. They decided to keep me overnight because I did not have anyone to go back to that night.

Early morning the following day, my pain was high again 8/10, however they were going to discharged me from emergency no matter what. I called my friend that works at the other health centre to let them know and they talked with the Nurse Practitioner in ED who I felt was quite rude and did not want to do anything about it. Short time later instead of discharged me they did another X-Ray and bloods possibly I felt after my friend raised concerns about the discharge. Furthermore, they sent me home with the cannula still in my arm, a script for pain relief and a broken screen of my mobile phone as I believe the nurse was in a hurry to get me out of there and drop my mobile phone on the floor. So unhappy with this outcome, I am not an Australian citizen so I will have to pay the treatment bill and for new replacement of the screen of my mobile phone, welcome to Australia, I feel what a freaking Joke! Have to say that the nurses at the other health centre working that day were brilliant, something good about the experience.

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Responses

Response from Didi Bower, Acting Regional Manager Patient Safety & Quality, Safety and Quality, WA Country Health Service 15 months ago
Didi Bower
Acting Regional Manager Patient Safety & Quality, Safety and Quality,
WA Country Health Service

Submitted on 16/01/2023 at 12:29 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 2:48 PM

picture of Didi Bower

Dear hulahula

Thank you for reaching out to us on Care Opinion.

I would like to apologise that your experience with the Geraldton Hospital was not as we would have wished.

Your feedback has already been shared and discussed with the hospital management team, with a view to reflecting on how we could have managed your presentation better. The Safety and Quality team will coordinate an investigation into the circumstances that led to you being discharged with a cannula in place, which should not have occurred, I apologise to you that it did.

I would like to be able to fully investigate your concerns and would be grateful if you would consider speaking with me so I can listen to your story in more detail. My name is Didi Bower, I am the Acting Regional Manager Patient Safety & Quality, you can contact me on (08) 9956 2279, or you can email me Didi.Bower@health.wa.gov.au

For immediate assistance I would like to share with you a process we have at the hospital called Aishwarya’s CARE Call. You may notice in our ED, posters about Aishwarya’s CARE Call, which is a 1800 number for patients, carers and families to raise their concerns if they or someone they care for is getting sicker. In the Midwest, no matter what hospital you go to this number is 1800 316 729 or you can find out more here at: WA Country Health Service - Aishwarya’s CARE Call

I do hope to hear from you soon.

Regards

Didi Bower

Acting Regional Manager Patient Safety & Quality

WA Country Health Service - Midwest

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