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My grandchild's care

Posted By leatherbs64

"My grandchild's care"

About: Rockingham General Hospital / Outpatient Clinic

(as a relative),

My oldest grandchild who has small children one being a premmie baby had three major epileptic seizures in a row. My grandchild is Epileptic but never had seizures like this before and not so severe.

We had to call 000 and the shopping centre where we were the security guards were amazing assisting and giving first aid whilst we waited for the paramedics. They were very long seizures.

The emergency staff at Rockingham hospital were amazing and it took a very long time to stabilize my grandchild and then they spent almost three days in hospital. We rushed my grandchild back the following day as they felt the signs on another impending seizure. ED was very busy. They spoke to neurology who changed their meds and said that they would ring my grandchild within ten days for an appointment. We discovered that my grandchild should have actually had another appointment but they weren’t in the system. Had not had an appointment since late last year. My grandchild has been incredibly busy with appointments and an operation for their premmie baby.

The ED doctor told us if you have heard nothing in the ten days go to a GP and they can ring Neurology as my grandchild’s meds will need adjusting again.

My grandchild went to see a GP who seemingly refused to ring and was told ring themselves which they did repeatedly and left a voice mail still nothing. In desperation I rang the customer liaison officer who got on to it and immediately my grandchild was sent a text giving them an appointment phone appointment. That will be a total of 18 days since referral for a category one Referral and only a phone appoinment. My grandchild lives where phone reception is sometimes less than desirable. My point is why is a catagory one referral not been actioned in the recommended 10 days. My grandchild had three over five minute seizures was hospitalized with good care. They are suffering memory loss so is having a very hard time and now has to wait til the end of the week their meds run out next week. I am really shocked they haven’t had the follow up they should have had. My grandchild has been quite unwell and struggling

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Responses

Response from Kath Smith, Executive Director, Rockingham Peel Group, South Metropolitan Health Service 15 months ago
Kath Smith
Executive Director, Rockingham Peel Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 20/01/2023 at 6:40 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 23/01/2023 at 9:58 AM

picture of Kath Smith

Dear leatherbs64,

Thank you for taking the time to share your story regarding your grandchild’s experience with obtaining an outpatient appointment for the Neurology Department at Rockingham General Hospital (RGH). I am very sorry that they did not receive the phone call and appointment as promised, I do understand how distressing this must be for you and your grandchild.

I can confirm that the wait time target for a Category 1 first appointment for the Neurology clinic is 1-30 days and that all first appointments are being offered within this timeframe.

As Care Opinion is anonymous I am unable to investigate any further. If you would like us to investigate your grandchild’s experience further I encourage your grandchild to make contact with our Consumer Liaison Office directly on 9599 4323 and provide further details. This will allow us to investigate your specific concerns and work with your grandchild to identify how we can do better.

Thank you again for taking the time to share this experience.

Kind regards,

Kath Smith

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

Update posted by leatherbs64 (a relative)

Thanks. It wasnt a first appointment with this clinic has been in its care since disgnosed. They also were missed for follow up appointment from mid last year. I understand ED Drs said should have happened but didn't. They have had telephone appointment now and neurologist said it was unfortunate they slipped through the system. ED said they were told my grandchild would be contacted within 10 days as meds had to be adjusted again and new scripts! So not first appointment. I felt it was very unfortunate after three very huge seizures all lasting more than five minutes that they were seemingly overlooked and it took me contacting customer liason to get ot all happening. My grandchild is under their care and has been for 16 months but follow up appointment should have happened earlier this month from last one mid last year and it didn't then seizures struck. Distressing.

Update posted by leatherbs64 (a relative)

Five months now since phone consult after major seizures that I highlighted above. No care in that time. Found out no notes from the phone consult in January and no bloods done since mid-last year at another hospital. New Neurologist was amazing listened and answered questions seem perplexed at what had gone on and now hopefully things will be in hand. Some referrals coming up and hopefully some better outcomes. I find it incredible that my grandchild, a young parent has had what I feel is such terrible care and hoping it is improving now with a new Doctor involved. Just not good enough, in my opinion.
why were there no notes on file from last phone consult in January? Who knows. Not on file. No bloods why!!

We are now hoping that things will improve health wise for my grandchild under this apparently more caring doctor who seems to be on the ball. I hope so.

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