"Post surgery disappointment"

I was transferred to Royal Perth Hospital ER due to my new hip prosthesis badly dislocating where they tried 5 times without success to do a closed hip reduction resulting in 2 broken bones and chips.

Open Surgery was then scheduled for the following morning with Orthopedic Surgeon Douglas who had a world full of knowledge and experience which gave me piece of mind in him doing it although disappointed my original surgeon at a different hospital wouldn't do it.

Surgery went well although I needed 5 blood Transfusions and I was hospitalised for 4 days. I had a great team of nurses and physio therapist looking after me until everything came to an abrupt stop. I chose to discharge a few hours early (just overnight) than I believe the physio wanted me too which I felt resulted in the nurses and physio team becoming rude and disrespectful towards me. I felt they ignored me like I was invisible. They refused to give me any information on follow up physio therapy at home or as an outpatient, also when asked it seemed they refused to tell me what medication I was on in the hospital and what to continue with at home. I was so hurt by their behaviour.

As I suffer with major depression and was feeling the results of having a big operation it really affected me badly feeling like a piece of meat spat out and thrown. I needed help but as the main physio staff member stated I had given up all rights to any information or help. WoW ! Just a number on the government public system. I could barely walk with my crutches and was physically weak but staying overnight was not going to fix that. I felt kindness just was not there anymore. A duty of care was not there

I believe as a result there was a medical mix up with what I was taking at home and I ended back in emergency at another hospital needing another transfusion of blood and a fusion of Potassium as my level was dangerously low. My wound was heavily bleeding due to edema and possibly a cut vessel under the wound

Two weeks on and there had been no contact regarding physio or anything from Royal Perth Hospital Physiotherapy/orthopedics department. Shame, Shame, Shame, in my opinion.

You know I had a fantastic surgeon who did his job well. He was compassionate and kind and I started with a great team of carers after the operation but all that has been diminished now because of the aftercare staff member’s behaviour. Based on my experience, I will never go back to Royal Perth Hospital again. I asked a different hospital to take over my care with physio. They have kindly obliged. If I had an option I wouldn't have gone in as a public patient instead I would have been private. Maybe things would have been different?