"Unable to facilitate 3 way telephone call for appointments"

My parent has been treated by Osborne Park Hospital (WA) for dementia over the past 14 months, including referral to the dietetics. The dietetics units appointments have always been by phone. I have asked on a few occasions if a 3 way call could be facilitated so that I can be on the call with my parent, I've always been told its not possible. Due to my parent's memory and cognitive issues having me present is important to get the most out of the appointment for us.

Being able to facilitate a 3 way call would be really helpful for carers like me - I am my parent’s only child so I am helping them with attending all their appointments (which they have a lot of) and also trying to balance that with working and having two young kids. When the hospital has been unable to have a 3 way call I have had to leave work and drive across town to attend a 15 minute phone call. When I have been unable to do this, OPH has called my parent directly and I don't think the advice received was practical for our situation due to my parent’s cognitive issues – which I feel is a waste of OPH's resources if the appointments are not effective.

It’s frustrating to think that with all the efforts to facilitate telehealth during COVID there is not one phone at OPH that can facilitate a 3 way phone call. A phone is a much more straight forward means of technology for patients of OPH's memory clinic to use (as opposed to the computer based telehealth which is more complicated and would be difficult for a memory clinic patient to use without their carer present). If there isn't a phone that can facilitate a 3 way call at OPH, I imagine it would require a very small investment by the hospital to provide just one of these types of phones to the dietetics unit to be able to offer this to patients and their carers. I believe having effective phone meetings is in the interests of patients and OPH to get the most out of their appointments and staff time.