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"Falling in the shower"

About: Albany Health Campus

(as a relative),

My future parent in law (in their early 90s) was brought into Albany hospital late one afternoon, from another hospital by ambulance) as they had blacked out at home that morning.

The next morning I understand they were asked if they wanted to have a shower by hospital staff and said yes. I believe they asked if my parent in law wanted any help and they said “No, I should be alright.

They were then drying their legs when they blacked out again. When they came to they rang the bell and staff came into the shower room.  I understand they told my parent in law they would would need to contact the family and advise them what happened and my parent in law said they could ring and they said ok !

My parent in law rang home and I went in to see them.

From the shower fall they had a skin tear on their left elbow, another large lump on the back of their head, and a really sore neck that they didn’t have after the first fall !

After being discharged my parent in law went to the doctors and was told that they would need physio (at their cost) on their neck as it was extremely painful still. 

At no time did the hospital officially speak to us as their family regarding their fall and when I asked I was told someone would come and speak time but didn’t.

I ended up asking the doctor when they came around and I believe they only knew what was written in their notes!

Why was an elderly person in their 90s who blacked out the morning before was, I feel, allowed to have a shower by themself, then allowed to ring the family and tell them themself and now has to pay for physio for their neck out of their own pocket.

I did speak to the Albany hospital physio when my parent in law came in but was told they would’ve ok !

Please contact me to discuss.

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Responses

Response from Janine Watts, A/CONM, Albany Health Campus, WA Country Health Service (WACHS) 12 months ago
Janine Watts
A/CONM, Albany Health Campus,
WA Country Health Service (WACHS)
Submitted on 2/05/2023 at 5:52 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 3/05/2023 at 8:59 AM


Dear handsetrq55,

Thankyou for taking the time to provide your feedback about your future family member. Please accept my apology that you felt they were not adequately cared for.

We are always looking for ways to improve care for our patients and families and safety and communication are two things we take very seriously. I will follow up with the senior clinical staff and investigate the circumstances around the care provided. In the meantime, I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this with you in person if you are open to meeting with me. I am contactable on phone number 98922213 or via email on Janine.watts@health.wa.gov.au.

Yours sincerely

Janine Watts

Coordinator of Nursing and Midwifery

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