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My grandchild's coughing

Posted By listenmx93

"My grandchild's coughing"

About: Rockingham General Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a parent/guardian),

I was at the hospital with my grandchild who couldn’t breathe, was constantly coughing due to thick mucus, we waited and waited and waited. I recall people were being treated for gout before us. I felt the triage staff were very abrupt and not very reassuring at all, in fact they seemed quite rude. My grandchild was very distressed as they hadn’t slept for 3 days, honestly, I was disgusted at the triage. When we eventually got through to be sat on another chair, I recall one of the nurses from another Ed station actually came around and told my grandchild to stop coughing, I believe they quite rudely said that they can hear it from their desk. I thought well, they do work in a hospital. One of the doctors in there named Alex was fantastic, but apart from him I am disgusted.

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Responses

Response from Kath Smith, Executive Director, Rockingham Peel Group, South Metropolitan Health Service 10 months ago
Kath Smith
Executive Director, Rockingham Peel Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 5/07/2023 at 5:14 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 6/07/2023 at 8:43 AM

picture of Kath Smith

Dear listenmx93,

I am very sorry to hear that your grandchild has been so unwell. Not sleeping for three days would have been extremely distressing for them and the wait in the Emergency Department (ED) would have been very difficult for you both.

I was also disappointed to read that you felt that the triage and nursing staff were abrupt and rude to you and your little one. Rockingham General Hospital ED follows the Australasian Emergency Triage Guidelines which determine when and where patients will be seen in an ED, but I understand that it can be frustrating when others are being seen ahead of you particularly when you have been waiting for some time.

I encourage you to contact our Consumer Liaison Officers on 9599 4323 to provide the details of your presentation so we can complete a thorough review of your grandchild’s presentation and follow up directly with staff involved. Thank you for sharing your experience, we hope to use your story as a training opportunity with staff to improve our communication and compassion in the future.

Thank you again for taking the time to reach out to us and I hope your grandchild is recovering from their illness.

Kind Regards

Kath Smith

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