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"My grandparent"

About: Ravensthorpe Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a relative),

My elderly grandparent had a bad flu for about a week and progressively felt unwell during the weekend. They called an ambulance due to them feeling as if they were going to die.

2 trained paramedics picked my grandparent up and on the way to the Ravensthorpe hospital told my grandparent that their OBS showed they were having a heart attack. Upon arriving at the hospital their obs were checked and they were said to be fine with not much discussed of my grandparent's apparent heart attack. After 5 hours they were discharged due to their obs being ok. Myself and other family members visited them and their shortness of breath was a great concern and convinced them to again present to the Ravensthorpe hospital, this time they agreed only due to a doctor being on call.

The doctor explained that my grandparent had a heart attack sometime in the last week but couldn't say when. There was nothing noted on their file from their previous visit about a heart attack and we were also surprised for an elderly person to be discharged after 5 hours if they had a heart attack. 

My grandparent was subsequently flown out to another hospital to receive treatment for pneumonia and their heart attack. We are extremely lucky that my grandparent is still alive, we weren't sure they would make it, their good health before this incident is probably what meant they pulled through. Their life isn't the same now due the continuing of shortness of breath. It's concerning that due to their original heart attack not being picked up on that their health could have suffered as a consequence.

I am writing here as it is extremely difficult to navigate the complaints/concerns process on your website and this seems to get a response. Our family is concerned that adequate care hasn't been given at the Ravensthorpe hospital especially given there were no notes of a heart attack on my grandparent's file from their original visit.

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Responses

Response from Tim O'Brien, MPS Operations Manager, Great Southern, WACHS 7 months ago
Tim O'Brien
MPS Operations Manager, Great Southern,
WACHS

Manager of Operations for MPS Sites

Submitted on 19/09/2023 at 4:24 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 4:25 PM


Dear omegaed97

Thank you for sharing your feedback about your grandparent’s experience at Ravensthorpe Hospital.

I am concerned to read about your experience and I am very sorry to hear that your grandparent is continuing to experience shortness of breath. I would like to encourage your grandparent to represent to the hospital so that we can ensure they are receiving the care and treatment they need.

I would also like to learn more about what happened to your grandparent and would be very grateful if you could contact me directly. My name is Tim O’Brien and I am the Operations Manager. I would welcome your call on 08 9842 7501 or email Tim.O'Brien@health.wa.gov.au.

I would also like to let you know that we have a process that can support you with immediate assistance if you or a loved one are in hospital and are concerned about the care being received. If, after raising your concerns with the treating clinicians, you remain worried, you can make an Aishwarya’s CARE Call. This enables you to seek assistance from a senior person in charge who will help address your concerns. The Aishwarya’s CARE Call number, which is the same number across all public hospitals in the Great Southern, is 1800 975 335.

It is vital that everyone in our community has confidence in our health service and I would like to support you and your grandparent in feeling comfortable and confident in coming to the hospital.

I look forward to speaking with you and ensuring your grandparent is able to access appropriate care if and when they need it.

Yours sincerely

Tim O’Brien

Operations Manager

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