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Lack of care/insight from Doctor

Posted By corvuskm68

"Lack of care/insight from Doctor"

About: Kalgoorlie Health Campus / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

Recently, I presented to ED with my bad shoulder. ED was very busy and that is understandable. Yvonne, the triage nurse was amazing! She listened and kept making sure everyone was ok in the waiting room. Yvonne is a fantastic nurse who it seemed doesn’t let the pressure get to her. That’s the good part to my story, now on to the bad part.

Since my last visit to ED I am still in quite a bit of pain. When I was called through by a doctor this is when I felt there was a lack of care. Fortunately I have had my x-ray and ultrasound of my shoulder. The doctor gave me some pain killers and went to look at my results. After a while they came back and said my results are fine and to follow up with my GP. I did ask would it be beneficial to see a surgeon. The doctor said yes and again I was told to follow up with my GP. Why couldn’t there have been a surgical review at the hospital? I know there are other patients in the hospital, but where is the care? I am not impressed at all as I am still in a lot of pain with my shoulder and I am off work. I have a family to support and how am I meant to support them with me at home? In the end I left unhappy and still in agony and I arranged to follow up with my GP.

My GP told me that in the ultrasound report they recommended a MRI as it was difficult to see much as I am not moving my shoulder much. Now I am still off work, in pain and now waiting for a MRI. If I had the surgical review I feel I could have at least discussed my concerns to the surgical team and kept the wheels turning with a plan going forward. Without the extra care, my manager, workplace and myself have been left frustrated without a plan going forward. I have been trying to put a plan in place so I know what’s going on and so I can let my workplace know. To be perfectly honest I feel like I was just thrown out the door and treated like a number. I believe the hospital doctor didn’t really listen to my concerns and I felt there was no care.

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Responses

Response from Peter Tredinnick, Executive Director, Regional Office, WACHS Goldfields 7 months ago
Peter Tredinnick
Executive Director, Regional Office,
WACHS Goldfields

Executive Director WACHS Goldfields

Submitted on 27/09/2023 at 1:45 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 2:37 PM

picture of Peter Tredinnick

Dear corvuskm68

Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience at the Emergency Department at Kalgoorlie Health Campus. Thank you so much for your kind comments about our nurse Yvonne, receiving positive feedback is always a such a boost to our staff. I will ensure they are passed on to her.

I am sorry to hear that you are still experiencing shoulder pain. I took note from your story that the hospital doctor advised you how to seek follow up and ongoing care, including referral for specialist care, from your general practitioner (GP). While I acknowledge your disappointment with this plan, hospital emergency departments are not the appropriate settings to coordinate ongoing care. Rather, your ongoing care, review and coordination should be with your GP. This may involve referral for investigations and the appropriate specialist review. I am genuinely sorry that you felt that the hospital doctor was uncaring in delivering this message and did not listen to your concerns. This communication style is something we can follow up and address with our staff.

Should you wish to seek further advice or feedback, I encourage you to reach out to our Director of the Kalgoorlie Health Campus, Alicia Michalanney on 9080 5817 or by emailing Alicia.Michalanney@health.wa.gov.au. Alicia can arrange a senior doctor to undertake a review of your care. I hope your pain is improving and that you are getting the medical care that you require. And thank you again for your comments about Yvonne and for taking the time to provide your feedback through Care Opinion.

Kind regards

Peter Tredinnick
Executive Director
WACHS Goldfields

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