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"Humiliated and berated during triage"

About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a service user),

I was taken to hospital via ambulance with severe agitation, severe facial tics (which I have never experienced) and hypoglycemic, with a blood glucose level of 2.6.

I was left without treatment and moved to the waiting room, where the tics, agitation and my conscious levels decreased. I approached the window for assistance, and felt like I might seizure, and felt a decrease in consciousness. 

The triage nurse came out seemingly angrily and irritated and I recall told me to get up and walk through to the treatment area, which I could barely physically manage. 

My tics were severe, I recall the nurse yelled out me in front of staff and patients telling me to pretty much shut up as apparently I was intentionally ticking loudly when they were trying to triage patients. I felt I was losing consciousness, however 'I was making a scene'.

I got incredibly distressed, as I only came for help, I ended up making my out of the hospital and to another Emergency Department.

The second hospital sent me straight through when I arrived, I felt their care was amazing, and I was diagnosed with Acute Baclofen Withdrawal, and treated me accordingly. 

I feel incredibly distressed, which is causing me psychological and physical issues. I feel humiliated and violated by what has happened. 

I will be seeking advice how to proceed, as I feel this situation is going to cause me longer term issues. 

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Responses

Response from Neil Doverty, Executive Director Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group, South Metropolitan Health Service 7 months ago
Neil Doverty
Executive Director Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service
Submitted on 27/09/2023 at 5:35 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 28/09/2023 at 8:45 AM


picture of Neil Doverty

Dear pilingsiq47,

I was very sorry to hear of your experience when you recently attended the Fiona Stanley Hospital Emergency Department. The response you describe from the triage nurse certainly doesn’t meet our expectation of delivering excellent health care every time. In order to investigate and understand what happened for you, I encourage you to contact our Patient and Family Liaison Office on 6152 4013 (Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 4.30 pm) or via email anytime: FSHFeedback@health.wa.gov.au. This will enable us to get further details including the date and time you attended the ED.

Kind Regards,

Neil Doverty

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