"Poor health service and treatment"

I was flown to Broome hospital in the middle of the night recently from another. Once arriving in Broome hospital I was taken to ED department was assessed then given pain relief, I also mentioned what the problem was, which was severe chest pain and questioning whether my dilated aorta is causing the chronic back and chest pain, so I was flown to Broome to have scans done of my aorta to see if it has dilated even more and to see if more gall stones and upper chest area is causing my severe symptoms as I have been presenting frequently to ED .

About sometime during mid morning I was taken in to have a CT scan then I was taken back to ED where I was further administered more pain relief. I also requested food not a sandwich but food so I can take my morning regular meds, I was told I can’t have food but they got me a, in my opinion, disgusting sandwich which I ate one and vomited it right up, bear in mind I hadn’t had food for many many hours but they were giving me so many meds throughout the night and morning so that I believe wouldn’t have been good for my stomach lining which is damaged and my stomach issues.

Few more hours went by I asked what’s happening to me so just after midday I was told I was getting discharged and that I can’t get home till the next day on the bus. I then repeatedly said I can’t catch a bus I will get sick due to my other medical conditions I also repeatedly mentioned I have no food, no money, where am I going to stay for the night. I was then told by the nurse don’t worry pats will pay for your accommodation, your transport to the hotel and your transport to the bus in the morning and they will get you food. I then repeated myself and said I will get very sick on the bus and I need to fly back, I was then told sorry pats can only put you on the bus then I was left alone starving and stressed out about the whole situation as they were taking forever to get me to the hotel so I can shower eat and sleep as I didn’t get any rest in ED.

I then contacted my patner who was starting work that evening. I told them the situation they were so upset and travelled to Broome which they arrived at mid-afternoon. I then said to the nursing staff I need to go home cos I can’t go on the bus by myself as I will get very sick. I was told that pats will reimburse my fuel and food if I provide them receipts. I was then given medications to take home and a discharge letter with the report from my CT scan, now read the CT report which did not have measuring of my aorta as a matter of fact it stated nothing was wrong with my aorta and I had no gall stones which I was diagnosed with a dilated aorta and descending aorta many years ago I also had recent tests, CT scans done and angiograms and echocardiograms done back a few months before returning to the Kimberley’s for work and I was confirmed I do have gall stones and my aorta is dilated 4.8 and my descending aorta is 4.6 and that I do have gall stones.

For that radiologist to sign off and say there is nothing wrong and to not do measurements of my aorta as that was the reason I was flown there in the first place I feel is highly concerning. Also the dr and Ed nurse that sent me home with what I believe were life threatening meds naproxen 250mg after I repeatedly told the staff I have serious stomach issues and that these are not good for me, nor is OxyCodone, I was told to take these for 5 days.

I then researched the meds I was given and contacted my cardiologist and my gastroenterologist in Brisbane and let them know what happened in Broome and they weren’t happy with the treatment. It seems the drugs I was given were life threatening for my stomach issues and thank god I refused to consume them after getting advice by my specialist.

I feel it was bad enough I was in a place I was stranded at and I was given meds that could have potentially hurt me further and I was starved. Absolutely disgusting service, in my opinion. I have also contacted senior staff of the ED department who told me they will investigate and I am still waiting for a report of their outcome. Based on my experience, I will be looking at getting the health ombudsman involved to carry out a thorough investigation.