"Staff numbers"

I am elderly and I have a complicated medical history. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Crohn's disease, enlarged prostate, and other conditions. Despite this I am normally very active working on my farm, helping at home and gardening. Recently I was in Parliament house as a volunteer helper for our local independent MP. My recent annual checkup showed that all of my systems were working well.

Several weeks ago I started with flu like symptoms. These developed and one day I fell over getting out of bed and banged my head. I then started vomiting when taking Paracetamols and my spouse called the doctor who sent me to Wangaratta hospital Victoria. I had pneumonia.

Whilst the emergency was extremely busy but they still took good care of me. I was thoroughly checked out and started on a course of antibiotics but the staff seemed completely rushed off their feet. I was moved to a ward the following day but I continued to deteriorated. My temperature reached 39.9 and I was hallucinating, quite frightening. The doctor was very gently and understanding. I was asked if I wanted to be resuscitate if I died. I answered yes. It was not a good time to ask such a question I thought. I am a practicing Christian and they called in a Minister to bless me. Also quite frightening. I was told later there was a high probability of my dying but at the time I still felt quite positive. I was still reacting to Paracetamol and was not allowed Ibuprofen because of my heart. My spouse was with me all the time. I felt very cold I'm shivering teeth chattering but it was because my temperature was very high.

My spouse was given damp towels two wipe my head and chest trying to bring my temperature down. My spouse is watching everything that was happening and helping where they could. It was very reassuring for me to have my spouse there. I felt there were not enough staff to give the full time attention I needed. They all seemed full on busy. My spouse stayed locally in a hotel and came in early each morning till late evening. I was grateful for them being allowed to do this and I think the staff were grateful for their help. Quite suddenly my temperature went down and everyone was relieved. I remember the nurse who took my temperature being excited.

Just two days later I was discharged. I think they needed the bed urgently. I was still unwell although I told the staff I was feeling much better. At home I went down hill again and my local GP admitted me to my local hospital where I resumed antibiotics and quickly recovered again. I found that hospital was much quieter and the nurses/doctor had much more time to check me. I felt the food was much more palatable and it was a different experience altogether.

My main conclusion was that although the staff at Wangaratta were dedicated and doing their very best, I feel they were under pressure all day every day. In circumstances like that I believe mistakes can and do happen. In my opinion, the hospital needs enlarging and more staff are required.