I have thought about writing this story for the last few days, discussed it with my family and wouldn't want this kind of incident to happen to any of us. I have sought help from contacting the hospital itself in which I was told they cannot discuss another patient’s care. Which is not why I rang. I wanted the doctor and nurses involved to be held accountable for their actions. Hence why I am escalating this to here.
I attended the Swan Hill Emergency Department recently and whilst I received okay care and treatment, I was appalled by what I observed. Whilst I understand doctors and nurses are overworked and possibly run down. It is never acceptable nor professional to treat someone so vulnerable. A young patient in the bed next to me appeared quite unwell, when I walked into my cubicle my child literally pointed it out to me that they were pale and sweating.
I saw many nurses go in and out of their room. My family and I actually know quite a lot about this young patient. Reason for that. The Emergency dr was on the phone to I assume their treating team at another hospital. The phone was on speaker for what reason, I can only assume the ED dr is partially deaf, fatigued, or deliberating wanting the patient they are treating to hear the God awful things they were discussing. These doctors were laughing and joking about this patient’s medical history. What shocked me to the core was the Swan Hill ED doctor started their phone call by saying, I recall, that this might be the most craziest handover they get to that day and it's likely full of lies but. I believe the Swan Hill Dr went back and forth laughing and making snide remarks saying they thought that would be case, or, knew it was unlikely to be true. From what my family and I overheard the patient’s treating team at a metro hospital and this hospital all assumed they are faking it. They proceeded to pick apart their entire medical history laughing and saying they don't actually require specialist intervention they are just rebooking it to look good in case of a law suit. This all took place on speaker call! Whilst the placement of medical drs is within the ED cubicles itself. It appears nothing is private and confidential like they have plastered over their walls. This was a private matter and didn't need an audience. Swan Hill were preparing to transfer the patient for a procedure that the hospital is not equipped for, both drs said were unnecessary and a waste of tax payers money. I for one a tax paying citizen would much rather waste my money on this procedure then fund seemingly incompetent doctors. As I recall the Swan Hill doctor said, they don't want to waste their time and energy on something that's not real, if the metro doctor doesn't want the young patient transferred there they can transfer to another hospital and not tell them that the patient is faking it. Then the patient's out of their hands. The metro hospital agreed and said they are young and it's not likely to be anything but anxiety. Swan Hill dr agreed and said that was their plan also. The phone call was then taken off from speaker and further conversation occurred.
Whilst absolutely appalled by this I overheard a nurse next door with the young patient. The nurse went to the dr and said its 3.6. Dr looked frustrated, nurse said the young patient’s asleep though so not concerned. Dr responded saying finally and said to not intervene.
I was out of my cubicle but my family remained. My partner told me the patient was wanting to change their clothes because they were sweaty and felt gross. A nurse removed some things from them and they proceeded to bathroom. The nurse asked the patient several times if they felt dizzy or unwell. The patient said they feel the same.
I was released from hospital and was back in my car parked out front of ED. We observed the same young patient leaving the hospital. They were disorientated, struggling to walk and didn't appear well. They had walked past several hospital staff dressed in suits. I believe not one person said anything to them. No nurse followed them out. I went and offered them a ride home, they were sweating and pale, their speech seemed off and she was unbalanced. I asked if they discharged them, the patient looked so out of it. They didn't want a ride but we gave them some candy from the car. We actually waited to see if nurses or security would come out. No one did. We then proceeded to follow them for a little while just to make sure they were okay. I wanted to call them an ambulance but I could understand they probably wouldn't want to go back to the hospital since it didn't seem like they cared for the patient.
The guilt was eating me alive once I got home. I rang the hospital to say what I observed, the switch put me through to ED. A nurse answered and I felt they acted far from the empathetic nurse you'd expect. Ignored my concerns and hung up on me.
In my opinion, this hospital is a disgrace. Based on my experience, I vow to never, ever attend here again. I will be telling everyone I know about the treatment I recall this young patient encountered.
I sincerely hope this young patient hasn't died at the hands of this unprofessional dr.
"Doctor and nurse care for other patient"
About: Swan Hill District Hospital / Emergency Department Swan Hill District Hospital Emergency Department Swan Hill 3585
Posted by whisperyk95 (as ),
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Update posted by whisperyk95 (a service user) 4 months ago
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