"Waiting for a bed"

I was booked for a 5 day admission for treatment for severe and enduring complex chronic pain at PoW. This admission was approved as a 90 day wait for admission.

The time I was booked in for has come and gone and it is now several months later and I've not been able to access a bed for my treatment. I was recently contacted before Christmas and advised that I was re-booked for early 2024. I waited all day for a call to come through only to find out that a bed wasn't available again. The following day I was told that an admission is unlikely to happen that week.

I am living in limbo with the constant uncertainty of not knowing when an admission will occur. I was called at the last moment late last year and was told there was a cancellation and the bed was being offered to me, however I would have to arrive at the hospital within 1 hour and 45 minutes. Given that I live 45 minutes away from the hospital and I was not at home when this call came through, I wasn't able to make this time. There was no budging or compromise on the arrival time (which would have meant I'd have been able to get to the hospital), leaving me devastated that I had missed out on this opportunity.

I am disabled and rely on support workers to assist with life and getting to and from hospital. The constant uncertainty and cancelling of the admission has added extra stress in organising support shifts and meal supports.

My mental health is deteriorating because of the burden of the chronic pain and constantly living in limbo not knowing when this admission will happen. My health is in a poor state and getting worse the longer this bed is unavailable.

The admissions office has been wonderful in keeping me updated and letting me know what is happening. I would like to extend my appreciation to Roy and Dominique for their compassion and understanding when contacting me, and for always being polite and kind. This matters greatly with the continual bad news about no bed being available once again.

I understand there are pressures on the hospital system, however you did approve the admission for 90 days and it's now been over 6 months since that approval. I am extremely disappointed, left bewildered by the lack of treatment, and in constant severe pain which has impacted all domains of my life.