"Elderly relative's weight loss"

My elderly parent in law was recently admitted to Rockingham hospital following presenting to the ED. They had come to visit over the Christmas period and was unable to keep down food and their appetite had totally disappeared they had lost 8kgs over a period of 3 weeks.

After a 5 hr wait in the ED my parent got allocated a cubicle and had several tests completed 5 large gallstones were found which required surgery but the surgeon felt this could wait 2 weeks and could be done as an outpatient at this time they’d wanted to discharge but my parent in law was still not eating I got very upset so the medical team finally accepted my parent for admission and completed further tests at which time they found a dvt in their lung.

Another surgeon came to see us and explained that a scan had shown some issue with my parent’s oesophagus so a gastroscopy was going to be performed following this they would remove their gallbladder. The gastroscope identified that my parent’s oesophagus showed deterioration and they had bleeding in their stomach. The medical team decided at this point to discharge my parent with OP follow up.

I discussed with the consultant my concerns that my parent was still not eating and that the promised surgery had not been carried out. I was told that my parent still required a colonoscopy and gallbladder surgery both of which would be completed on a priority 1 as an outpatient. My parent’s blood thinning medication was changed at point of discharge with no discussion as to why.

Around a week after discharge my parent had lost another 3 kgs. I am at my wits end. I am extremely disappointed in the care offered by RKGH it felt like I was doing battle everyday and at the end of it nothing was achieved I have found out that despite being told that my parent was a priority 1 for required surgeries, they have been put on a priority 2 for a colonoscopy which my gp says is essential and a priority 3 for their gallbladder. I am at my wits end and am dealing with a sick man who is deteriorating a little more everyday. Based on my experience, I feel shame on you RKGH you seemingly promote high quality care shared with clients and caregivers but we feel let down and lied to.