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No continuity of care

Posted By gruscd37

"No continuity of care"

About: Joondalup Health Campus / Emergency Department

(as a relative),

My elderly parent who is in their 90s has been admitted to Joondalup health campus via ED/ambulance transport twice in a few weeks recently. Each time ED clinicians have provided information different to that received once on the ward. I believe there is an obvious lack of handover and knowledge of previous events.

Upon re-admission via the General Medicine team there was no information provided to the family, despite repeated requests from next of kin for a family meeting. There was no care plan or follow up for the first or second admissions and my parent has been subsequently discharged despite family objections, and unknown results of their PET scan.

It seems one minute we are advised they are critically unwell, and the next that they can be safely discharged into the care of their elderly partner, with the advice to call an ambulance if they deteriorate.

My parent is obviously nearing end of life, yet there is no discussion on long-term care plans, palliation etc. This feels like a revolving door of health care with no care or concern for re-admission or quality of life for this elderly patient.

The doctors and nurses caring for my parent in ED, CCU and the ward have been wonderful, but as a whole I believe the system is broken. I think it is inefficient and does not enable quality, hollistic health care for an individual.

As an employee of WA Health I hear a lot of talk about the health system manager, sustainable health and collaborative care pathways, however our experience does not lead me to believe this is replicated in actions. 

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Responses

Response from Dr Kevin Hartley, Director of Medical Services, Joondalup Health Campus 2 months ago
Dr Kevin Hartley
Director of Medical Services,
Joondalup Health Campus

Submitted on 8/02/2024 at 12:11 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 12:50 PM

Dear gruscd37

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback regarding communication during your elderly parents’ recent admission to Joondalup Health Campus (JHC).

It is disappointing to hear of your difficulty in communicating with staff across teams of the hospital and I apologise that your request for a family meeting was not met.

As our patients transition between teams, the focus of care and care planning may change, particularly after the admitting consultant has reviewed a patient. It is expected that when changes do occur, that the patient and significant others are notified and involved in shared decision making around treatment and goals of care. It is disappointing that this was not your experience.

JHC values the opportunity to partner with patients, family and significant other and the hospital would like to take the opportunity to look closely into your elderly parent’s stay with us to identify opportunities for improvement and education.

I encourage you to contact the Consumer Liaison Team at JHC, who will listen to your story and take further details. Consumer Liaison can be contacted on (08) 9400 9672 or via email ConsumerLiaison.JHC@ramsayhealth.com.au

Kind Regards,

Kevin Hartley.

Director of Medical Services

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