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Lack of telehealth facility

Posted By uniformwr45

"Lack of telehealth facility"

About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / General Outpatient Clinics

(as a carer),

As carers for a friend with multiple health issues the apparent lack of willingness by Fiona Stanley Hospital vascular leg ulcer outpatient clinic to utilise telehealth facilities is frustrating. In my opinion, a 2 hour round trip from home, for a would inspection and told to come back in 6-8 weeks is unacceptable. I believe patients who live further away would need transport and accomodation. These journeys are exhausting for the patient and carers.

From years of health advocacy with DHAC and WACHS I know the success of emergency and general telehealth and cannot understand why FSH do not utilise.

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Responses

Response from Neil Doverty, Executive Director Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group, South Metropolitan Health Service 2 months ago
Neil Doverty
Executive Director Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 13/02/2024 at 12:46 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 2:22 PM

picture of Neil Doverty

Dear uniformwr45,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with the Vascular Leg Ulcer Outpatient Clinic. I am sorry to hear that there is a 2 hour round trip to attend the outpatient appointment and can only imagine the exhaustion this causes.

I’d like to assure you that Fiona Stanley Hospital uses Telehealth appointments. I agree that they are an excellent mode of communication for those patients who live at a distance from the hospital, as well as improving the patient experience.

In regard to the Vascular Service at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Telehealth is available. As with all Telehealth consultations, the treating clinician must decide on a case-by-case basis as to whether Telehealth is appropriate.

I would like to assist you further and offer these options for you to follow:

- Call the telephone number on your appointment letter or SMS Appointment reminder. - Access the Manage My Care app found here Manage My Care (health.wa.gov.au) or - Ask about Telehealth appointments at you next outpatient visit.

Thank you again for your feedback and I hope that the information provided assists you with accessing Telehealth appointments.

Kind regards

Neil Doverty

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Update posted by uniformwr45 (a carer)

I have asked for Telehealth for this patient for over a year at each scheduled appointment. They asked for them previously. They have multiple comorbities and I understand the likelihood of them ever having the promised surgery is at best under 5%. Meanwhile the travel exhausts them and is not good use of time and energy.

Response from Neil Doverty, Executive Director Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group, South Metropolitan Health Service 2 months ago
Neil Doverty
Executive Director Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 14/02/2024 at 1:20 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 2:18 PM

picture of Neil Doverty

Dear uniformwr45

Thank you for reaching out again via Care Opinion; I can appreciate the ongoing travel would be exhausting for both you and your friend.

I would like to understand the reasons why telehealth appointments have not been offered to the person you care for, and I therefore invite you to contact our Patient and Family Liaison Service on 6152 4013 during business hours or via email FSHFeedback@health.wa.gov.au with your friend’s information.

Kind regards

Neil Doverty

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