"Hand injury"

Currently on holidays from Victoria, when l sustained an injury to my left hand requiring day surgery at Sydney Hospital.

I first attended the A & E at Nowra hospital on Sunday night. (Wait time was approximately 2hrs) Where l was treated by a great team of professionals. On further investigation it was decided that l required follow up treatment at a larger hospital. I was referred to Wollongong Hospital, Day Surgery Unit early in the week. Once again the staff I saw were very professional and helpful. After waiting to see a doctor for another 3 hours it was decided that surgery was required and it would be done at Wollongong Hospital. Later that day l received a call explaining to me that the surgery could not be done at Wollongong and l would be required to go to Sydney Eye/Hand hospital the next day. 

Arrived at Sydney hospital mid-morning and waited for a further 3 hours to see a Specialist who agreed that l required surgery. I was then taken to the DPU around lunchtime for surgery. Once again all nursing and ward staff I saw were very professional and helpful even though it seemed the treatment they were receiving from some patients was less than friendly, I recall boarding on harassment.

Waited for surgery until the late afternoon, at this stage surgeons were coming down from theatre to let patients know they had been “bounced off” the list until the next day depending on availability of theatres. There was no guarantee given that even then, that their surgery would be done the following day.

The nursing staff in the DPU released that l was possibly going to be on the “bounced” list. Given that l am staying outside of Sydney and that it took me over 3.5 hours to get to Sydney and l live in Victoria and do not know Sydney it was concerning that l may need to return the following day. It then became apparent that l was not even on the operating list. The nursing staff and in particular Natasha approached the surgeons and requested that my surgery should proceed that afternoon, upon review the surgeon agreed and l got into theatre that afternoon. (What a long day of waiting)

I cannot thank the Nursing staff (in particular Natasha) enough for their professionalism, understanding and care. I feel that no staff member should have to put up and deal with rude and intolerable individuals as much as l witnessed in one day. I believe these professional do not get rewarded for what they put up with and go through.

Yes, l did have to wait and wait and wait but the hospital staff I saw always kept a smile on their face even when under duress form others. 

Thanks Natasha (Sydney Eye/Hand DPU) you were my angel!