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"Horrible treatment of Dr"

About: Busselton Health Campus / Emergency Department

(as a friend),

I took my friend to Busselton ED. They were distressed from the itchiness and pain they had at their EEG sites. My friend was having a continuous EEG to check for seizures with an unclassical presentation. We got to ED at at night. We had searched prior solutions and there was no contact number for neurophysiology after hours. We waiting just over 2 hours to be seen. There was 2 a total of 2 patients in ED. 

When we were bought in we were relieved. Our Doctor did not introduce themselves except as a Dr. 

From the beginning I felt they were harsh and rude. So much so I went to put my possessions down and sit on the chair and decided that I would stand instead.

My friend went to sit on the bed as the patient and hadnt even made it to the bed before I recall the Doctor said that they're the Dr what do they need - no hello, no revision of history to understand their patient. I felt they were rude and gruff and offensive from the get go. 

My friend explained they were very distressed by their EEG dots the ones behind their ear, they were very sore and very itchy. My friend was having the EEG post tumour removal in 2020. They suffer from dysphasia. My friend wanted them removed. They had no one to call.

I recall the Dr turned around and said that they dont know how to take them off, my friend waited so long for this test wouldnt it be better to leave them on.

My friend explained that they were causing so much distress they needed them off, my friend had started crying at this point. 

The Dr reinterated again that they dont know how to take them off, has my friend tried an antihistamine, panadol? 

The Dr then asked my friend if they had taken Nurofen - My friend said no because I am allergic which I believe is written all over their charts as this was also asked in Triage - further evidence that the Dr didnt read the notes in my opinion. 

I recall the Dr then proceeded to say they've waited so long for this test, cant my friend just deal with it for 48hrs, they dont know how to take them off. 

My friend said they wouldnt sleep if they were on, they needed them off as they were distressed. My friend didnt care about the test. They said they couldnt call anyone as no after hrs Dr would talk to my friend, they tried.

The Dr said to my friend is it problem if they dont sleep for 48hrs, when my friend said it would bring on seizures I recall the Drs response was, So! 

I had spoken up once in here explaining my friend was distressed we didnt have anyone to call. 

Once I lifted my chin off the floor as I was appauled that a medical professional could act so unprofessionally I stepped in. 

I told the Dr.. How dare they speak to us this way. We came here for help. I explained to the Dr that we are both medical professionals and would never speak to patients like this ever, especially when they have come in late at night and in distress. I told the Dr that it wasnt ok they hadnt read the chart. I told them that we dont have the means to contact drs after hours. You didnt even look at my friend's allergies.

My friend crying asked if we could leave, i said yep lets go and the Dr gestured us to the door with what I felt was a sour look on their face (the unspoken word in their gestures was yep get out of my sight). 

I told the Dr again how disgusted I was at the way they spoke to us and their lack of care. I also told them that I would be writing this complaint and I would also be contacting the ED management. 

I wish I had thought faster on my feet, I would have asked to have another DR and I would have asked to speak to the HRN. But I was furious. 

I recommended Busselton ED to my friend because I have had nothing but great experiences there. I am a CN with many years experience. I am still so angry at the treatment of my friend who is also an RN. 

On my hardest days and with my hardest patients I would never speak to someone like that. I believe there is no excuse for their mannerisms, their words and their complete lack of compassion. 

In my opinion this Dr should not be working in ED, they should not be working with patients. I would feel very upset for patients who come in who dont have medical knowledge or who arent confident to stand up and speak up. 

There was no reassurance for my friend, there was no compassion, there was no let me find out a bit more about it and educate myself and you on why this is happeneing. 30 minutes I believe the Dr could have spent with us making a phone call to a metro hospital's neuro finding out why this was happening and come back and explain to my friend what was going on. They didnt even offer my friend anything to help them sleep the night or to calm them down. 

I would love to be contacted about this as I would love to work out a solution and I would like to see this Dr learn how to manage patients. I am concerned for other patients especially the elderly or people with disabilities. 

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Responses

Response from Caroline Booker, Clinical Nurse Manager, Busselton Health Campus, WACHS South West 2 weeks ago
Caroline Booker
Clinical Nurse Manager, Busselton Health Campus,
WACHS South West
Submitted on 15/04/2024 at 5:09 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 16/04/2024 at 8:57 AM


Dear Bulletproof83,

I am so saddened to hear of this experience you had when attending ED. I would really like to speak with the Medical Director at Busselton about this Doctor's treatment of you and your friend.

I would be grateful if you could contact me regarding this incident so that I can follow up further.

This is not how we expect patient's to be treated here and I am so sorry that this happened to you and your friend.

Your sincerely

Caroline Booker

Clinical Nurse Manager

Busselton Helath Campus

Emergency Department

9753 6061

caroline.booker@health.wa.gov.au

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