In recent months, I’ve had a string of specialist appointments in Broome culminating in a procedure scheduled in Perth.
While all the staff I interacted were wonderful on a personal level, as a system the experience was frustrating.
The main issue was poor communication as my file apparently bounced between departments.
Two months after having a biopsy sample taken by visiting specialist, I had not received result, and it took many phone calls and emails to finally establish the result- the sample was cancerous. Apparently, the result had slipped through the cracks, and the Hospital said the specialist should’ve contacted me, and the specialist, who is based in Perth said the GP should’ve contacted me. I got to the bottom of it, but only by being persistent and knowing how to navigate the system. Otherwise, I would just never have got the result, and the cancer could’ve spread. The thought that this could be occurring with more vulnerable patients is alarming.
Worth adding here that I did have a courteous and apologetic follow-up call from hospital management which was appreciated.
After the procedure in Perth it was never explained to me that I needed a follow-up appointment to get the stitches removed. Somebody from WACHS admin got in touch to organise a follow-up appointment, but this was scheduled as a video hook up, as the receptionist doing the scheduling didn’t seem to have any knowledge of what the appointment was for. So more time was wasted once this was realised.
It wasn’t a big deal, but definitely reaffirmed my impression that the system is disorganised, and the admin side of things doesn’t seem to be adequately resourced to ensure patient care.
I’m only writing so higher up management has awareness of these issues, as I feel it probably happens a lot more than is reported, and could make a tangible difference to health outcomes. The treating staff at both Broome and the hospital in Perth were fantastic.
Thank you for hearing me out!
"Poor communication for regional specialist services"
About: Broome Health Campus Broome Health Campus Broome 6725
Posted by cepheusdd79 (as ),
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