"Lack of Care and treatment of my relative!"

My sibling had an accident running on a recent Friday. They presented to the ED at Geraldton Regional Hospital at aroundearly in the morning. They were taken through and was made to sit in a chair near the station in the middle of ED for the entire day.

My sibling had a smashed shoulder in multiple places and a very bad hit to the head and face. They were sent home and told they could not do the surgery until the following Wednesday at the Geraldton Regional or if my sibling has private cover, they could do it on the Thursday? My sibling has top private cover, but was desperate to get their shoulder fixed, they went with the Wednesday.

They were was sent home and pretty much told to take some Panadol and nurofen. I have never witnessed someone in so much pain. My sibling returned back to the hospital on the Sunday afternoon in so much pain, begging for some relief. The Dr provided my sibling a script for some pain relief and sent them home again. They made it through to the Tuesday without any sleep and screaming in pain from the sharp ‘electric shocks’ to their admission appt for Wednesday’s surgery.

The Dr decided my sibling should be admitted (Wow) , but said they would have to go through ED for this to happen. My sibling could not sit in a chair, they were in so much pain, but they were still there over 2 hours later waiting for the bed! My sibling approached the nurse at triage and asked in a very kind voice how long does it usually take for a bed to be ready? As I understand it the nurse replied in a disgustingly rude tone my sibling is no different to anyone else, sit down.

My sibling also said the way staff were speaking to each other was beyond disgraceful in front of themselves and other patients! My sibling tried to wait longer, but was in so much pain, they had to leave!

At another time that same day, they asked another nurse a question and the hospital had no record of my sibling even being admitted! One department is not communicating with another!

My sibling had their surgery the following day on the Wednesday which was delayed 3 times…they had been fasting since 6 am that morning. After surgery later that evening my sibling asked if they could please have something to eat? They are Coeliac. The nurse said that they had nothing suitable for my sibling. My sibling even asked if they could have a piece of fruit! They had to rely on their spouse to bring something gluten free the following morning, 24 hours since they'd last had anything!

Later another nurse came by and told my sibling there were plenty of gluten free options they could have given ! How disgraceful! I really hope myself or my family never have an accident here in Geraldton, because if that’s how you get treated, it’s beyond terrible. In my opinion, my dog would get better looked after at the vets! No one should be made to wait 5 days with broken bones in horrific pain! There is so much more to this story, I only know a small amount! My sibling and their spouse will not be letting this go!