My father has been attending the vascular clinic at Box Hill Hospital for many years. He use to attend every three months, but as he was doing well they changed that. He was due to attend again in March. Unfortunately he formed an ulcer at the back of his leg and it wasn't healing. He telephoned the vascular clinic to bring the appointment forward as he was suffering severe pain due to complications. He was told that he couldn't ring the clinic, his doctor had to request the appointment to be bought forward. His doctor emailed or faxed the request for the appointment and no contact was made by the hospital to either the doctor or my father. Two weeks later the doctor sent the request again and it was rejected. On Monday 3rd September my father attended Box Hill Emergency Department as he was struggling with the pain. He arrived at 10 am and at 6 pm they finally decided to admit him. He was taken up to the ninth floor and by approximately 7 pm a vascular doctor visited my father and reviewed him. He was told that due to the infection it would be necessary to do an ultrasound and an angiogram. It took until Wednesday to have a simple ultrasound and my father had to wait until the following Monday, the 10th September to have the angiogram. Unfortunately the angiogram was unsuccessful so it was decided that they need to do a bypass. He was told by a doctor that they will do the bypass on Thursday the 20th September. They released him from hospital on Wednesday 12th September with the understanding that they will be coming back the following Thursday. It is now Sunday 16th September and there is no confirmation of the bypass happening.
Here is an 81 year old man that has worked in this country for 63 years and paid his taxes and this is how he is treated in the public system. The way my father was made to wait for simple procedures in my opinion is not acceptable. I understand that sometimes there are emergencies that take priority, but a week of just sitting around waiting I believe is wrong.
"My father's visit to Box Hill Hospital"
About: Box Hill Hospital / Medical Imaging Box Hill Hospital Medical Imaging Box Hill 3128
Posted by Unhappy daughter (as ),
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