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Care and pain management

Posted By Lucky 67

"Care and pain management"

About: Royal Perth Hospital / State Major Trauma Unit Ward 3G

(as the patient),

I'm an older person that slipped and fell breaking 5-8 ribs with flail pieces. The care, medical attention and pain control was like nothing I have ever experienced. The medical and nursing staff care was without doubt top class. What let the system down was coordinating my movements. In five days I was moved four times, not only to different rooms, but also to  different blocks.  And one time the orderly stood waiting for me to get up and walk. The excruciating pain of broken ribs no matter how much pain control left me floundering with the many moves. A physio plan would be planned on a morning for the afternoon only to have me moved again.  I understand bed shortages but my movements were beyond too much. Maybe coordinators should co-ordinate a bit better and at least have someone advise the patient why they are being moved before the orderly starts poking all your stuff into a bag and in one instance wanted me to walk. 

Thank you once again though to all staff in the Trauma Unit.

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Responses

Response from Lesley Bennett, Chief Executive, East Metropolitan Health Service 5 years ago
Lesley Bennett
Chief Executive,
East Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 14/01/2019 at 3:20 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 3:23 PM

picture of Lesley Bennett

Dear Lucky 67

Firstly, thank you for taking the time to recognise our staff and also sharing your experience so that we can improve our service and patient care. I apologise for the lack of communication that you experienced with regard to being moved within the hospital and any discomfort you experienced as a result. I understand that rib injuries are particularly painful and this must have been a very traumatic time for you.

Without knowing the specifics of your injury or treatment plan I am unable to comment at length, however, due to the large number of trauma presentations at RPH as the State Adult Major Trauma Centre, it is necessary for patients to be moved to specialty based wards once their acute episode of care on the State Major Trauma Unit (SMTU) is no longer essential and to create capacity for new patients requiring acute major trauma care. In addition, to ensure RPH can meet admission demands or provide focused nursing care according to our patient’s needs, it is sometimes necessary for patients to be moved again during their admission. Having said that, we fully acknowledge it is not desirable to be moved multiple times and it is something we try and avoid and you raise very valid points about ensuring that we have good handover and communication to the new team looking after you. I have shared your experience with the team so we can ensure we continue to work to improve in this regard.

I thank you again for your valuable feedback and I wish you a fast recovery.

Yours sincerely

Dr Lesley Bennett

Acting Executive Director

Royal Perth Bentley Group

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