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Still waiting to be transferred to Monash stroke unit

Posted By echoqz76

"Still waiting to be transferred to Monash stroke unit"

About: Bass Coast Health Wonthaggi Hospital / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

I recently had a stroke, transferred to Wonthaggi Hospital Emergency Department, then sent to short stay. Went home the next day and admitted again on the following morning for another related event in my pharmacy. Readmitted and moved twice in short stay then to ward 5 and same day moved again with a promise to go to Monash stroke unit. I have been sitting in another bed still waiting and now it is the weekend. I have had 4 bed moves this week alone. 

My question to the Hospital administration and the Victorian Health Department is, when will I get appropriate stroke treatment in a proper clinical specialist unit? 

I love Wonthaggi Hospital staff but this situation is not only clinically dangerous but sends the message to the patient that my stroke is not serious enough. I believe that I have been bumped several times this week.

Is the health system working for the patient or the administration system instead. Does patient priority lie with other stroke patients that reside in Melbourne and stroke patients in regional Victoria get overlooked. My doctors are working hard to arrange a transfer but when I see them in the corridor, I feel they avoid me. 

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Response from Jan Child, CEO, Bass Coast Health 4 years ago
Jan Child
CEO,
Bass Coast Health

Submitted on 17/06/2019 at 1:03 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 4:12 PM

picture of Jan Child

Dear echoqz76,

Firstly, thank you for your post over the weekend, but more importantly, for escalating your concerns recently in person to the staff on duty.

As you know, we had been trying (unsuccessfully) for some days to try to get you a bed in a Tertiary Stroke Unit (they had accepted you but as you know, bed availability was the problem and so they hadn't accepted you).

Whilst we were able to monitor you and maintain you in a safe environment, Wonthaggi Hospital doesn't have the capability of a fully fledged stroke unit and so when a bed wasn't available again recently, and you rightly voiced your concerns, the Senior Nurse on duty escalated your concerns to me and I authorised for an ambulance to take you to the Tertiary Services Emergency Department.

I spoke personally to the ED Admitting Officer and the Bed Coordinator to tell them you were on your way and so, whilst this isn't the ideal way for us to get patients to more complex care environments, it worked in this case. I would like to thank you for your email to me Saturday afternoon to say that you were safely in a specialist stroke bed. I hope things are progressing well for you now and well done to you for reminding us that timely transfer to specialist services is a key priority for us to facilitate.

All the best to you.

Jan.

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