My spouse, who is an asthmatic, was struggling to breathe from what turned out to be Influenza A recently.
My spouse subsequently presented to Fiona Stanley Hospital Emergency Department (ED). My spouse was hyperventilating and reported severe body ache to the ED nurse. The ED nurse reportedly shouted at my spouse to sit up and shoved a Ventolin spacer right into my spouse's mouth which made my spouse very uncomfortable. The nurse kept repeating: your oxygen sats are fine, but did not take my spouse's temperature which we later found out was 40 degrees.
My spouse got so traumatised by their interaction with the nurse and made a decision to discharge themself. My spouse was very unsteady by the time I picked them up at the front entrance. I took my spouse straight away to a different hospital and they were admitted for 2 days for Influenza A. My spouse was treated with utmost respect and compassion at the other hospital and proper tests were administered to investigate my spouse's presented symptoms.
As a health employee myself, I am disappointed by the quality of service provision and the comment by my spouse that their health concerns were being dismissed when they were in genuine need of treatment.
We have been fortunate to be able to have alternative care options with private health cover but I feel sorry for patients who do not have the privilege. I know this is not reflective of the public health system and I really hope my spouse's experience is an isolated case.
"Lack of compassionate care at the ED"
About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / Emergency Department Fiona Stanley Hospital Emergency Department Murdoch 6150
Posted by Health service user (as ),
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