"Excellent care received at three different hospitals"

Staff skills

Team work

Staff attitude

Care Staff

My partner became very unwell very quickly late last year.  We thought my partner had flu but they ended up being taken by Ambulance to Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) Emergency Department (ED) as was deteriorating.  In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) my partner was diagnosed with severe sepsis due to Golden Staph which was causing multi-organ failure and endocarditis (heart infection).  My partner nearly didn't make it that first week and after 6 days in the wonderful care of Dr Anne and the nursing and Allied Health team at RPH Coronary Care Unit (CCU), was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital for the first mitral valve replacement operation led by Dr Chris. 

My partner was recovering in the Cardiac Surgery Ward but then had a cardiac arrest after about 10 days due to Cardiac Tamponade (bleeding around the heart) - and was clinically dead for 8 minutes. The team were forced to open my partner up in ICU as Theatre wasn't yet ready (it was early morning) and perform internal heart massage which saved my partner's life and brain and physical functioning.  After further excellent care, my partner was discharged but had to unfortunately return to RPH ED and CCU a few days later as the Staph infection had re-occurred and destroying the brand new heart valve. My partner ended up having a second heart valve replacement at Mount Private Hospital by Dr Rob. 

The care my partner received in all hospitals and by all teams (ED, ICU, CCUs and Cardiothoracic Surgery Wards) was excellent.  We were both very well supported and as a carer (and health professional) I felt listened to, communicated well with overall, and cared for myself by the staff during a very traumatic period, as well as the fantastic care my partner received.  My partner wouldn't be here today without the care, skills of all involved so a huge thank you to all the Specialists, nursing staff, allied health and support staff involved.