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How I was treated in ED

Posted By crocodilewt54

"How I was treated in ED"

About: Albany Health Campus / Emergency Department

(as a service user),

I was sent to Albany ED following sudden onset left iliac fossa pain and vomiting. My partner drove me down after spending the night in ED in a rural hospital.

I was made to feel in Albany ED like I was exaggerating my pain. It was suggested I may have been constipated. I had a CT and Ultrasound plus blood tests. The CT found possible a neoplasm. The nurse started talking about my journey which made my partner freak out.

I spent 2 nights as an inpatient. I couldn’t have had better care. When my pain resolved I was discharged with follow up phone appointments and MRI.

8 weeks later I went to another hospital for another ultrasound and gynie appointment. The result was an ovarian torsion. My partner and I spent 8 weeks worried for nothing.

At no time in ED did one of the ED doctors talk to me. I felt the only help I got was from the gynie consultant there. I felt the surgical team didn’t want to know. I found spending 12 hours in ED and my partner having to seemingly nag the staff for pain relief was degrading. 

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Responses

Response from Janine Watts, A/CONM, Albany Health Campus, WA Country Health Service (WACHS) about a year and a half ago
Janine Watts
A/CONM, Albany Health Campus,
WA Country Health Service (WACHS)

Submitted on 2/05/2023 at 5:45 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 3/05/2023 at 8:56 AM

Dear crocodilewt54,

Thankyou for taking the time to share your story on Care Opinion. I am really sorry to hear that you felt the staff did not acknowledge the amount of pain you were experiencing. We know that listening to our patients and their families is an important part of our work and how we communicate information is equally important. It is never our intention to cause distress with our communication and we apologise for any distress you experienced.

However, it is very pleasing to hear that you had a positive experience as an inpatient and I will ensure this information is passed on to the team.

We are always looking for ways to improve care for our patients and families and safety and communication are two things we take very seriously. I will follow up with the senior clinical staff and investigate the circumstances around your care. In the meantime, to assist us to improve I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this with you directly if you are open to meeting with me. I am contactable on phone number 9892 2213 or via email on Janine.watts@health.wa.gov.au.

Yours sincerely

Janine Watts

Coordinator Nursing and Midwifery

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by crocodilewt54 (a service user)

Hi Janine

I have been waiting for some time for you to investigate what happened when I was in ED in Albany. Initially you responded and then again when I emailed you. It’s been quite some time since my presentation. Yes it’s unusual for this to happen to a person of my age but it seems at no stage did anyone consider this. Sorry to bug you but hey!

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