"Medical Imaging Department"

I had an ultrasound referral emailed through to the Kalgoorlie Hospital Medical Imaging Department.

After approximately two weeks, I had still received no contact from them regarding an appointment.  I tried to telephone them several times a day for several consecutive days but nobody ever answered the telephone and it would just ring out.

I wanted to arrange an appointment as I live almost 400km from Kalgoorlie but would be visiting there two weeks later and wanted to coordinate several different appointments for the time that I would be in Kalgoorlie.  Following multiple unsuccessful attempts to call them directly, I called the main number for the Hospital, where a lovely lady apologised to me and advised me that they were not taking calls in the Medical Imaging Department, and that the best advice she could give me was to call in and see them.  I explained that I live 400km away and the lady suggested that I try emailing them and gave me an email address for them.

I duly emailed another copy of my referral through to that address, but by the time my trip to Kalgoorlie came around two weeks later, I had still not had any response.  While I was in Kalgoorlie, I called in to the Medical Imaging Department at the Hospital, and explained that both my GP and I had emailed my referral through and that I had not had any calls or emails from them.

I was advised that there were only two staff working in the Admin area and that they did not have time to answer the telephone or answer all of the emails that they were receiving.  They did offer to book an appointment for me the next day, however I had other conflicting appointments and could not attend then.  I made an appointment for four weeks later.  Fortunately I had a copy of my referral with me and they were able to take a copy of that as they informed me that they would not be able to find the emailed copies which had already been sent through by both myself and my GP.

I am totally horrified and appalled at the complete breakdown of the referral system for x-ray, ultrasound, MRI and CT scans whereby any rural or remote patients who are referred do not receive any call back or email to book appointments, even if the GP has marked the scan needed as urgent.

To be advised that they would not be able to find the previously emailed referrals also concerned me immensely.  I know for a fact that my GP's office puts the patient's full name in the Subject of any email referrals and I also put my name in the Subject heading of my personal email to them.  A simple search of their email for my last name would have found both emails.

It would be terrible if a patient suffered further illness/harm or even possibly died as a result of not receiving the medical scans requested.