capacity

WELL - where to start - my daughter has been a bit offish the whole week and woke up around 10 last night complaining of very sore ears and could not settle. We decided to take her to the Childrens hospital in Subi - well - coming from Zim I have to say that this hospital was on par with the government hopsital there and our private hospital was far better serviced and we have NEVER had to wait as long for a service as we did last night. The floors were littered - the counters were grubby - the toilets were absolutely disgusting - no toilet paper - no soap - toilet seats on the floor - I was really appalled. My daughter complained of wanting to vomit and unfortunately did not get to the toilet in time and she vomited in the passage way (sorry for that) - they staff were so "on another planet" and did not seem too concerned - whilst I was cleaning her up my husband had grabbed a load of tissue (from the mens toilet) and had covered the mess. We eventually saw a nurse after around 2 hours who to me seemed pretty clueless as to a number of things - and then we were shipped out into the corridor and had to wait another 1 hour for a doctor.

So in a nutshell my first impressions of WA medical service to the general public is not so forthcoming - I will definately be ringing up a few private medical providers on Monday and paying for private service if that is what is takes.

NJJ

Experiences I have had with public hospitals in Melbounre is not much better. My missis' sister works at cabrini though and we have been in there to visit her at work a few times, that place is spotless.

jad n rich

Sympathy, weve been fairly lucky in casualty just incredible wait times before anyone sees you. I am currently house bound, had a small surgery last week on ear and now have a large raised purple/red lump on my cheek, which nobody will properly explain, its obvioulsy an infection (my limited medical knowledge is medical reception) but I know the third lot of antibiotics CIPROXIN $94.90 is not given for anything minor, but nobody will say anything much at all, just its an infection, I bloody know that but how complicated is this likely to be.

This was a procedure done in the docs rooms (as often happens here) and the nurse let slip 1 in 50 end up with infection. I just want some answers.

Ozzidoc

Im really sorry to hear about your infection and that it's kept you at home. I hope that it's not painful.

I was wondering, did you ask the nurse any questions about that figure? (I promise that I'm NOT having a go here, nor trying to be inflammatory)

How did they come to that conclusion? What research was done exactly? How many people involved? What were their demographics? ie Age/occupation/smoker/concurrent conditions eg diabetic/current medications. What procedures exactly did they base this research on? What was the difference in infection rates across the procedures? What was their follow-up period. How was infection defined time-wise. (eg no infection after 1 day, 1 week, 1 month etc) And how did they know that. What research was done into patient's mannerisims/behaviours which may affect the results. And how does this research compare to other places like theirs? And has this figure changed over time?

These are some of the questions i'd be asking if I saw such a figure. I guess what Im attempting to say is that the figure may just be one pulled out of the air or it may be correct. If it is correct - based on the type of research that Im suggesting is necessary, then there are many reasons as to why one person may get an infection over another. 2% infection rate? I'd take it!

Of course, I appreciate that this is probably not to do with you specifically and Im writing in general terms. Im trying to highlight the fact that there are many issues surrounding infection rates. They are not just to do with the medical staff.

Re antibiotics. I would ask them what exactly the bug is, and if it is usual to have 3 cycles. Is there a better antibiotic?

Get well soon! (No icon cos i dont know how to use them!)

Ozzidoc

Hope that you're daughter is feeling better.

If I were in your shoes I'd write a letter of complaint to the board.


This wont speed up your waiting time in casualty....unless there are now private casualty departments?

mary1

In Oz A and E is for just that Accident and Emergency.

Patients are "triaged" into 3 groups....from critical to walking wounded.
Out of sight from you were probably life and death situations .

Personally I would have taken her to a 24 hour medical centre or had her seen days ago in 9-5 hours when she first was sick if she wasn't better after 48 hours.

I'm a Registered Nurse ( worked in A and E years ago) I remember the frustration of people in the waiting room complaining when they should have been at their GPs when you were trying to rescusitate people through the plastic doors.

capacity

I get where you are coming from with regards to emergency etc - but my point was the state of the hospital regardless of what service they provide - as I also mentioned being new in Perth we were unsure of where to go for after hour care and actually called the hospital in Subi who recommended we come down there for an assessment as we also live in the area. I have to say looking back now it was not really the 'wait' that concerned me but having a good look at my surroundings and unfortunately having it compare with a government hosital in Africa is very sad (for me). My daughter was only suffering from a cold during the week and I am not one for dashing to the doctor as the first sign of illness I believe their own immunity will take control - it was just unfortunate that she just could not get over it and it progressed further - needless to say the doctor was against prescribing anything and she is now on the road to recovery. But the bottom line is - rather pay for private medical cover and get a better service (the same applied at home) - we unfortunately thought that coming to a 'developing' first world country would provide a cleaner, safer environment - this was not the case from where we were sitting.

Ceri

"just it's an infection" - no such thing as just an infection - infected by what?

If you are worried about it, go to the hospital, or your GP and DEMAND that they tell you, it's your body, your health. what infection ?- my guess is that they don't know without doing tests for everything including staph etc etc, so just Palm you off with "infection", and don't try and self diagnose yourself, or take any medical advice from so called med experts on forums - see a qualified doctor in the flesh if you are worried about it and want answers.

If it doesn't go away and just gets worse, and if you are really worried about - please don't just sit there, demand answers - it's your health!

If you don't get answers from your doctor go around the different Gp's until one of them takes notice and gives you answers . There are a lot of bad Gp's and doctors here, find a good one ( which is easier said than done).

If you are really worried about it, I'll give you the GP ( if he's still there at this practice) that I saw who took one look at me, and rushed me into hospital ( not even allowing me to go home and pack - scared the sh*te out of me he did, - he literally told me off for not seeking help sooner - which I did!) I was in so much pain my hubby had literally carry me into the surgery and this GP could not believe the incompetency of the other Gp's I saw , he took one look at my leg - did not comment to me at all - picked up the phone and rang the hospital to tell them that a patient was being rushed over to them immediately, then he turned to me and absouletly told me off - until I explained I did seek help time and time again- 4 doctors! - he was absolutely disgusted, and bewilderd by the incompetency of his fellow professionals.

I had necrosis in my leg ( caused by an infection - which they not did find which microbe it was - I was tested for everything when I was hospitalized l from the known staphs etc etc) , and the other GP's should have recognized a simple thing as necrosis- because of the time limit, ie it was over month when someone finally recognized how serious it was ( the last doc I saw) and was rushed to hospital - a lot of the tissue had died - I ended up in hospital for a month, two operations, and a skin graft - and was extremely lucky it had not reached the bone ( as that was an amputation job if it had - which they were worried about in the hospital too and had countless screenings for this) and it took me just over a year to walk without a limp. (ok now , I can out run the fastest of people ) - as it is I have lost feeling to the wound area - cut through nerves. and now again have pain lower down in my ankle - nerve damage.

what I am saying - if you are worried, do not get palmed off - demand answers, and if you do not get answers from one GP go to another.

I'll quote my GP who I saw and could not believe how the other GP's did not recognise necrotric wound , and that it was a very serious matter - he was actually telling me off for not seeking help sooner , until I told him he was about the 4th doctor I had seen and all of them had said just rest your leg up prop it up, which he found incredible " you should have screamed and shouted, until they had taken notice of you" - and then was promptly rushed into hospital - great!

anyway, I should have the surgery number somewhere at home if you want it , or I can look through the phone book for it now, and see if i can remember which one it was ( it was a few years ago I went there)- it was in the Morningside area though which may be a bit too far for you?. the GP I saw in the practice was a specialist doctor in sports medicine , besides the usual general medicine thing - "Gping thing " . I don't know if he is still working there, but the practice itself should still be there. what the other doctors there are like I don't know - I was lucky I saw one good doctor after countless of bad doctors who have a cheek to call themselves doctors - had I left it and had it eaten into the bone which it would have eventially done , and not been operated on I would have lost my leg - just luck of the draw when I booked the appointment as I had never been to that surgery before.

your "infection" may not be anything, but if you are really worried about it, and it gets worse, and want answers - please demand answers at your Gp's or hosptial. Put it this way, if that was one of your children who had it - you'd be worried and would be demanding answers would you not ? Well do the same for yourself.

cheers

Ozzidoc

Excellent advice Ceri.

I had actually - stupidly obviously - assumed that was what she was doing anyway....

renth

Ceri's manky leg story always makes me cringe every time I hear it.

jad n rich

Thanks Ceri for taking the time to write such a detailed reply I went back the following day and demanded a swab test, they claim the results are not back yet, again having worked medical reception I am suspicious of many things, often resutls are back the next day, did expect the answer today.

While there (this is a brisbane docs, we had other medical appointments in bris so had this done there), it all stems from a skin cancer being removed and stuffed up, by not removing enough cells, so second attempt.

Other things that concerned me.

The pillow that was in the surgery last week had a small hole in one corner and a tiny black stain, guess what same pillow there today.

Disposable mat covering bed had patients hair on it.

The nurse removing the stiches first removed the ones on the infected area then moved onto a clear area, until I stopped her and demanded more sterile equipment.

The not so common antiboitic I was prescribed was on a script on the doctors desk for another patient who has similar swellings to myslef.

As when my son was in hospital last year, NOBODY washes their hands, from one patient the next, answer the phone on reception then touch your wound then leave room without washing hands.

I must admit with 4 lots of antibiotics (one is now injected in daily) things have improved, but if I do not get swab results tomorrow I am demanding the whole thing is looked at by the hospital, I figure being a gov organisation they are more accountable than doctors who dont like in the UK have the NHS to answer to.

I will say this tho to anyone, anywhere, if you start having anything done medically and you dont feel hygiene procedures are correct, SPEAK UP, dont let them touch you, until its correct.

Wave the Sails

Do you mean the Princess Margaret Hospital? Oh dear, that's not good.

If you have private healthcare and the child is not in a so-called 'critical' condition where should you take them? The out of hours GP Clinics run at the hospitals? Thought I should check

mary1

I must admit it is about 5 years since I've been in a public hospital casualty.Standards seem to be deteriorating.

Remember you can complain (in writing)-it is the only way to get the Hospital Admin to take notice.The government are not interested in Medicare they would like to privatise all health care.

Makes me sad especially for the older Australians and the mentally and chronically ill.

I have found it best to have Private Hospital and Extras cover with one of the big health funds and find a big GP practice with 24 hour service so they can see you when you like.

Merlot12

Swab tests do take time.
Swab rec'd by lab. Lab maybe does microscopy to have a look to see if anything is immediately obvious. Swab get passed onto culture plates (different sorts to isolate if different bugs are there). Plates kept in incubator for three days, checked each day to see if anything growing. If suspicious organism grows, this is subcultured onto a selective plate with antibiotic discs to see which antibiotics are effective against the organisim (not all are).

Upshot - 48-72 hours minimum before the lab can give the doctor a meaningful result.

This is not due to incompetence, this is how long it takes the organism to grow and to get useful information to the doctor.

How do I know? I do this for a living.

Merlot.

lynnbrooks

The way i see it, is either 'ozziedoc' is our doc when we get there as he sounds like he knows his stuff and cares...OR... someone please give me an idea of what a family would pay a year for private healthcare?
Lynn