PARAMEDICS IN NSW
Having lived in Sydney for 43 years since 1976, I have to say The NSW Ambulance Service and the ParaMedics are the BEST providing such extraordinary Service that I have decided that in my next life I want to be a Paramedic. That is how much I respect and value the Services provided.
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS
Whilst the Ambulance crew the paramedics do an outstanding job keeping you stay alive and getting you the Patient to Hospital Emergencies, what happens in Hospital Emergency Departments is not much to write home about.
Triage Nurses stuff around and getting paperwork sorted out as top priority when you the patient could be dying in the reception.
I was wheeled into RPAH emergency by my cardiologist from his specialist rooms in adjoining Carilion Street. He told the TRIAGE Nurse, I am a Cardiologist and this gentleman is Having a Stroke and needs to be seen by the NEURO Registrar NOW.
NEVER HAPPENED.
After the Cardiologist left the Triage Nurse just ignored me and I was sitting there in the reception for an hour fading into oblivion. Then they found a bed and did more paper work and blood tests etc. In a couple of hours I came good and was discharged as my blood circulation to the Brain improved when I was lying down.
Exactly One week later I suffered a Massive Brain stem stroke caused by Vertebral Artery Dissection/Occlusion. Had the TRIAGE nurse paid heed to the cardiologists instructions and called the neuro registrar, and had an angio been initiated and a plasma injection administered I may never have had a Brain Stem stroke.
Most of the Emergency doctors are Rookies and learning through very expensive mistakes that cost lives.
In General Public Hospital Emergencies are choked up with non urgent issues as Patients just get into their cars and drive to hospital emergencies for coughs and colds and indigestion etc etc and patients with serious live threatening issues are put to grave risk.
Attached to every Emergency should be a 24/7 Clinic manned by qualified doctors who should see the patients first before the Triage Nurse gets to see them.
Unfortunately the TRIAGE NURSE is the KING PIN in Hospital Emergencies and she is more interested in finding out if you the patient has Private Health Cover. Public Hospitals Milk the Private Health Insurance Companies. They love doing this and even send you Thank You letters for Using your own Private health Insurance.
I was admitted to Concord Hospital in Jan 2002 with severe back pain caused by a Pinched Sciatic Nerve. I was kept in the hospital bed for twelve days waiting for the Spinal Surgeon to see me when he returned from Christmas Holidays. when he did come back he did not even bother to come and see me and told the registrar to discharge me. Bed rest had healed my back by that time
Another time in 2012, I took a bad turn and blacked out. Assumed I was having another stroke. Pleaded with paramedics to take me to either Concord Hospital or RPAH as they had MRI Facilities. No Instructions were to take a stroke Patient to Canterbury Hospital that did not even have CT scanners. There was excitement when the Triage Nurse saw me and found out I had Private health Insurance.
On admission the Emergency registrar gave me a patient Asprin to thin my Blood despite my telling him I was already on Plavix and Warfarin. I am lucky I did not bleed to death in the ICU. Next day a Visiting Neurologist Dr Penelope Spring From Concord Hospital Blasted them for adding aspirin to my medications. She checked me out and diagnosed my problem as Low Vit B12 caused by excessive Metformin. I had seen over seventeen neurologists in Sydney in twelve years. Most tried to study your symptoms and prescribe some tablet. I doubt if any neurologist truly understands the brain. They sue symptom sorters and say Inky Pinky Ponkie what Can I give this donkey and decided on one tablet or the other.
Talking of Hospital Emergencies in 1984 My mother who was visiting us in Sydney slipped at RPAH when she was visiting my sister post surgery, slipped on soft drink that had been spilled, fell down and broke her wrist and hip. Yet no one in the Hospital wanted to take the risk of getting her help as theyw ere afraid of legal liabilities. She was sitting there with Broken Hands and hip for 2 1/2 hours until our Dr Friends arrived and wheeled her out to the emergency dept. There she was given Panadol and sent home with me. My wife was having a baby at Royal paddington Hosp and my sister was at RPAH and I took her back home to Lane Cove. I slept next to my mother in case she needed help. Around 3.00am My mother asked me to help her go to the loo. She was in a lot of pain. I helped her onto the Toilet seat abnd stood outside shutting the door partially for privacy. A few minutes Later I heard a Loud Thud. Rushed into the Toilet to see my mother was on the floor unconscius and blacked out. Phoned the ambulance and rushed her to Royal North Shore Hospital. Was seen by the Emergency Registrar who examined her and Wrote Possible Broken Hip Needs imaging. a Nurse followed her instructions and put up a sign that said Nil by Mouth.
Believe it or not from 4.30am I sat there with my mother until 4.30pm without food or water waiting for some one to attend to her. At about 5.00pm the head nurse who had seen us in the morning had gone home and returned for her new shift. I have never heard any one get so angry. She abused all the day staff anbd said this patiuent has been in bed here since 4,30am and she has had no food or drink and has had no Imaging as was ordered. She apologised and got the ball rolling after 12 hours of Nothing.
I was admitted to Concord Hospital in Jan 2002 with severe back pain caused by a Pinched Sciatic Nerve. I was kept in the hospital bed for twelve days waiting for the Spinal Surgeon to see me when he returned from Christmas Holidays. when he did come back he did not even bother to come and see me and told the registrar to discharge me. Bed rest had healed my back by that time
Another time in 2012, I took a bad turn and blacked out. Assumed I was having another stroke. Pleaded with paramedics to take me to either Concord Hospital or RPAH as they had MRI Facilities. No Instructions were to take a stroke Patient to Canterbury Hospital that did not even have CT scanners. There was excitement when the Triage Nurse saw me and found out I had Private health Insurance.
On admission the Emergency registrar gave me a patient Asprin to thin my Blood despite my telling him I was already on Plavix and Warfarin. I am lucky I did not bleed to death in the ICU. Next day a Visiting Neurologist Dr Penelope Spring From Concord Hospital Blasted them for adding aspirin to my medications. She checked me out and diagnosed my problem as Low Vit B12 caused by excessive Metformin. I had seen over seventeen neurologists in Sydney in twelve years. Most tried to study your symptoms and prescribe some tablet. I doubt if any neurologist truly understands the brain. They sue symptom sorters and say Inky Pinky Ponkie what Can I give this donkey and decided on one tablet or the other.
Talking of Hospital Emergencies in 1984 My mother who was visiting us in Sydney slipped at RPAH when she was visiting my sister post surgery, slipped on soft drink that had been spilled, fell down and broke her wrist and hip. Yet no one in the Hospital wanted to take the risk of getting her help as theyw ere afraid of legal liabilities. She was sitting there with Broken Hands and hip for 2 1/2 hours until our Dr Friends arrived and wheeled her out to the emergency dept. There she was given Panadol and sent home with me. My wife was having a baby at Royal paddington Hosp and my sister was at RPAH and I took her back home to Lane Cove. I slept next to my mother in case she needed help. Around 3.00am My mother asked me to help her go to the loo. She was in a lot of pain. I helped her onto the Toilet seat abnd stood outside shutting the door partially for privacy. A few minutes Later I heard a Loud Thud. Rushed into the Toilet to see my mother was on the floor unconscius and blacked out. Phoned the ambulance and rushed her to Royal North Shore Hospital. Was seen by the Emergency Registrar who examined her and Wrote Possible Broken Hip Needs imaging. a Nurse followed her instructions and put up a sign that said Nil by Mouth.
Believe it or not from 4.30am I sat there with my mother until 4.30pm without food or water waiting for some one to attend to her. At about 5.00pm the head nurse who had seen us in the morning had gone home and returned for her new shift. I have never heard any one get so angry. She abused all the day staff anbd said this patiuent has been in bed here since 4,30am and she has had no food or drink and has had no Imaging as was ordered. She apologised and got the ball rolling after 12 hours of Nothing.
