An experience in RAH emergency
You, especially those coming from South Asia and Africa, might think of excellent medical services in Australia. It was me too while flying to Australia about 10 months ago. Technologically equipped, availability of so many experts and medical practitioners and finely written the text about medical service etiquette all make us think the level of excellence in medical services and the care patients get when they reach hospitals.
I realised the level of hype and the exaggeration made about these services last week in Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH). I was there at the hospital with an epilepsy patient. The family doctor, mostly referred to as GP (General Practitioner), had forwarded the case to RAH. I had reached GP at around 9:30. It took almost an hour for the GP to assess the patient and immediately referred the patient to RAH. The GP called the emergency department and advised that the patient be attended by a psychiatric as well.
We reached RAH at 11:15 and notified the emergency ward. The clerical staff said, it takes at least an hour to a doctor to come and speak to us. We waited for one and half hours. Around six people who came later than us had already met doctors and returned. I wondered if this is an emergency ward where patients have to wait for hours. A scrolling board notice showed that patients are looked after based on the severity of their illness.
After one and half hour, a nurse called us in and guided us to a room sized 3 by 4 feet. Four chairs were waiting us. The nurse made preliminary assessment about the background of the illness, took temperature and blood pressure. She said a doctor will soon come to talk to us more.
I started feeling dizziness due to hunger. But as the nurse said, a doctor might come at any time to see, there is no way for me to go out and take lunch. Six hours passed waiting for the doctor in this small room. There is no symptom that doctor is coming. I repeatedly asked the nurses roaming around but received usual response – it should not take long time for doctor to come.
As my anger grew, they started saying an interpreter is required so that doctor and speak to patient in private. I accepted the prevalent the system here. I tried helping the nurse to contact the interpreter supplying agencies since I am working with some of them. They seem my offer is unacceptable. It took almost half an hour to find out an agency and book the interpreter.
Interpreter arrived at 5:30 PM. He reported to the desk and informed that he has been booked for an hour. The nurses started looking for doctor. They could not find where the doctor has gone now. I wondered why an interpreter is booked when doctor is not aware that he is assessing this patient at 5:30. Another senior nurse came and made attempt to assess like a specialist.
As he went out, I again approached the admission desk and asked if I can talk to doctor immediately. I expressed my willingness to go out if there is no possibility of seeing doctor. The nurses tried sending us to a bed and started preparing a hand-band that is used in hospital to identify patients. I shouted at nurse saying I not here to ask my patient wait for hours in a room, and wait for another dozen hours in a bed.
Another woman nearby, who was waiting for doctor since 1 PM also started yelling. Inside anger, a notice on wall made me laugh “staff and patients in this hospital have the right to work and be cared for……..” The interpreter was in hurry – only ten minutes are left of his booked time. A lady came (I don’t know who she was but certainly she was not a nurse or a specialist) and asked the interpreter to wait for another hour. Interpreter said he can’t. I added if there wasn’t availability of doctor, why are they not allowing us to go? We have been waiting for seven hours empty belly. And a patient referred to meet a psychiatric is forced to wait for seven hours in a small room. That’s mental torture to the patient, not treatment.
By 6:40 PM the doctor came talked for 45 minutes but the result was nothing. What treatment did patient receive? What is the meaning of all those exaggeration about excellent medical services, great care to the patients? Wherever you go, public hospitals are some – employees here care about spending eight hours a day rather than looking at the patients. Furthermore, people having no private health insurance cover are less chance to get attention from hospitals (RAH?). Medicare cover is not good source for their income.