My experience with the Northern Hospital, Epping Melbourne in 2004

My letter to the Northern Hospital  dated the 16th July 2004

            

                                                           To Whom It may Concern.
                                                               ‘Without Prejudice’

 I am writing this letter because on the 30th January 2004, I was unlucky enough to require your services.  I presented at the Emergency Room after having a 600kg horse collapse whilst I was standing beside her, My husband drove me to the ER at approx 8.30pm, I was triaged quickly and placed in a consulting room to wait for the doctor.

 I was kept waiting for several hours and when finally seen by a doctor the doctor was going to discharge me, because it appeared that I was not in pain, as long as I was immobile.  But as soon as any pressure was applied to my leg, I went through the roof.  The doctor still said (with out X-rays) that the leg was severely bruised and rest should take care of. 

As I am a fairly docile person and have a high tolerance to pain, I thought okay, he is the professional, and he has studied and should know best.  But my husband being a little fierier than me requested X-rays.  The doctor thought these were unnecessary, but decided to shut him up anyway.  X-rays were taken and low and behold I had a broken fibula!

 The doctor was amazed that I was in so little pain, but like I had said from the time that I presented to the triage nurse I have a HIGH pain threshold due to previous injuries that have been on going.

So after a while the leg was placed in plaster and I was told to present tomorrow for a ‘plaster check’. No X-rays were taken after the plaster had been set. 

I presented for the plaster check mid afternoon the following day and was told that the plaster needed to be reapplied as the ankle had been set in the incorrect position.

I endured this with some pain, but kept my mouth shut. At this stage I was feeling useless and depressed at the fact that I was unable to earn an income and that I would be relying on people for everything from getting around to even cooking and cleaning (by the way those people that I refer to were my husband and children, 7 and 12) because I have no family within a reasonable distance who are able to assist me.

I was told that within the week I would receive an appointment card in the mail to attend the plaster clinic with the time and day on it. By the following Wednesday the swelling on my leg had reduced and I was able to get my fingertips to my ankle inside the plaster cast. The cast was offering NO support what so ever.

I presented back to the Northern to get someone to look at the plaster and replace it. I would have thought that this would have been a given, considering that I had a broken bone and the leg had not been in plaster for the 6 weeks that I thought was the norm for a broken bone. I presented at the Triage window again and requested that someone needs to look at the plaster as I believe that it is wrong and needs to be replaced. Considering I was in considerable pain and had been for a period of a week by this time, I was feeling useless, depressed and close to tears most of the time. When the triage nurse saw the plaster I believe that she agreed with me and sent me next door to the clinic within the ER.

I waited there for hours, and by this time I was crying because my leg was sore and I felt as though no one believed me.  Finally a person (a nurse)  I believe came to me, looked at the plaster and said I don’t think we need to replace this, when is your appointment with the plaster clinic? I said what appointment, I have not received any notification and I have not even had the plaster on for 1 week. In the end I had to demand that the plaster be replaced through the Doctor. Who also asked me how I was coping. I was not coping. I was unable to feed my children I was unable to wash their clothes I was even unable to have a shower by myself. When I mentioned this to the doctor he found a social worker, who after asking if I lived with anyone, I said yes, my husband. Oh well he has to help you, we can’t

This was news to me, as he was trying to supervise apprentices and stop them from presenting to the Northern Hospital minus a finger or two. Sounds funny? Well stand in his shoes and see how funny Workcover think it is when you are charged with lack of supervision of an apprentice.

 At this same appointment I was presented with a card to see the Plaster clinic doctors the following week.

 Therefore I was sent home to fend for myself,  and try and feed two children and not kill myself getting up and down the front door step to tend the animals and the children. During this time, I was still in considerable pain, and my GP thinks I may have re-broken the leg at some stage when my left leg gave out, as it is prone to do, due to previous injuries, (Which I notified the Hospital about!)

 I presented at the Northern Hospital at the Plaster Clinic had an X-ray and was told it is okay to walk on!  Haha I could not weight bear let alone stand on it and walk.  I went to my GP, a person I am sure you are familiar with.  He took one look at X-ray and put me straight back in plaster.  This time the plaster was neat and reasonably comfortable.  I waited for a further 5 weeks and then the doctor took the plaster off and was happier with the result, but due to the two weeks, without adequate support, the healing process was very slow to start.

Because of this and the fact that the leg was still very painful, I requested a referral to a Specialist, I go to see the specialist In March, 3 months after the initial accident. He was surprised, but non-committal to the treatment that I had received from the Northern Hospital.

I am writing this letter for many reasons; one is to complain about the service and the additional cost that I now have to incur because of the inadequate care that I received under the umbrella of the Northern Hospital. I am sure that when I initially presented I was seen as a hypochondriac because I was not absolute agony, once I was immobile. I am sure that when I presented to the Northern Hospital on the third occasion I was just looking for attention and I am sure that when I tried to talk to the Doctor at the Plaster clinic he saw me as a malingerer.

I am none of the above and have never been. After being involved in a car accident whereby my vehicle was rear ended by a 12 tonne truck, and not having ONE day off. I know I am not. I am by no means rich in fact; some days my husband and children get a meal of potatoes only, because there is no other food in the house.  I am no entitled to any government assistance because my husband owns his own business and because I work a taxable income. I receive NO children support, No family and no income assistance and of course no rental assistance because we are struggling to pay off our own house.

Because of your treatment or lack of it. I am now faced with huge private medical bills and also the uncertainty that had I received appropriate timely treatment, I might already be walking normally on my leg, within the ‘normal’ six week period. I would not have lost as much income, because I would have been back at work already AND not spending time at Specialists along with the money for no reason. Because I am a contractor, I am not entitled to sick leave and was lucky that I did not lose my job. AT no point in time was ANY assistance offered to me. I get the feeling that because I was not ‘on the dole’ and I was not ‘single’ I was discriminated against.

I would like your comment on this letter as a matter of course, because I would like to see what your thoughts are.

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A follow up letter from me to the Northern Hospital dated the 24th September 2004

 

 

‘Without Prejudice’

 

Mr xxxxxx

 

I have previously written to you on the 16^th July 2004, regarding a problem that I have concerning the Northern Hospital, I have yet to receive a response other than ‘we have received your letter and are looking into the matter’ which was dated the 21^st July 2004.

 

It is now 2 months since the original letter was received and I was wondering when I might receive a reply?

 

I have enclosed both letters for your perusal and thought you might like to comment on them.

 

Since that time, I am still under the care of a specialist, the swelling in my leg is still quite evident and the specialist says that it is not normal.  Tuesday the 21^st September 2004 I tripped and managed to jar my leg again. This means that I missed another day of work due to the pain and I am now back on crutches.

 

Again I believe that had I received appropriate and correct treatment in the first place I would not be in this position.

 

I am still incurring specialist fees, I am still losing money due to the fact that I am sometimes unable to drive and consequently unable to attend work and this doesn’t take into account the fact that the house is a mess. Whilst we are on the topic of care or lack of, how many 7 year olds do you know that can make their own breakfast and clean up the mess afterwards? Because I have a little boy that has been forced to do this and that makes me very sad.

 

Should you require any further information please feel free to contact me 

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I received a one paged letter, that said, sorry, we have implemented changes in the emergency department and something like this shouldn't happen again. Forget the fact I've paid $1000's if not $10,000's now in 2014, or forget the fact no-one wants to employ a 'cripple'........... Yup, forget about ALL that. As long as the hospital didn't receive any adverse media coverage.

Forget the fact I sat on an esky in the shower, for the time my leg was in plaster, forget the fact.............. Yeah, well, you know the story. You've read it.

Have any hospital horror stories? Let me know

 

 

My Favourite photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment!

Baby Cygnets, a friend of mine told me that some baby cygnets could be found in a local lake. So I went hunting with my camera and this is what I found! (Black Swan) This photo was taken on the 6th July 2012.

Baby Cygnet, This little guy was as bold as brass. I can only feel privileged to be able to experience this. (Black Swan) This photo was taken on the 6th July 2012.

This is was happens when flying kangaroos go horribly wrong! No animal was harmed in the taking of this photo. Just a trip, a fall and quick dust off! This photo was taken near Whittlesea on the 12th June 2012. This photo is available on Redbubble as a post card. Costs $1.98. so why not put a smile on a friends face?

This is what the above photo SHOULD have looked like! Flying Kangaroos. Photo was taken on the 12th June 2012

Please do NOT copy any of the photos on this blog - if you would like to use any photos, please leave a comment with contact details, Photos will be supplied without watermark and at full size. All comments are moderated and won't be shown to the public. Thank-you

Please note that no photo has been photo-shopped or altered in anyway on this blog, cropped yes, photo-shopped/altered NO!

Enjoy all of natures beauty!

A Photographer for a Day

**Disclaimer - I am NOT a professional photographer and neither do I profess to be one, or ever dream of being one. It was a favour to a friend at the last minute.

 It was Monday afternoon and I popped into J's factory for a coffee and yarn. (as you do when work is thin on the ground) The next thing you know, somehow, without actually saying anything. I've volunteered to photograph (wait for it........................... .........) A FUNERAL.............................

Of all things. A FUNERAL, not a kids party, not a wedding, A FUNERAL.... Apparently the 'regular' photographer is in hospital. I don't 'do' people. I prefer animals and things that can't talk back or give you the evil eye!

I don't profess to be a good photographer, I work on the theory of; get enough monkeys in a room, with enough typewriters and eventually something worthwhile will be produced.

It's a 9am start, fairly local, so not a problem, BUT........ the service won't be in English, and it's very rare for photographers to be a funerals! Derh.......... That's what I thought, but apparently the photos are to be sent overseas for family who couldn't attend.

I think I need God's help here/intervention. Now I'm starting to see failure written in proof all over EVERY photo!

 Take a deep breath, I get to the designated location at the correct time, take some 'landscape' shoots and then scout out the inside of the church for some areas, that might be suitable for me to camp for the entire ceremony. I am panicking right now!

Can't use the flash, or the tripod. thankfully I don't like the flash and have always taken photos without it. But without the tripod? In low light? It's going to get interesting. Almost too interesting. Can I run and hide under the nearest tree?

I get through the ceremony, taking the required photos, on viewing the photos the following day - I have somehow managed to capture those that are liked and not captured those that are disliked! (Pats self on back) I don't know Joe from Fred or Martha from Jane!

The photos are now safely with the family and come hell or high water, I will be running 200miles (on a broken leg) than have to do that again!

Telstra, You Had Better Hope No-One Dies, While You Can't Provide an Essential Service

This problem has been on going for 50 or more years (I've lived here for 15 years) and the previous owners (widow) had to walk down the road to report her husbands death because the telephone wasn't working AGAIN.

27.11.09 I've Never Been So Scared

13.11.10 How Many Faults and How Many Deaths?

16.11.10 Update on Telstra fault of 13th November 2010

17.11.10 Update No. 2 on Telstra fault of 13th November 2010

That's just the BIG memorable events on the last 3 years.......... There has been days where the phones don't work and I report and it's fixed without Telstra even telling me that it's fixed........ It's even feasible that the phone lines go down and I don't realise, if I get home late and the kids are with me and I have no need to talk to them.

2001 - Our boat was stolen and the police didn't believe me that we hadn't had phones for a one week.

November 2003 - The neighbours house was burgled and we hadn't had phones for two weeks.

January 2004 - I've been forced to go to work WITH my leg in plaster due to a broken leg, due to the bushfire risk (Remembering 2009 Black Saturday Fires were only 10  minutes or less from my front door)

I am FORCED out of my OWN pocket to pay for a separate line on the 'newer' network because Telstra CAN NOT or WILL NOT fix my main line and keep it fixed.

We CAN NOT rely on mobiles as the reception is patchy at the BEST OF TIMES :( it works if you hold one arm in the air, stand on ladder on one leg on top of the roof with your elbow touching the chimney. (joke) but I think you get my message.

We are 40km from the Melbourne CBD, and yet we can't get basic services, (including water) Power is also quite unreliable at times, including being 7 days without power ONCE in 15 years. But often we can lose power for 2-3 days at time, although recently this has improved. We still get many brown-outs

But back to telephones, I've rung 132200 (which is written in BIG letters on the back on phone) I've already unplugged the handsets (yet they STILL instruct me to do so) I repeat it's ALREADY DONE.

I wait 20 minutes and finally get a reference number from Telstra. I request the phone be diverted to the OTHER LINE THAT I PAY FOR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET because of Telstra's inability to provide a basic service.

I have my reference number with an estimated restore date of 4th April 2012. I have my phone diverted.

I THOUGHT I had my phone diverted, I only became aware it was INcorrectly diverted thanks to a Telstra technician, it turns out that the diversion number put in place WAS INCORRECT. Telstra OVERSEAS CALL-CENTRE can't even get THAT RIGHT.

Finally my diversion phone is working THAT I PAY FOR FROM MY OWN POCKET, THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO IF TELSTRA DID THEIR JOB.

Did you know - I am first name basis with the phone technicians?

That's how OFTEN this happens

Telstra pull up your pants........................... because God help you if ANYONE I KNOW and care about dies because of your inability to rectify a 50 YEAR OLD FAULT

Service finally restored 3pm on Monday the 2nd April 2012

I’ve was never so scared

**Reposted from other blog - This was natural causes, nothing Telstra could do about it, BUT.......... it shows the emotion, when vulnerable people can't be contacted by telephone.......... and the emotions that those who can't reach them suffer. Further to my blog post Saturday - How many thefts, how many deaths before telstra are made accountable? and no telephone service AGAIN

It was Thursday, the 26th November 2009, a storm warning was issued for Melbourne, I had been talking to people about a dust storm and then decided to check the BOM site for weather warnings. A storm warning had been issued, and no sooner had I sighted the warning, than it was upon us.

I rang my daughter, she is about 30km further north than where I am located and told me that she was okay but thinks the house had taken a direct lightening hit, as the door frames had turned blue and although she was shaken, she was okay. It was absolutely bucketing and windy. She was hanging up the phone to mop up the water that had entered the house. I was unsure as to how the water had entered to house. That was the least of my concerns.

I tried to ring back some 5-10 minutes later to check how everything was going and there was no answer. Tried the mobile. No answer. My heart is in my mouth. I’m sure as a parent – you are feeling worried also.

Ringing, ringing, ringing, no answer. Getting more worried as the seconds tick past. Start ringing the neighbours. No answer there either, start ringing the mobiles. No answer. I am seeing my house going up in smoke, with the neighbours trying to rescue my daughter.

I hit the panic button and ring my husband, telling him to get home NOW. There is no answer on any phones, the neighbours aren’t answering, the house was flooded. My imagination is running well and truly in overdrive.

Can’t leave work, the nation-wide servers have crashed, the phone system is down. Everyone is panicking!

Finally people from the street start calling/texting. Daughter is okay, the house is fine. 50mm of rain in 15 minutes,. Nothing could be heard apparently. Landlines are down, minor flooding, not sure about the roof, but daughter is alive.

(I had images of her, laying on the floor in a pool of water, dead)

By the time I get home, some 5 hours later, water cleaned up, roof not holed, one landline down, the other the only working one in the street. Neighbours are queuing up to use the phone to report the faults. It’s now Monday mod-morning and still no landlines, or internet.

But everyone is alive and well

(Update - phones re-instated Tuesday, apparently the lightening literally fried the wires in the ground, only left strands not bundles of wires! Still no strike site visible, but was extremely close)

9/11, Sept 11 2001 – The attack on the Western World

I remember where I was, just like so many – I was watching Star Trek, it was some time between 23.00hrs-00.00hrs (AU EST). The transmission was cut to cross live to a building, with a plane approaching, you could see in the background, one building on fire and the plane approaching and just flying into the second building.

It didn’t seem real – how could the cameras be there as it is happened? How could people be describing what is going on? Why was the second building collapsing?

Just too much to comprehend, I woke my husband, he said I was mistaken, it’s too late, I must be dreaming I must have got it wrong.

I didn’t get it wrong. I didn’t sleep that night – I couldn’t sleep that night, the same as many hundreds of other people couldn’t sleep that night here in Australia. The number of people walking through a nightmare in the USA, and other parts of the world, far too numerous to even consider the numbers.

The images of people jumping from a leap that was not survivable, the images of the dust and smoke and ash, of paper being blown about like confetti. The images of people trying to flee one of the most built-up areas in the USA. The images of people emerging from the dust of the building collapse. Everyone was the same, the same shocked look, the same skin colour, the same look of disbelief.

In my minds eye I could see people on the phones in these buildings, saying their goodbyes, saying I love you.

I couldn’t think it possible that one human being or even two or more human beings were capable of destroying something so precious as another human life.

I just couldn’t understand. Many people before me have put their condolences in far better terms that I ever could and for that I say thank-you

I may live in Australia, I may not know anyone who perished in these attacks on the western world, but I felt the horror just as the next person did, just as people did in America.

9/11 wasn’t just an attack on America; it was an attack on the civilised world.

America went to war for world-wide peace, Australia and many other countries also went to war for the same cause.

I don’t like war, nor does my neighbour nor America, but I believe it was a necessary evil. An evil to stop further attacks on you, on me, on my neighbour, on your neighbour, on your family overseas, or on other countries. America and her supporters needed to show a united front on an event that could very well could have lead into WWIII.

May the world never forget 9/11 and may peace reign world-wide forever.

God bless.

**These are my personal views, I will not respond to comments, all comments will be moderated to ensure no hateful comments are left. Thank-you

I nearly hit a pedestrian today…….

It wasn’t my fault.

How could it be my fault, if
a) he was crossing an 8 lane highway,
b) climbing over a traffic barrier,
c) wearing ear phones for music
d) the pedestrian lights were 200m up the road

I am stunned at peoples stupidity, both in high speed traffic areas and also slow speed traffic areas.

Just yesterday on Hoddle Street, Melbourne, a pedestrian was killed by a truck, No - the truck didn’t climb the curb, nor did the driver run a red light. The truck was stopped in traffic and the pedestrian chose to climb OVER the hitching between the dog and trailer!

In car parks, they are the best, people step off the curb and onto the road, hold up their hand, just like a police officer and expect you to wait. Excuse me, the pedestrian crossing is 20m up the road.

Another thing that really gets up my nose, people with children in tow, instead of waiting for the ‘little green man’ when the button for the lights is pressed, the carers either cross against the lights OR cross 50m away from the lights, without the protection of a pedestrian crossing.

People wonder why children get killed when trying to the cross the road. It’s because the children have no idea of HOW to cross a road. They have never been taught.

Cars can be dangerous, but don’t blame the driver, when the pedestrian walks onto the road, at a spot NOT designed for pedestrians, or actively discouraged by pedestrian barriers.’

I am sure you can add to these examples.

Remember Look left, look right and look left again BEFORE crossing the road. Remember a car is bigger than you and if impact occurs you COULD get killed.

Stay Safe

Shipping Containers, The New Plastic Bags of the Seas

The idea of shipping containers seems to have come about in the 1950’s. The standardisation of said containers started to occur in the 1970’s, to make things more uniform and easier to transport.

When exports and imports where almost even, it was easy to balance the number of containers in and out. When we became a ‘throw-away’ society things changed. The western world looked for cheaper items, which meant more often than not things were cheaper to purchase from overseas than to be bought within our own country. The changing shape of the dollar also ensured that imports were cheaper than locally manufactured and bought products.

This left empty shipping containers strewn all over the coasts of westernised societies, all over the world. The west now import far more than they export, leaving a glut of containers in the ports.

There are certainly a myriad of different uses for shipping containers, being thought up every day, from onsite storage as has been seen in the natural disasters, to hotels and restaurants.

More often than not, shipping containers are being used to ship items that previously were shipped below deck within the confines of the hull, they are now being shipped on deck in containers. Things like paper, machine parts, cars, all sorts of things. This creates another hazard. The more things shipped on decks (in containers) leaves more items to fall into the sea.

Recently, off the coast of Australia 32 containers, which contained Ammonium Nitrate were lost overboard. This not only created a shipping hazard, but also a pollution problem. That loss was off one ship. It is estimated that something like 10,000 containers are lost overboard every year world-wide, perhaps far more. The doors fail and allow the containers to pour into the oceans.

Rarely do containers float for longer than 1 week, sometimes controlled atmosphere containers will float for indefinite periods. Once upon a time it was acceptable to use the container as target practice by the local armed forces, until it had sunk, but this is no longer an acceptable practice, due to pollutions issues and the containers must now be towed to shore and salvaged.

It is estimated that something like 7 billions tonnes of rubbish enter the oceans per year and that something like 700,000 to 1 million birds and sea life is killed every year due to this waste.

Don’t toss it and try where possible to recycle it, re-use it. Use groups like http://www.freecycle.org/ (A world-wide voluntary organisation) and do your bit for you and your childrens’ future

Storm in Perth yesterday 22nd March 2010

This is the damage from the storm that hit Perth and surrounding areas Yesterday,

Monday 22nd March 2010.

There is considerable damage as you can see. Thought you might be interested!

If I get more photos OR you would like to add yours - add a comment (which is moderated - meaning I have to check before posting) and leave your email address - I contact you right back!

Back-Up – Did I Say Back-Up?

Tell me – When was the last time you backed up the data on your computer?

Can you remember?

I’m not just talking about the documents, but the photos, the family history, that you always mean to organise and never quite get around to doing.

Those images, those documents are IRREPLACEABLE.

Johhny’s first birthday party or Grandpa’s 80th birthday. They will all be gone if you have a hard-drive failure or similar. Refer Here as to what this similar might encompass

Back everything up – I don’t care what media you use – just back it up and move it off premises. That way if something catastrophic does occur – you will have lost little. Make a habit of it – and do it perhaps once a month, Alternatively – if you can afford it, get off-site data back-up, depending on the connection and the data volume, will determine the cost.

I use plain old data CD’s and copy everything to CD-RW and take a copy to work and the switch that with the 2nd copy and maintain the backwards and forwards, Emails I have set up to automatically be forwarded to a third account, which is used purely for storage. There are many cost-free alternatives.

Use them and by thinking outside the square – you will lose little if your hard-drive fails or flooding, or fire. You have taken another step to protecting yourself and ensuring your family history lives on!