Palmerston Hospital: ‘My doctor said my test results were clear but he lied, they found two blots clots’

A “high-risk” patient and Outback Ringer bull catcher was left to lie on the ground by the entrance to Royal Darwin Hospital for hours after his doctor at Palmerston was caught in a fib. Watch the video.

A Northern Territory couple is “disgusted and angry” after false ultrasound results nearly ended in disaster and a high-risk patient transfer to RDH turned into a painful seven-hour wait lying on the ground outside the ED.

As Kurt Hammar’s doctor told him his ultrasound had come back clear on his swollen leg last week, he and his partner, Meg, were confused. He had not had an ultrasound done.

That was when the doctor at Palmerston Regional Hospital admitted he knew that but he had another patient “just like Kurt” and insinuated that because they were OK, Kurt, known for his appearance on TV series Outback Ringer, would be fine.

Kurt Hammar, a seasoned bull catcher, appeared on Outback Ringer.

After demanding an ultrasound, they discovered Kurt was indeed not “fine”.

The seasoned bull catcher had two large blot clots in his leg and groin.

The first doctor disappeared and a new professional told them Kurt was now high risk, that he had to go on blood thinners and he would be transported to Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH).

The couple was assured there was a bed waiting for him and that “everything has been organised”.

Kurt was transferred from Palmerston Regional Hospital at around 4.30pm. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

So at 4.30pm on Wednesday, September 17, Meg left him knowing he would be getting care at Royal Darwin Hospital and drove back to their home near Adelaide River to feed their livestock.

Two hours later, Kurt, phoned her to say he was still sitting in the emergency department.

“I ended up going back into the hospital about 9.30pm,” Meg said.

“And I found Kurt asleep on the floor in between the doors going into the ED because they wouldn’t give him a gurney or a bed to lie on.

Kurt Hammar waited seven hours at Royal Darwin Hospital ED after staff at Palmerston Regional Hospital said he was high risk.

“This is after they said he was high risk and they had a bed at RDH.

“It was disgusting, absolutely disgusting.”

During that time, Kurt said he counted 23 medical staff, security officers and patients walking by but only one person asked if he was OK.

Throughout their wait, which ended up being seven and a half hours, Meg said there were a lot of people swearing, shouting abuse and urinating in the waiting room.

“And the security guards didn’t do a thing,” she said.

When they were eventually seen at 12.30am and Kurt was transferred to a ward, they said the staff were “wonderful”.

With the pair having private health insurance, Meg asked is Kurt could be transferred to Darwin Private Hospital but was told “we don’t need to do that” and that he would have to be accepted by the doctors at the private hospital.

“But the doctors at the private hospital are the same ones at the public,” she said.

‘I’d just hate for some person to go in and actually die on that floor’

Kurt returned home after three days in hospital with blood thinners and apart from a blood test scheduled for a month’s time, they said there had been very little follow-up care.

After the experience, Meg said she could see why a lot of people travelled interstate for treatment or “don’t make it”.

Kurt was lying just inside the entrance to the ED.

“It’s just very, very frustrating and the health system is just ridiculous,” she added.

“I know they get busy, don’t get me wrong. I know they get busy.

“Quite honestly, if I didn’t demand the ultrasound at Palmerston hospital, I would have sent him home.

“A lot of people just think, ‘Oh yeah okay’, and head home and then end up having a dislodged blood clot and dying.”

Telling NT Health to “pull their socks up” and look at the health system Meg said thankfully they had been fortunate.

“We were lucky,” she said. “I’d just hate for some person to go in and actually die on that floor.”

NT Health responds

When asked to comment on the doctor allegedly lying about ultrasound results, Kurt’s long waiting times and the ED waiting room situation, NT Health said they could not comment on individual matters due to patient confidentiality.

Instead, they encouraged patients to provide feedback about their care at the service or by visiting the website.

“Feedback is confidential and NT Health staff will do their best to work through and respond to any concerns as soon as possible,” a spokeswoman for NT Health said.

However they did address the couple’s request to move to Darwin Private Hospital.

“Patients with private health care insurance can request to be transferred to the Darwin Private Hospital however, if they are experiencing a serious health condition, they may be required to stay at the Royal Darwin Hospital for emergency or complex care,” the spokeswoman said.