Caboolture Hospital crisis deepens as patients lift lid on shocking treatment

Dozens of former Caboolture Hospital patients and their families have shared ‘harrowing’ stories of their treatment, including one man who spent eight months in and out of the facility after an operation for a burst appendix and the family of another who was allegedly assaulted by a staff member.

Devastated families and patients of Caboolture Hospital have shared their horror stories in the hope that other people won’t be subjected to the same poor treatment they received.

Jody Heywood, 43, waited in Caboolture Hospital’s emergency department for seven hours before he was taken into surgery after suffering a burst appendix.

What should have been a straightforward procedure resulted in him being in and out of hospital for eight months, having only recently been released, and another three surgeries to fix a litany of issues.

“I ended up with my bowels outside of my body,” he said.

After one month in the hospital where things “just got worse and worse” Mr Heywood requested to be moved to another hospital but was refused.

Former patients of Caboolture Hospital have gathered to share their stories about treatment at the facility. Picture: Picture Peter Wallis

It was not until a nurse stepped in and invoked Ryan’s Rule on his behalf that he was eventually transferred to Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital, Mr Heywood said.

Ryan’s Rule allows patients to request a Clinical Review of their treatment.

Mr Heywood was one of 50 people who packed a hall at Caboolture Showgrounds to attend a town-hall meeting hosted by Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and Opposition Health spokeswoman Ros Bates.

The LNP called the meeting following serious allegations revealed in The Courier-Mail last week where whistleblowers said they were concerned patients were dying and being harmed

as a result of botched surgeries and substandard care.

It resulted in Metro North announcing an independent inquiry into the hospital’s surgical department.

Former high school teacher Olivia, 44, has not worked in more than three years after a caesarean section operation to deliver her baby saw part of her bowel sewn onto her abdomen wall.

The mum of seven has had 11 abdominal surgeries to try and fix ongoing complications as a result of the original surgery that she says has “ruined my life”.

“I haven’t even been able to enjoy my new daughter … I’ve lost so much,” she said.

Former high school teacher Olivia, 44, has had 11 surgeries following complications after a C-section. Picture: Lachie Millard

Robert Tremble, 48, was a patient at the hospital earlier this year when he was allegedly assaulted by a worker.

His mother, Robyn Tremble, said she found her son with injuries and was told by the hospital the staff member accused of assaulting Robert, who had down syndrome, had been sacked immediately.

She later found out that he had not been sacked, rather just moved back to the ED.

Police were not called as per Queensland Health policy and no investigation was launched until the family continued to demand answers – Robert passed away in June.

“We want justice for Robert,” a tearful Mrs Tremble said when speaking yesterday at a town-hall meeting hosted by the state Opposition in Caboolture yesterday.

Robert’s sister Kerry said they were still in the dark about exactly what happened to Robert during his stay at the hospital and felt everything had been swept under the carpet.

Mr Crisafulli said what he heard at the meeting was “harrowing”.

Robert Tremble’s siblings Nikki, Kerry and Lance support their mum Robyn at the meeting. Picture: Picture Lachie Millard

“These are the brave men and women of the Queensland Health crisis, patients, whistleblowers, people who are caught up in a broken system,” he said.

“For them to share their stories the way they have about alleged botched surgeries, people allegedly operating without qualifications and a system that is refusing to empower people at the frontline and give patients a voice, and that needs reform.”

A spokeswoman for Metro North Health said Caboolture Hospital had rigorous safety and quality protocols in place, with patient care its utmost priority.

“An independent review has been co-ordinated by Metro North with more details to be made public when available,” she said.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said she believed hospital and health services were working hard “to tackle the record demand in our health system and deal with elective surgery waitlists in the face of numerous disruptions caused by the pandemic”.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates at the Thursday meeting. Picture: Lachie Millard

Other horror stories:

– A woman waited six months for a colonoscopy despite being labelled a category 1 patient, meaning she should have been seen within two weeks. The woman suffered in pain for months and had multiple trips to the ED as a result of severe diarrhoea and bleeding. The woman’s husband said his wife was finally diagnosed as having a severe food reaction but he said he would hate to think what the outcome could have been if it was more sinister.

– A 90-year-old woman waited two hours for an ambulance to come after she fell at her home and hit her head in Caboolture. She waited for a total of 12 hours in Caboolture Hospital before she was given a bed. Her son-in-law said “the place was just so overcrowded”.

– A 72-year-old man presented to emergency with severe abdominal pain and was diagnosed with a gall bladder issue. He was taken for surgery at Caboolture but the issue was not fixed. A subsequent surgery at a different hospital found that two infected gall stones were left in.