Email shows hospital was told in 2017 of faeces-soaked mattress in spinal unit

A mother has revealed she contacted the Princess Alexandra Hospital in 2017 over the traumatising treatment of her tetraplegic son, telling also of her shock to hear that patients are still being stripped of their dignity six years later. Read her email here.

A Queensland mother outlined in a 2017 email to the hospital and patient liaison services allegations that her paralysed teenage son was traumatised from being left to lie in a mattress soaked in faeces at the Princess Alexandra Spinal Injuries Unit.

In it she told how her son had been left feeling embarrassed, humiliated and helpless after his ordeal.

READ AN EDITED EXTRACT OF HER 2017 EMAIL BELOW

Following the shocking allegations uncovered in Saturday’s Courier-Mail of neglect and degradation at the unit – the state’s only one – including paralysed patients being left to lie in their own faeces, or sit naked in front of others, she has told of her disappointment at the similarities with her son’s experience.

EDITOR’S VIEW: MINISTER MUST STEP IN FOR PATIENTS’ SAKE

“I sent that message six years ago so I was shocked to hear that there are claims that patients are still being stripped of their dignity,” she said.

Following Saturday’s harrowing allegations, the hospital responded: “We were unaware of these specific patient care concerns and the hospital is investigating them as a matter of urgency.”

“Well, the hospital was certainly informed by my husband and myself of the problem with human waste,” the mother said.

“We emailed (the) hospital and the patient liaison services years ago about the awful treatment of my son, who was admitted to the ward at the age of 16. He was paralysed in an accident and his world had fallen in on him.”

The email stated: “REDACTED was neglected, degraded and humiliated this morning when the nursing staff left him lying in his faeces for approximately two hours. After being cleaned up and showered, he was then placed back into the soiled bed and dressed for the day. REDACTED complained that he could smell ‘s—t’ all day. We arrived for our usual afternoon visit to find him alone and withdrawn.”

The mother, explained her son suffered a C4 spinal injury and has tetraplegia.

“Honestly there were some good staff in the unit but there were some shockers. On the day that we left the unit I sat in the park and cried as I was so scared that his experience would make him contemplate suicide,” she said.

PA Hospital executive director Dr Jeremy Wellwood. Photo: Isaac McCarthy.

Metro South Health responded saying that PA Hospital executive director Dr Jeremy Wellwood was reacting to the “new concerns” that were specifically raised in The Courier-Mail article and he encouraged anyone with problems to come forward.

“We have reached out to the mother of the patient to further extend our sincere apologies for the patient’s experience in 2017,” Dr Wellwood said.

“Back in 2017, we immediately engaged with the family upon receiving a complaint about the level of care to apologise and address their concerns. Patient comfort and showering is a high priority and our staff do their best to ensure all patients are assisted, particularly during the busy morning period.”