A triple kidney transplant survivor was deemed ‘fit to sit’ then left in an agonising RAH wait

A triple kidney transplant survivor was left hunched over in pain and vomiting into a bag at the RAH but was deemed “fit to sit” with other sick patients.

A triple kidney transplant survivor was deemed “fit to sit” after being taken by ambulance to the Royal Adelaide Hospital by ambulance with severe abdominal pain, nausea and dehydration.

The move freed the ambulance from the ramp, but plunged the 57-year-old into a five-hour ordeal in a waiting room full of sick people, where he says he caught influenza.

A kidney transplant survivor was deemed “fit to sit” after being taken by ambulance to the Royal Adelaide Hospital by ambulance with severe abdominal pain, nausea and dehydration. Picture: NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

The man had received a kidney from his brother, then his father, which both failed, then 17 years ago received a kidney from a teenager, who had been killed in a car accident.

“It is a precious gift of life that I never take for granted and guard with care, but this ordeal put stress on it,” the man said.

“The usual treatment when I arrive at hospital in this state is immediate IV fluids and the usual assessment before IV antibiotics.

“This time I was wheeled into the ED waiting room, and was left waiting, hunched over in pain and vomiting into a bag, for five hours. I was not even offered a sip of water.

“I was absolutely shattered. It was obvious this was a directive to get the number of ambulances ramped down, but at what cost? Surely there has to be a better way of treating immunocompromised patients. I was sitting among people with influenza, coughing and spluttering and am 100 per cent certain that’s where I caught the flu…”

CALHN chief executive Dr Emma McCahon said CALHN apologised to the man for any distress caused. Picture: NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

The man, who does not want to be identified, spent three days in hospital after being admitted on June 27.

Central Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive Dr Emma McCahon said CALHN apologised to the man for any distress caused.

She said he arrived at the ED where his vital signs were assessed by specialist nursing staff due to his medical history.

“He was assessed about 30 minutes later by a clinician, with treatment commencing shortly thereafter,” she said.

“People who present to our Emergency Departments are always prioritised according to their clinical need. Patients are continually monitored from arrival, with those requiring the most urgent care seen first.”

Originally published as A triple kidney transplant survivor was deemed ‘fit to sit’ then left in an agonising RAH wait