Health District responds after Ballina man says wife with breathing difficulties left in cold outside hospital ED

The health district says it’s sorry after an unwell North Coast woman with breathing difficulties was left in the cold outside a hospital when she sought help at an emergency department. Here’s the latest.

Ballina Hospital’s emergency department.

The health district has apologised after a sick North Coast woman with breathing difficulties was left in the cold outside a hospital when she sought help at an emergency department.

Northern NSW Local Health District has also emphasised the importance of wearing face masks to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like Covid or the flu.

Ballina man Stephen Mills took to Facebook’s Ballina Community Notice Board on Tuesday to detail his wife’s trouble at the small Ballina District Hospital the previous day.

Mr Mills said his wife was ill and congested, struggling to breathe and unable to wear a face mask.

Ballina District Hospital. Picture: The Northern Star/Marc Stapelberg

She was told to go to the hospital by a doctor and was suffering from “a rapid pulse and lack of oxygen getting to her lungs”, Mr Mills said.

He said “putting a face mask on isn’t an option, so her only option was to wait outside”.

”Something needs to be done, and I’m sure I’m not the first to comment here about this, but what needs to happen to avoid the situation my wife and so many others I’ve seen waiting here today/tonight are experiencing?” he wrote.

The health district was approached on Wednesday and responded on Friday – telling this publication: “The health and safety of patients and staff is our highest priority.”

The use of face masks ramped up when the global Covid pandemic hit. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Nicholas Eagar

“We apologise to the patient and their family for any distress caused as a result of their experience at Ballina District Hospital,” a spokesperson said.

“We acknowledge it can be challenging when people have to wait longer than they expect for care.

“All patients are seen and triaged on arrival at the ED and the most seriously unwell patients are treated first.

“During busy times, people with less urgent conditions may experience longer wait times when there are large numbers of seriously unwell patients being prioritised for emergency care.”

The district spokesperson said the hospital - like most health facilities statewide - has been battling an increase in ED presentations for respiratory illnesses.

Mr Mills said help was more easily available at hospitals in some third world countries. Picture: The Northern Star/Cathy Adams

Wearing face masks is effective at reducing the risk of spreading respiratory illnesses, the spokesperson added.

“NNSWLHD encourages people with acute respiratory symptoms who present to EDs to wear a mask to protect other patients, staff and visitors,” they said.

“Where a patient chooses to not wear one, we will work with them and their family to provide alternative options.”

Earlier, Mr Mills questioned whether the “ever-growing population of Ballina” could be served by the hospital “nowhere near capable of dealing with our community”.

“Something needs to be done, and I’m sure I’m not the first to comment here about this, but what needs to happen to avoid the situation my wife and so many others I’ve seen waiting here today/tonight are experiencing?”

Mr Mills asked “what time frame will anything get done, what’s the solution please?”.

He said his wife, an aged carer, had been “ill with flu symptoms for the last couple of days” – like many others at the ED.

“The doctor sent through the full triage information to the hospital so they could possibly fast track her as her doctor already made some professional evaluation, so taking one step out of the process,” he said.

Mr Mills said workers offered “a couple of blankets and a cup of tea” and that was “lovely”, despite the circumstances.

Lismore Base Hospital also copped some criticism.

“It’s now (been) five hours waiting patiently here at hospital and I’ve now got her into the car to keep her warm rather than sitting outside,” he said, adding that a carparking space finally became available close by.

Mr Mills said staff warned “if we weren’t close by they would bump us off the wait list”.

He said he waited inside to make sure Ms Mills did not “miss her spot in the queue”.

While many locals agreed with Mr Mills’ sentiment, some pointed to demands on frontline health workers.

One woman said it was simply “unacceptable the woman had to wait outside in the cold when she is that ill”, while a man said he found the Ballina hospital performed reasonably well when it came to managing patient wait times.

The Byron Central Hospital at Ewingsdale. Many of the Northern Rivers hospitals are quite small – at least compared to the massive new Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen.

He blamed in “large part” the lack of bulk billing doctors in the area, which was “pushing more people to the hospitals”.

Doctors have spoken out nationwide about having to essentially subsidise patient care when accepting a Medicare benefit as full payment.

A woman pointed to the new Tweed Valley Hospital or the Gold Coast University Hospital over the border, as others complained of long waits at Byron and Lismore hospitals.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]