Casey Hospital wait times blow out with sick woman forced to wait seven hours to see doctor
A traumatised woman sought medical help at Casey Hospital emergency department after a miscarriage. But the response from busy staff at the end of a seven-hour wait left her even more distraught.
South East
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The family of a woman who had a miscarriage says the public hospital system has failed her.
Vanessa Haddad, of Narre Warren South, said her relative who asked not to be named, had a “horrendous experience” after waiting from 7pm to 2.30am at Casey Hospital in Berwick on Sunday to see a doctor – only to be turned away.
Ms Haddad said the woman, who had a missed miscarriage (where the pregnancy becomes unviable but there are no symptoms) and was by Sunday in pain, was told after her lengthy wait she should go home.
“The doctor came out at 2.30am and said ‘look just go home and see a doctor in the morning – it’s going to still be a minimum of seven hours wait from here’.”
“There was queues and queues of people waiting – there were no seats left. It’s not the hospital’s fault or the doctor’s – it’s the government for allowing this to happen,” she said.
She said her relative had been left severely traumatised by the ordeal.
“We told the hospital she was in pain and had issues breathing because her chest was feeling tight but she was still turned away – it’s totally unacceptable after already experiencing something as traumatic as a miscarriage.”
“My relative wanted this story told as she hopes the system can change – so no one else will ever have to go through this.”
The Leader visited the hospital’s emergency department on Monday night and saw queues of people lining up waiting to see a doctor, with dozens in seats and some sitting on the floor.
One woman yelled out: “I’ve been waiting for three hours to see a doctor.”
Gembrook state Liberal MP Brad Battin said there needed to be an investigation or follow up into the miscarriage incident.
“Losing a child would be tragic and I empathise with this woman’s experience. The long waits are unacceptable,” Mr Battin said.
“We’re going to be seeing more and more of this if the Andrews Labor government continue funding cuts within the health sector.”
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the government acknowledged there were times when waiting in an emergency department could be stressful for patients and their families.
“I thank our hardworking doctors and nurses for everything they do caring for patients during busy periods,” Ms Mikakos said.
“We are delivering record funding to each and every hospital in Victoria for doctors and nurses to care for record numbers of patients and we are getting on with completing the massive $135 million expansion of Casey Hospital.”
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She said the government wouldn’t be lectured by Mr Battin and the coalition who “delivered nothing” for patients in Casey.
A Monash Health spokeswoman said all of its Monash Health emergency departments patients were seen in order of clinical urgency.
“We understand that waiting in emergency can be an anxious experience and we apologise for any distress experienced by our patients,” the spokeswoman said.