PA Hospital fails to roll out $80k in donated TVs, iPads

Dozens of new TVs and iPads donated to the Princess Alexandra Hospital’s spinal ward are yet to be deployed, in yet another Queensland Health failure,

• Editor’s view: Patients, donors betrayed

Dozens of new TVs and iPads donated to the Princess Alexandra Hospital’s spinal ward have sat in storage for nearly 12 months due to “technical” delays, impacting patient stays.

The state-of-the-art equipment had been donated to Queensland Health in April last year following a fundraising event organised by former Wallabies coach John Connolly.

Mr Connolly had been a patient in the PA’s spinal unit for nine months after breaking his neck from a “freak” 2m fall in 2021.

He had been paralysed from the neck down when first admitted to hospital and claimed patients would watch on “old shitty” televisions that would regularly break down.

Mr Connolly said more than $80,000 had been raised which would supply the PA’s spinal and mental health wards, with about 90 new televisions and iPads, and upgrade the waiting room.

However, 12 months on, he said the electronics had sat in storage with no installation date confirmed, in yet another Queensland Health controversy.

“Early in my stay there, the TVs would break down regularly, it’s disgraceful to have none,” Mr Connolly said.

“Patients were having to pay $5-$10 a day too.”

Former Sunshine Coast councillor and Wallabies coach John Connolly hit out at Queensland Health for delays to the installation of new TVs and iPads. Picture: Patrick Woods

Mr Connolly hit out at the delays suggesting they had been bogged down by bureaucracy.

“Nothing surprises me but I thought it would be a very simple process. It’s pretty disappointing,” he said.

The hospital’s executive director Jeremy Wellwood confirmed there had been “technically complex” delays to the rollout of new equipment.

However, he argued that television, wi-fi and entertainment was provided at no extra cost.

It comes after a Courier-Mail investigation uncovered allegations of paralysed patients being left to lie in their own faeces and be subject to aggressive bowel treatments at the state’s only spinal injury unit.

Renowned doctor turned whistleblower Dinesh Palipana raised concerns about the safety of patients and a perceived lack of respect for patient dignity.

Dr Palipana had also described the unit as “old, depressing and in desperate need for upgrades” and called for overdue investment.

Dinesh Palipana, emergency department doctor, described the unit as “old and depressing”. Picture: David Kelly

Dr Wellwood said the hospital had commenced works to improve clinical care and the physical environment in the spinal unit.

It includes upgraded assistive technologies in conjunction with bedside equipment to enable patients to control lights, TVs, nurse call and adjust bedding via a mouth control.

Dr Wellwood did not say when then the rollout would be complete but confirmed there had been delays as its integration and programming around the existing infrastructure was technically complex.

“We appreciate, but can only begin to comprehend how confronting it is for a patient with a spinal injury. The loss of privacy and control and the need to rely on others for basic care,” Dr Wellwood said.

”The hospital is committed to providing high quality and dignified patient care and we are actively engaging with current inpatients about how we can improve their rehabilitation experience with us.”

Mr Connolly said his experience would have been far worse without the support of family during the arduous nine months.

“When I came out I just knew I had to do something for the guys there,” he said.

“The people there, I was lucky to have a lot of family support, (without it) would be a very hard time.”

Originally published as PA Hospital fails to roll out $80k in donated TVs, iPads