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Discussion of the Day
Emergency Room
Elizabeth J 447888Mar 20, 23
I do not make a habit of going to the Emergency Department as we call it here in Australia but in this last week while on a short break (the first in years) I noticed that my foot, which had been a bit sore prior to my short break, was becoming progressively worse in that it was becoming more inflamed looking and swollen each day. So I took myself off to Emergency on a Saturday night. I was spoken to very courteously by the Triage Nurse. After sitting there for three hours and observing the wait time, I decided I needed a good night's sleep and I would try again the next morning if the foot was worse. It was indeed worse. Well, I just cannot believe how I was treated. I was basically told to go home to my own community and that I should not be attending an Emergency Room in a small rural community that was understaffed. I was not impressed. I am stewing over it. I think I will have to call the head of the hospital and make a complaint. Would you do the same?
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  • Maree B 85308
    Its been getting worse for days, then you should have gone to your doctor. Was your life in imminent danger........if so make your complaint. Otherwise stop wasting the taxpayers money and the hospitals time. You seem to take the word emergency very loosely
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    • 2025
      She's entitled to go. What about all the druggies who use up emergency services? She's probably paid taxes, so that's her business.
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    • Rusty .. (vic)
      Bit unfair Maree, she was on holidays with no local gp...
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    • Lyn A.Rusty .. (vic)
      however the foot was sore before she left on her hols
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  • Shelia C
    Most definitely
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    • 2025
      How would that emergency department like it if you went to the media to complain about your poor treatment? There are people that go to emergency services that are for more minor reasons than yours, so you did the right thing. As a person gets older... they usually take longer to heal with injuries such as yours. It's better to be cautious than risk losing your foot, and even worse. They get paid to do a job so they should just shut up and not make judgements. Sometimes it's better to just see a GP, if you can, than stuff around in the emergency department. Having to wait for hours potentially. As for complaints! Write the emergency department a letter outlining your disappointment and negative treatment. It's better than ringing as you have it in writing. If still not staisfied, contact your health ombudsman. Good luck!
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      • Aubrey B
        We have an emergency room in name only, no point in going. Stay home and die in peace-which is what is happening right now.
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        • Marg O
          yes ,you should absolutely call and make a complaint and name, names if know any ...there is no excuse for bad behavior or rudeness from anyone no matter what there title or experiences of the day
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          • Susan KTC
            From my nursing experience and knowledge of nurses working in Emergency, they are under a lot of pressure, and are attending to some of the worst scenarios; violence, drug related, car accidents, which is no excuse for the way you were spoken too, however if there is anyone to be contacted on behalf of nursing shortages and extra funding, write to the DHB and your local council rep’ health care is on the government party’s list, so make sure you vote…NEWZEALAND
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            • View all 3 replies
            • pasky
              what did politicians do in the last 20 years re health
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            • Lyn A.
              The biggest problem is who to vote for. NZ health system has been deteriorating for near on 30 years-so which party is to blame??
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            • Susan KTCLyn A.
              Yes that is a hard question to answer! Research their policies, go with your gut feeling, and 🙏 pray!!! We’ve put a big focus on our own health of recent year’s, all the best…
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          • cel b
            Yes.
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            • Tina 423889
              Yes, just spent 6 hours in the ER for my daughter, treated horribly and others in the waiting room said same things.
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              • doris c 903434
                honestly as a retired nurse in the military I do understand what you were dealing with, now the wait time is expected ,one has to be bleeding profusely, or experiencing chest pain for them to attend to you right away and yes you have the right to complain also follow up with your family doctor, go to urgent care where they will attend to you better in less time hope your foot get better soon good luck
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                • Carolyn 395035
                  I live in a small country village, nearest hospital - 25klms away. Was having pains in the area just under my left breast, so hubby drove me to hospital. They finally let me see a doctor after a 3 hour wait. They then kept me inovernight, but the next day they transferred me to a bigger hospital - more than 100klms away. They kept me in overnight and next morning they told me that I was having a stent put in because I had had a heart attack. Funny thing though no-one mentioned anything prior to that. Did complain to heads of staff at both hospitals - all to no avail.
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                  • MacAddict
                    Keep at it. You deserve better. A 3 hour wait for chest pains NOT good enough. Unless they had a busload of haemophiliacs in, which I doubt. Ask for a face to face meeting and take a supporter, shorthand typist and tape recorder. But try not to stress yourself over it. If you're feeling impish, you could try clutching your chest during the discussion muttering 'I'm alright, I'm alright" and dabbing your forehead. Then ask for a glass of water ;)
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                  • MacAddictMacAddict
                    Of course if all else fails you could go to the media. Imagine the headlines HEART ATTACK VICTIM SURVIVES THREE HOUR WAIT IN ED. Just saying .😻
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                • Rhonda D 522615
                  Filing a complaint about a hospital or treatment is worthless. They will either ignore it or just placate you. Emergency rooms are very poorly run. Hours and hours of waiting time. Should not be.
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                  • MacAddict
                    Wait times WOULD be less if everyone used the ED for emergencies and emergencies ONLY. A good many use it as a free service Where I live, the GPs are all on campus, so the the staff can say that the issue is a GP one and would the patient like an appointment made for them.
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                  • Rhonda D 522615MacAddict
                    Since when is the ER free? Not in USA. Very high prices. I agree, though. Many people use the ER as a doctor. But so many people do not have insurance or the doctor will not accept their insurance. Always problems.
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                  • Rusty .. (vic)Rhonda D 522615
                    in aust Emergency dept are free which is why they get clogged with minor ailments, hence a long wait time...very frustrating
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                  • Rhonda D 522615Rusty .. (vic)
                    ER is free? Amazing. Wish we had that in the USA. Wait time to be seen in the ER here is about 3 hours.
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                  • 2025Rhonda D 522615
                    We aren't the USA!
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                • Amy B 1078427
                  I try to avoid all emergency rooms!
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                  • Grommie
                    What was the problem
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                    • POPPA
                      THEY ARE GOOD TO HAVE AROUND IF YOU NEED THEM
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                      • BLACK LIVES MATTER
                        Question(s): Where you in danger of permanently losing use of your foot (trained medical staff at that rural emergency room came to the conclusion you were not)? Are you in danger of losing use of your foot - NOW? You were using a rural emergency room for a non-emergency issue. Rural emergency room are understaffed, and you should have set an appointment with a MD in your community/neighborhood for an initial diagnosis of the severity of your foot problem - which you did not do. I don't see a basis for a complaint - based on the information your provided in your post! Furthermore, I never understood why people use 'emergency rooms' for 'non-emergency ' medical issues which lead to horrendous 'wait" time.
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                        • George S 394943
                          Typical nonsensical response. What a joke, once again proving you are an expert at nothing...
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                        • Elizabeth J 447888
                          I could very well have been in danger of losing a foot. I am not a doctor. that is why I sought advice. A bacterial infection is a serious thing as I have witnessed many times in my family. My GP put me on antibiotics and antibacterial cream. It was a coastal holiday destination. Places like need holiday makers to spend on small business to survive.
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                        • BLACK LIVES MATTERElizabeth J 447888
                          Was your foot amputated (NO) - then you should have not visited an understaffed/underfunded emergency room at a rural hospital/clinic. You should have visited an urgent care clinic or locate a Medical Doctor (General Practitioner) with walk-in hours. I am not a doctor - but I know what a life-threatening health issue is - and I still do not see a basis for a complaint against an emergency room at a rural hospital/clinic which is underfunded and understaffed. Wait times are long because people used emergency room medical services for non-emergency medical services - like you DID!
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                        • 2025BLACK LIVES MATTER
                          BLM your very good at raising your health issues on rewardia. She did the right thing as she said so. You don't wait until your foot drops off, idiot!
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                      • Susan 1265302
                        not to be trusted
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                        • Holly Cat
                          Yes! I would make a complaint.
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                          • Lady Flamingo
                            My thought on the subject is no matter where you live you will be waiting hours to be seen in the Emergency Dept.. Unless, that is you are having a heart attack, stroke, have been shot/stabbed, or a big gash on your leg!
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                            • Pennye R
                              Yes! There is no excuse for rudeness. We have something called urgent care that is a little better for non-emergency issues but the wait is still too long!
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                              • Marietta M
                                Talk about rude! I don't blame you a bit if you complain. You'd think they'd have a little compassion, not to mention concern.
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                                • 'smee,SWQ!
                                  Absolutely! - My Daughter broke her leg in a small country town on a Sunday Night and after 5 hours waiting in emergency dept we were sent home by the Duty Nurse with some Panadol! (we did not even get to see a Doctor and nobody even looked at her leg!) - next day as soon as our Private Doctor opened we got in straight away - her leg was broken in 3 places - our daughter was made to suffer extreme agony and all of us a sleepless night so I wrote to the Hospital and got a reply from the "Department Head" (?) saying he was sorry it was me that this happened to (I held a somewhat high profile position in the town) - I replied again saying it did not matter who I was and that a dog would have gotten better treatment at the local Vet than my Daughter got at his Hospital - to which I never got a reply!
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                                  • 2025
                                    WOW! THEY SUCK BIG TIME!
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                                  • Liane H
                                    Oh your poor girl ,thats absolutely shocking treatment! My mum was an E.R nurse for 20yrs think even she would be horrified to hear about that. I hope your daughter's leg managed to heal properly once they cast it ?
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                                  • 'smee,SWQ!Liane H
                                    Yes, but she has had trouble with it all of her now 39 years!
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                                  • Liane H 'smee,SWQ!
                                    🤔I hope u sued em!
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                                • yvonne l 1107206
                                  i go only in anemergency or if my dr is on hoidays
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