Health scare

By Jade Lawton
A BERWICK woman who went to Casey Hospital last Sunday ‘doubled over in agony’ says her case of appendicitis was initially diagnosed as gastro.
Mother-of-two Melinda Hooker said she was told to go home and wait out the symptoms. Instead, Mrs Hooker went to another hospital, where doctors confirmed her appendix was inflamed and immediately booked surgery.
Mrs Hooker, who said she was “treated like a hypochondriac” at Casey, has requested the hospital apologise and wants to warn others to trust their instincts if worried about the accuracy of a diagnosis.
A Southern Health spokeswoman said the hospital was investigating the patient’s concerns.
“We will then respond directly to the patient as per standard procedure,” she said.
“Southern Health’s primary objective is to provide the best patient care at all times.”
Mrs Hooker drove herself to Casey’s emergency department on Sunday 13 December after a sleepless night with extreme abdominal pains. She arrived at the Kangan Drive hospital about 5am.
“I went to the triage nurse and she said it was just gastro, let it run its course. I said I had severe cramping on my right side, and I have had gastro before and it didn’t feel like that,” she said.
Mrs Hooker said she gave the reception staff her Medicare details and went to the public toilets to vomit.
“They were more interested in the Christmas quilt they were making,” she said.
Mrs Hooker said the first doctor to examine her said she had constipation and performed an enema.
An x-ray of her abdomen showed inflammation to her appendix area. Mrs Hooker said she was then put on a drip and had a consultation with another doctor, who told her she had gastroenteritis.
Mrs Hooker left after six hours but said she was still in “extreme agony” so phoned her sister, an intensive care nurse, for advice.
“It was worse than labour pains and when I had my gall bladder out,” she said.
Mrs Hooker’s mother drove her to Cabrini Hospital, where doctors made the diagnosis and gave her morphine and anti-nausea drugs.
Surgeons removed the inflamed appendix the following day.
“On the Tuesday morning I rang Casey Hospital to complain and the nurse said I would have to write to the complaint co-ordinator,” she said.
“If they had have apologised, said I am sorry for what has happened to you, I wouldn’t have taken it further.”
Mrs Hooker wrote to the consumer liaison officer, who said she would investigate the matter and offer a response within four weeks.
Mrs Hooker said it was important people trust their instincts.
“If I had’ve listened to the triage nurse and gone home, my appendix could have burst and I could have been in serious trouble,” she said.
“They need to look at their protocol, fix the system, and maybe investigate a little further next time,” she said.