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Author Topic: Cancer patient forced to walk home  (Read 947 times)

ama

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Cancer patient forced to walk home
« on: December 28, 2007, 05:36:19 PM »

Unabridged, as word for word it is unbelievable:

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=28&ContentID=49034

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Cancer patient forced to walk home
30th November 2007, 14:45 WST

A regional Queensland hospital says immediate policy changes were made
after a cancer patient was forced into a seven-hour walk home in the rain
after being discharged in the middle of the night.


Cancer patient Glen Horne and his wife Helen, both aged in their 50s, told
The Courier-Mail newspaper they had to walk the 30km to their home after
Mr Horne was discharged from Maryborough Hospital earlier this week at
12.30am.
 
Mrs Horne said she had called an ambulance on Sunday for her husband, who
was suffering an infection following two operations for bowel cancer
.

Mr Horne said he had expected to be admitted overnight but was discharged
after being given medication.

With no money and no public transport running, the couple said they
decided to walk home in the rain as they did not want to bother friends so
late.

"They said we couldn't stay even though the casualty room was virtually
empty," Mrs Horne said.

"When I said we lived 30 to 40 minutes' drive away, they just said *well,
that'll be an expensive taxi ride'."

Opposition health spokesman John-Paul Langbroek said the situation was one
of many he had heard about across the state which should never have been
allowed to happen.

"Queensland Health have the resources, they have $7 billion to work out
little problems like this," Mr Langbroek said.

"This should be practical, on-the-ground hospital policy."

But Fraser Coast Health Service District manager Kerry Winsor said changes
had been made as soon as the complaint was lodged.

She blamed the mistake on poor communication between staff and the couple,
as options were already available for patients who had transport problems,
including phoning family and friends to organise lifts, and providing safe
waiting areas.

Taxi vouchers also were provided under specific circumstances, she
said.

"Unfortunately, in this case highlighted in the media this week, these
support options were not brought to the patient's attention," Ms Winsor
said.

"We have immediately apologised for any distress caused."

She said staff were now being educated of the hospital's transport and
accommodation options and were now required to ask patients for
residential addresses so they were always aware of how far away patients
lived.
AAP
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