Disclaimer: This article contains detailed descriptions of injuries. Reader discretion is advised.

When we entrust our loved ones to medical professionals, we expect the best treatment with the utmost respect and diligence.

Unfortunately, a grandmother's visit to the hospital turned into a distressing ordeal that raised concerns about patient safety and care standards.

Perth local Marianne Molloy suffered a broken nose and significant facial bruising in what her family described as a case of neglectful care.

The distressing situation unfolded when Molloy, who required constant supervision, was admitted to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital after a fall.

She was on a one-to-one assist ratio, which meant that hospital staff were supposed to be by her side every time she left her bed.

However, her family stated that hospital staff did not follow the protocol, which led to Molloy's severe injuries.

Ms Marianne Molloy needed immediate assistance during her every move to ensure her safety. Image Credit: Pexels/Ivan Samkov

Veronica Molloy, Marianne's daughter, expressed her dismay towards the hospital.

'When I went in on Sunday morning after she had had another fall, there was no signage to say she's a high falls risk,' Veronica recounted.

'The assistant that I spoke to had absolutely no handover and was unaware that mum was one assist, which is why she was left in the toilet while she tended to another patient.'

The 68-year-old Marianne experienced two falls in as many days.

One incident left her nose smashed after falling on the bathroom floor.

'Her face is a complete mess. It's heartbreaking,' Veronica lamented.

Marianne was neglected by healthcare workers before.

According to previous reports, she was also assaulted by another hospital worker at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) in June.

The family is now trying to figure out where to turn or who to ask for help.

'She is afraid. I needed to go home to get some sleep, and she begged me to stay. That was hard,' Veronica shared, highlighting the psychological impact of the incidents on her mother.

In response to the incident, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital issued an apology to the Molloy family.

According to the hospital's statement, they affirmed their commitment to providing high-quality care.

They also promised to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ms Molloy's experiences.

As for the alleged assault at RPH, the accused hospital worker could face court at the end of the month.

The assailant was reportedly not an RPH staff member but was hired through a third-party agency.

This series of unfortunate events should remind everyone to stay vigilant, even in places like hospitals.

It also underscored the need for thorough communication and adherence to care protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of all patients.

We wish Ms Molloy a full and healthy recovery.

Key Takeaways

• Marianne Molloy, a 68-year-old Perth local, suffered a broken nose and bruising after falling at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
• The injury occurred despite her being on a one-to-one assist ratio, and her family raised concerns about neglectful care among hospital staff.
• The incident followed after a hospital worker allegedly assaulted Ms Molloy at the Royal Perth Hospital last June.
• Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has apologised to the Molloy family and started investigating the incident.

Have you or your loved ones faced similar challenges in hospitals? How did you address them, and what advice would you give to others in similar situations? Share your insights and experiences with us in the comments section below.

 

[Gezzabel]

I’m a nurse, and it’s heartbreaking to hear that this happened to any patient, yet alone a vulnerable senior. An apology doesn’t repair the damage. It’s essential that you consult a law firm about this matter. This lady deserves better. The only way things will change, is a lawsuit. The health system is broken. I suggest you document every that’s happened, including times and dates of what has occurred. Also, photocopy everything. You have to fight for change to happen. I truly wish this family the best for the future. Gezzabel.

 

[Pommyoz]

Just before the end of shifts, all nursing staff are informed of any changes, making sure next shift goes smoothly.
All high care patients are to have signage on their door, if applicable, or above their bedhead. Doesn’t matter if from an agency or not, they have duty of care regardless.
Apparently, bed rails are considered abuse to the patient, restricting mobility, surely that’s absurd? Also why not give patient pads to wear in this case?

 

[Jo Piper3]

The poor lady is only 68 years young. This very sad and dangerous situation needs to be addressed immediately for all patient's safety.

 

[Clancieblue]

Just before the end of shifts, all nursing staff are informed of any changes, making sure next shift goes smoothly.
All high care patients are to have signage on their door, if applicable, or above their bedhead. Doesn’t matter if from an agency or not, they have duty of care regardless.
Apparently, bed rails are considered abuse to the patient, restricting mobility, surely that’s absurd? Also why not give patient pads to wear in this case?

Unfortunately, the thing with bed rails is some patients climb over the top of them. This will cause a more severe injury.

 

[Ebby]

The poor lady is only 68 years young. This very sad and dangerous situation needs to be addressed immediately for all patient's safety.

I’m a nurse, and it’s heartbreaking to hear that this happened to any patient, yet alone a vulnerable senior. An apology doesn’t repair the damage. It’s essential that you consult a law firm about this matter. This lady deserves better. The only way things will change, is a lawsuit. The health system is broken. I suggest you document every that’s happened, including times and dates of what has occurred. Also, photocopy everything. You have to fight for change to happen. I truly wish this family the best for the future. Gezzabel.

Just where is the supposed care? l would have taken her out of there immediately and sue them.
ls there no-one that could look after her at home it seems now adays everybody puts their relatives in a home when they become an inconvenience.There is so much home help you can get and if everyone got together something could be worked out.The poor person doesn't look like she would be so much bother and think how scared she would be to stay there.

 

[Veggiepatch]

It’s essential that you consult a law firm about this matter. This lady deserves better. The only way things will change, is a lawsuit.

I'm going to somewhat sceptical here.

Is the bolded above the underlying motive to self injure? I have witnessed people with a mild disability self injure to the extent that it was life threatening. But that was not for monetary gain, but to stay in an environment that was different to their residence.

One young woman had such an morbid obsession with uniformed personnel to the extent that she slit her arm from the wrist to the elbow. When ambos and police attended, her desire was fulfilled, even though it almost killed her. A litre or so of blood goes a long way and a bugger to clean up!

 

[natalielocket]

Just where is the supposed care? l would have taken her out of there immediately and sue them.
ls there no-one that could look after her at home it seems now adays everybody puts their relatives in a home when they become an inconvenience.There is so much home help you can get and if everyone got together something could be worked out.The poor person doesn't look like she would be so much bother and think how scared she would be to stay there.

Trouble is with some Providers, they have untrained staff, and some Families have some difficulty in getting onto My Age Care. I have had to help a number of people get Home Help, and also tell others their rights, as some Providers don`t explain everything to the Client, and also over charging.

 

[Dynamo]

Oh dear. I am tearing from eyes reading about appalling neglect. This is happening much too often. It is inhumane treatment

 

[DLHM]

I’ll withhold any comment about “neglect” by the hospital staff. There are inconsistencies between the tv news reports and in the SDC article. There’s more to the story than what’s been reported.

Some people are too quick to judge before the whole truth is known, if ever.

 

[Mary_Again]

There are so many stories I could tell about hospital and nursing home care, or lack of. Not only the lack of concern about my aged parents, but also their disregard for carers and their needs.

My aged father was in hospital and we believed due for discharge the next day day. When I asked for a slight delay in release time, so I could get some groceries in before he came home my request was refused. I had to get up at four o’clock and stand at a freezing cold bus stop in order to get the shopping done early - I have raynaud’s (reduced blood circulation) in my hands and feet - my hands turn blue in the cold. As I had to get home by 9:00am I was unable to get batteries for my father’s hearing aids (shop opened at 9:00am). The hospital staff had no interest in my situation.

As it turned out father didn’t come home. So once I’d put everything away I went over to visit him and find out what was going on. They told me to wait with father in his room and someone would come in to talk to me. Three hours later, I’m still waiting. I go out and ask what is happening and again I’m told to wait with father. Father meanwhile, is sitting in a chair next to his bed, waiting expectedly to go home. More hours waiting, by this time it is getting into late afternoon. I go to the desk and ask what is going on, …still nothing. Finally I say “Will I have to stay up all night waiting for my father to come home?” A noise comes from some office behind the counter and a voice says “Patients aren’t discharged in the evening”. Then, finally, I’m told father wasn’t going home that day. I find out later, that father was told this early that day. Unfortunately, no-one bothered to check if he could hear what they said, since his hearing aids weren’t working and he was half blind, he’d not registered a thing. He also had short term memory problems from a stroke a few years before. All this was documented.

***

My mother was at risk of failing out of bed. This was known, but bed rails were not allowed. One night she fell out of bed and was found on the floor the next morning. She died the next day.

***

Father was admitted to the local hospital again sometime later to resolve constipation issues. When he was admitted, he could speak quite clearly, walk (with aids) and was alert and able to communicate clearly. Our house was only two streets away and I could walk to the hospital. One day he was speaking clearly, the next day he could barely whisper, no-one could tell me why.

They decided to transfer father to another hospital over 14km away, I assumed for more focussed treatment. Without a car I could no longer visit everyday. They only allowed one visitor (Covid), but when I saw another patient had two visitors, I asked if my sister (a nurse) could visit with me, so I could travel with her (she had a car), otherwise she had to wait in the car while I visited. They said we could come together but imposed rigid visiting times and required advanced notice of our visits. As a nurse my sister had varied shifts and couldn’t met their requirements, the end result was they made it impossible for us to visit together. I could only get there on occasion as buses were limited and I was supervising workmen renovating our home, for father to return. This meant I couldn’t maintain contact with father and what treatment he was (or was not) getting. I was told father could not go home until we had a hospital bed and ramp installed. I was told to put him in a nursing home until the hospital bed was installed. I should never have done this.

Father had been assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package the previous year. My Aged Care funds were pending, but they were taking their time, he’d been eligible for months. I reluctantly agreed to put father in a nursing home, on respite, until the funds came through. I even spoke to a local MP about the situation, trying to speed up the process.

Father had a history of falling, we’d had to call the Extended Care Paramedic on one occasion and this was documented, yet the nursing home did not list him as “at risk”. At home, I would walk with him whenever he moved around the house, ready to catch him if he became unstable. Unsupervised at the nursing home, father fell and broke his hip. He was returned to the local hospital and survived the operation, then he was shifted back to the other hospital 14km away, supposedly for rehabilitation. Again I couldn’t visit regularly. As it turned out the hearing aids failed again, this time a mechanical fault, but no-one told me.

With father’s limited sight and no working hearing aids he couldn't communicate with staff, he recognised people from the clothes they wore and everyone dressed the same. In frustration and without family there for support, he became uncooperative and the staff deemed him unable to be rehabilitated. He could no longer stand or walk and I was no longer able to look after him on my own, so I was forced to put him in a nursing home on a permanent basis.

While I was looking for a suitable nursing home, the hospital decided to ship my father out to a holding home, this time over 18 km away. I asked where they were sending him and they refused to tell me where. It was only when the home rang me to take in a blanket for him that I found out where he’d been sent. When I finally managed to visit him, it took me over three hours to get there!

The nursing home father finally ended up in would only let me visit for two hours a day. They kept father in a bed too short for him so he had to sleep with his legs curled up underneath him. Unable to get out of bed, he was left in a room 24/7 largely unattended, this is a person who needed contact with people. Father could not hear or see the TV clearly, he wanted a radio, but there was no power point available to power it, so he had no form of entertainment, he just lay curled up in his room, day after day. They didn’t even get him out of bed for a shower.

I got new hearing aids for father, but no-one was available to manage them and I wasn’t there long enough to look after them myself. I’d often find father’s glasses on the floor when I visited, it was amazing they weren’t trodden on by staff! Father’s legs would fall out the side of the bed and drag him to the floor and the nursing home staff had to drag him across the floor to the lifter, as it wouldn’t go under the bed. I visited everyday until a Covid outbreak prevented me. Father died during the outbreak, alone, unattended, in part from isolation and loneliness.

At the beginning of all of this father had been active and mobile. He was deaf and half blind admittedly, but still able to move around the home and communicate effectively. He loved to be with his family. As a result of going to hospital to manage a constipation problem, he lost his voice and his mobility and ended up left in a room to die, alone. This was a man who would get up at 4:00am in the morning to get me to swimming training. who cared for others and went out of his way to help complete strangers. Who, without support from his family, or a college education, managed to become an electrical engineer and a “rocket” scientist. He deserved more respect, he deserved better care.

 

[Frodo Bella1964]

Yes…!! The hospital system is broken. My father in law(66) just broke his hip. Had his op and we were told UP TO 2 MONTHS IN REHAB. Then…they sent him home 4 days later. No paperwork. No medication. Big hospital in Brisbane. We even returned to have his DRESSINGS assessed 2 wks later and they sent him home having not looked at it! And said come back in 4 wks. So we’re taking him to a local GP. This wouldn’t have happened 5 years ago…

 

[Clancieblue]

I'm going to somewhat sceptical here.

Is the bolded above the underlying motive to self injure? I have witnessed people with a mild disability self injure to the extent that it was life threatening. But that was not for monetary gain, but to stay in an environment that was different to their residence.

One young woman had such an morbid obsession with uniformed personnel to the extent that she slit her arm from the wrist to the elbow. When ambos and police attended, her desire was fulfilled, even though it almost killed her. A litre or so of blood goes a long way and a bugger to clean up!

I worked with someone who used to burn the toast every Sunday morning, just so the firemen would come. She was obsessed with one of them. What she didn't realize, the nursing home had to pay a fee every time they turned up.
Yes, she was sacked.

 

[Jan Purcell]

There are so many stories I could tell about hospital and nursing home care, or lack of. Not only the lack of concern about my aged parents, but also their disregard for carers and their needs.

My aged father was in hospital and we believed due for discharge the next day day. When I asked for a slight delay in release time, so I could get some groceries in before he came home my request was refused. I had to get up at four o’clock and stand at a freezing cold bus stop in order to get the shopping done early - I have raynaud’s (reduced blood circulation) in my hands and feet - my hands turn blue in the cold. As I had to get home by 9:00am I was unable to get batteries for my father’s hearing aids (shop opened at 9:00am). The hospital staff had no interest in my situation.

As it turned out father didn’t come home. So once I’d put everything away I went over to visit him and find out what was going on. They told me to wait with father in his room and someone would come in to talk to me. Three hours later, I’m still waiting. I go out and ask what is happening and again I’m told to wait with father. Father meanwhile, is sitting in a chair next to his bed, waiting expectedly to go home. More hours waiting, by this time it is getting into late afternoon. I go to the desk and ask what is going on, …still nothing. Finally I say “Will I have to stay up all night waiting for my father to come home?” A noise comes from some office behind the counter and a voice says “Patients aren’t discharged in the evening”. Then, finally, I’m told father wasn’t going home that day. I find out later, that father was told this early that day. Unfortunately, no-one bothered to check if he could hear what they said, since his hearing aids weren’t working and he was half blind, he’d not registered a thing. He also had short term memory problems from a stroke a few years before. All this was documented.

***

My mother was at risk of failing out of bed. This was known, but bed rails were not allowed. One night she fell out of bed and was found on the floor the next morning. She died the next day.

***

Father was admitted to the local hospital again sometime later to resolve constipation issues. When he was admitted, he could speak quite clearly, walk (with aids) and was alert and able to communicate clearly. Our house was only two streets away and I could walk to the hospital. One day he was speaking clearly, the next day he could barely whisper, no-one could tell me why.

They decided to transfer father to another hospital over 14km away, I assumed for more focussed treatment. Without a car I could no longer visit everyday. They only allowed one visitor (Covid), but when I saw another patient had two visitors, I asked if my sister (a nurse) could visit with me, so I could travel with her (she had a car), otherwise she had to wait in the car while I visited. They said we could come together but imposed rigid visiting times and required advanced notice of our visits. As a nurse my sister had varied shifts and couldn’t met their requirements, the end result was they made it impossible for us to visit together. I could only get there on occasion as buses were limited and I was supervising workmen renovating our home, for father to return. This meant I couldn’t maintain contact with father and what treatment he was (or was not) getting. I was told father could not go home until we had a hospital bed and ramp installed. I was told to put him in a nursing home until the hospital bed was installed. I should never have done this.

Father had been assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package the previous year. My Aged Care funds were pending, but they were taking their time, he’d been eligible for months. I reluctantly agreed to put father in a nursing home, on respite, until the funds came through. I even spoke to a local MP about the situation, trying to speed up the process.

Father had a history of falling, we’d had to call the Extended Care Paramedic on one occasion and this was documented, yet the nursing home did not list him as “at risk”. At home, I would walk with him whenever he moved around the house, ready to catch him if he became unstable. Unsupervised at the nursing home, father fell and broke his hip. He was returned to the local hospital and survived the operation, then he was shifted back to the other hospital 14km away, supposedly for rehabilitation. Again I couldn’t visit regularly. As it turned out the hearing aids failed again, this time a mechanical fault, but no-one told me.

With father’s limited sight and no working hearing aids he couldn't communicate with staff, he recognised people from the clothes they wore and everyone dressed the same. In frustration and without family there for support, he became uncooperative and the staff deemed him unable to be rehabilitated. He could no longer stand or walk and I was no longer able to look after him on my own, so I was forced to put him in a nursing home on a permanent basis.

While I was looking for a suitable nursing home, the hospital decided to ship my father out to a holding home, this time over 18 km away. I asked where they were sending him and they refused to tell me where. It was only when the home rang me to take in a blanket for him that I found out where he’d been sent. When I finally managed to visit him, it took me over three hours to get there!

The nursing home father finally ended up in would only let me visit for two hours a day. They kept father in a bed too short for him so he had to sleep with his legs curled up underneath him. Unable to get out of bed, he was left in a room 24/7 largely unattended, this is a person who needed contact with people. Father could not hear or see the TV clearly, he wanted a radio, but there was no power point available to power it, so he had no form of entertainment, he just lay curled up in his room, day after day. They didn’t even get him out of bed for a shower.

I got new hearing aids for father, but no-one was available to manage them and I wasn’t there long enough to look after them myself. I’d often find father’s glasses on the floor when I visited, it was amazing they weren’t trodden on by staff! Father’s legs would fall out the side of the bed and drag him to the floor and the nursing home staff had to drag him across the floor to the lifter, as it wouldn’t go under the bed. I visited everyday until a Covid outbreak prevented me. Father died during the outbreak, alone, unattended, in part from isolation and loneliness.

At the beginning of all of this father had been active and mobile. He was deaf and half blind admittedly, but still able to move around the home and communicate effectively. He loved to be with his family. As a result of going to hospital to manage a constipation problem, he lost his voice and his mobility and ended up left in a room to die, alone. This was a man who would get up at 4:00am in the morning to get me to swimming training. who cared for others and went out of his way to help complete strangers. Who, without support from his family, or a college education, managed to become an electrical engineer and a “rocket” scientist. He deserved more respect, he deserved better care.

So very sorry that this has happened to your dad, it was so cruel the way he was treated, maybe you should go to Current Affair on channel 9 and let everyone know about that disgusting hospital, don't go blaming yourself, you tried everything you could do for him, there is not many children that would go out of their way to help their parents. Your dad is at peace now and will know how much you loved him. God bless you.

 

[novezar]

As I said quite a few moons ago now on a very similar posting re this type of care. If a loved one is in care & you have evidence of any wrongdoing by nursing staff there, install a discreet security camera to record any such incidents.

This is the only way that you will have the "Hard Evidence" to take all Appropriate action.
Charges of Assault etc., could well be forthcoming.

 

[Veggiepatch]

As I said quite a few moons ago now on a very similar posting re this type of care. If a loved one is in care & you have evidence of any wrongdoing by nursing staff there, install a discreet security camera to record any such incidents.

This is the only way that you will have the "Hard Evidence" to take all Appropriate action.
Charges of Assault etc., could well be forthcoming.

If you set up a covert surveillance device in such a setting, you would probably be in contravention of the Privacy Act 1988, the Workplace Surveillance Act 2005, the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW) and the User Rights Principles 2014.

Tread very carefully my friend and get specific legal advice before resorting to such measures.

Holman Webb Lawyers specialise in the legal aspects of surveillance law and have offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Good luck!

 

[BellaB18]

This poor darling lady, this is just so unacceptable. What is going on in our hospital's? We expect to be cared for in hospital. Not to be asulted. If you are at risks of falls and you need to use the toilet someone should be able to assist you safely. It's just so very sad that older people end up in hospitals and aged care and end up in fear not being given the care we all deserve.
I do wish this family all the best.
Kind regards to all Vicki

 

[Towing]

This poor darling lady, this is just so unacceptable. What is going on in our hospital's? We expect to be cared for in hospital. Not to be asulted. If you are at risks of falls and you need to use the toilet someone should be able to assist you safely. It's just so very sad that older people end up in hospitals and aged care and end up in fear not being given the care we all deserve.
I do wish this family all the best.
Kind regards to all Vicki

In many cases there simply is not enough nurses and they often leave one patient to go to another. My Mum was asked to stay on the toilet until the nurse went back to her. 3 minutes later she walked back alone before I realized that she was doing that. Also toilets should have toilet raisers not just rails on the walls for disabled people. Peoples' different heights and strengths need different height rails also put at different angles, especially if the person also has some types of disabilities. I don't find those beside the actual toilet cistern helpful at all. Only having a rail on one side means you have uneven balance too

 

[BellaB18]

In many cases there simply is not enough nurses and they often leave one patient to go to another. My Mum was asked to stay on the toilet until the nurse went back to her. 3 minutes later she walked back alone before I realized that she was doing that. Also toilets should have toilet raisers not just rails on the walls for disabled people. Peoples' different heights and strengths need different height rails also put at different angles, especially if the person also has some types of disabilities. I don't find those beside the actual toilet cistern helpful at all. Only having a rail on one side means you have uneven balance too

I could not agree more about the toilet. I have no balance at all and some toilets are so low it's so hard to get off them. You can become rather panicked trying to work how you are going to get back up
Take care best wishes to you and your mum.
Kind regards Vicki