This woman spent 10 hours in a newly opened hospital waiting for treatment—here's why

We know that waiting in long lines anywhere can be a frustrating experience, but it’s even more concerning for elderly patients waiting for treatment in a hospital.

This week, 88-year-old Modbury Heights resident Margaret Zadow reportedly spent ten hours in the newly opened Lyell McEwin Hospital (LMH) Emergency Department without seeing a doctor.


It all started when Ms Zadow visited her general practitioner (GP) after suffering from a painful leg ulcer. In the interest of her safety, her GP referred her to a hospital for urgent treatment.

Her son, Alexander Zadow, drove her to LMH at 2.45 p.m. last Monday, September 18.


photo (1).jpg
Lyell McEwin Hospital (LMH) is a major tertiary hospital located north of Adelaide, South Australia. Credit: South Australia Health, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network


Ms Zadow waited in a queue with other emergency patients for 90 minutes to be triaged. However, that was when the real waiting began.

'We’re just sitting there thinking, “Surely we’ve gotta be next, we’ve gotta be next”,' her son said.


It was 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday when Ms Zadow was finally accommodated by a doctor. She waited ten hours for her treatment.

‘There would've been two dozen people that went up to the window at one point or another and said how long do they have to wait for, there would've been a dozen people that left that I heard saying, “this is ridiculous”,’ Mr Zadow shared.

Despite their desperate situation, Mr Zadow also mentioned that they couldn’t even get a free cup of water from the hospital.

'How hard is it to get a cup to get free water in the new emergency department?,' he asked.


At the same time as Ms Zadow's case, ambulances were ramped outside that hospital and the Royal Adelaide Hospital in the city centre.

South Australian Opposition Leader David Speirs described the situation: ‘Paramedics have contacted us throughout the day yesterday and last night saying it was their worst day in living memory.’

The government claimed that there was a 40 per cent increase in triple zero calls last Monday than usual. They didn’t clarify the reason why.

Health Minister Chris Picton said the government was doing its best to address the problem, with the construction of a 32-bed facility at the Repat Health Precinct in Daw Park underway.

'I would provide assurance to any family that we have [been] moving every mountain possible to put in place the additional capacity that we need,' Mr Picton declared.


Unfortunately, the Zadows have already lost faith in the system.

‘I will not put my mother through that again, I won't put myself through that again and that next time if we need it, we will ring an ambulance,’ Mr Zadow stated.

Most of Adelaide's major hospitals again were in a Code White situation on Tuesday—this is when they become overcrowded. Fortunately, most had eased by evening.

As of writing, the LMH Emergency Department’s waiting time is an average of 1.5 hours for non-critical cases. This is displayed in South Australia Health’s Emergency Department dashboard, which you can access here.


Key Takeaways
  • An 88-year-old woman experienced a significant delay for urgent treatment at the new Lyell McEwin Hospital (LMH) in Adelaide.
  • Despite being in pain from a leg ulcer, she did not see a doctor until 10 hours after her arrival.
  • In response to the incident and the hospital's inability to provide even a free cup of water, her son, Alexander Zadow, said he would not put his mother through the same ordeal again.
  • Health Minister Chris Picton insisted that the issue is being addressed, pointing to the construction of a 32-bed facility at the Repat Health Precinct in Daw Park.

We at the SDC wish Ms Zadow a speedy recovery from her leg ulcer.

What do you think of this story, members? Have you, or anyone you know, experienced the same in your local hospital? Let us know in the comments below!
 
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the take out from this is find a better local GP or pay for private health insurance or go to a private hospital emergency and pay the cost of their consultation, some of which is rebated through Medicare. I didn't see what the medical prognosis was at the conclusion, was the emergency dept the correct place to go, was she hospitalised or did they just look, clean and give advice that the GP should have been able to provide. The gaul of the opposition health spokesman, they were in govt for the previous 2 terms and only lost govt last year. Like all things in this country the health dollar is spread far too thin.
 
We know that waiting in long lines anywhere can be a frustrating experience, but it’s even more concerning for elderly patients waiting for treatment in a hospital.

This week, 88-year-old Modbury Heights resident Margaret Zadow reportedly spent ten hours in the newly opened Lyell McEwin Hospital (LMH) Emergency Department without seeing a doctor.


It all started when Ms Zadow visited her general practitioner (GP) after suffering from a painful leg ulcer. In the interest of her safety, her GP referred her to a hospital for urgent treatment.

Her son, Alexander Zadow, drove her to LMH at 2.45 p.m. last Monday, September 18.


View attachment 30370
Lyell McEwin Hospital (LMH) is a major tertiary hospital located north of Adelaide, South Australia. Credit: South Australia Health, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network


Ms Zadow waited in a queue with other emergency patients for 90 minutes to be triaged. However, that was when the real waiting began.

'We’re just sitting there thinking, “Surely we’ve gotta be next, we’ve gotta be next”,' her son said.


It was 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday when Ms Zadow was finally accommodated by a doctor. She waited ten hours for her treatment.

‘There would've been two dozen people that went up to the window at one point or another and said how long do they have to wait for, there would've been a dozen people that left that I heard saying, “this is ridiculous”,’ Mr Zadow shared.

Despite their desperate situation, Mr Zadow also mentioned that they couldn’t even get a free cup of water from the hospital.

'How hard is it to get a cup to get free water in the new emergency department?,' he asked.


At the same time as Ms Zadow's case, ambulances were ramped outside that hospital and the Royal Adelaide Hospital in the city centre.

South Australian Opposition Leader David Speirs described the situation: ‘Paramedics have contacted us throughout the day yesterday and last night saying it was their worst day in living memory.’

The government claimed that there was a 40 per cent increase in triple zero calls last Monday than usual. They didn’t clarify the reason why.

Health Minister Chris Picton said the government was doing its best to address the problem, with the construction of a 32-bed facility at the Repat Health Precinct in Daw Park underway.

'I would provide assurance to any family that we have [been] moving every mountain possible to put in place the additional capacity that we need,' Mr Picton declared.


Unfortunately, the Zadows have already lost faith in the system.

‘I will not put my mother through that again, I won't put myself through that again and that next time if we need it, we will ring an ambulance,’ Mr Zadow stated.

Most of Adelaide's major hospitals again were in a Code White situation on Tuesday—this is when they become overcrowded. Fortunately, most had eased by evening.

As of writing, the LMH Emergency Department’s waiting time is an average of 1.5 hours for non-critical cases. This is displayed in South Australia Health’s Emergency Department dashboard, which you can access here.


Key Takeaways

  • An 88-year-old woman experienced a significant delay for urgent treatment at the new Lyell McEwin Hospital (LMH) in Adelaide.
  • Despite being in pain from a leg ulcer, she did not see a doctor until 10 hours after her arrival.
  • In response to the incident and the hospital's inability to provide even a free cup of water, her son, Alexander Zadow, said he would not put his mother through the same ordeal again.
  • Health Minister Chris Picton insisted that the issue is being addressed, pointing to the construction of a 32-bed facility at the Repat Health Precinct in Daw Park.

We at the SDC wish Ms Zadow a speedy recovery from her leg ulcer.

What do you think of this story, members? Have you, or anyone you know, experienced the same in your local hospital? Let us know in the comments below!
A few years ago my GP gave me a letter to take to the local hospital, on arrival there at 2.00 PM. I sat waiting to see a doctor/specialist? At app 2.00AM I was admitted to an emergency ward for investigations and treatment. The next time I saw my GP I informed him that I would never do that again, and in future I would ring an ambulance
 
The patients are treated using the Pareto rule (20/80)... those with life-threatening ailments will be treated first.... someone suffering from a heart attack will be treated before someone with an ulcerated leg. Thems the breaks.






p
 
You don’t need the emergency department for ulcers. Your doctor was wrong to send the woman there. There are specialist clinics for this. Even the district nurse would have been better.
 
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The patients are treated using the Pareto rule (20/80)... those with life-threatening ailments will be treated first.... someone suffering from a heart attack will be treated before someone with an ulcerated leg. Thems the breaks.






p
That's all very well, but they airrived later than you and under ther own steam walked from the waiting room into the emergency ward (for want of a better name so I don't think a lifethreatening condition is too blame).
 
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I've had 3 occasions when l was taken to the Emergency section of 2 Public Hospitals on 3 separate times & was lucky enough to get rapid care. The first l had a leg injury, the 2nd a head injury & the 3rd bleeding from the bowel & on each occasion a wheelchair was bought out to me before l reached the entry & l was wheeled straight into the Treatment area after seeing the Triangle nurse. On each occassion l was walking slowly, aided by my wife.
 
People are using public hospitals when their own doctor can treat them instead of using emergency departments for issues that are not life threatening. Heard this son on the radio about this complaint. His statement about ringing an ambulance next time. Sorry but he would still be in the same position. Not urgent, would still have to wait both for an ambulance and admittance. There are also vending machines at the hospital available to buy snacks and drinks. I fell so sorry for the staff members who have to put up with this entitlement. My own husband has been to hospital and seen straight away because of the life threatening situation. The staff were excellent and he was seen straight away and treated every time.
 
Unfortunately waiting times are only going to get worse as more people are using emergency departments of hospitals for issues that should be able to be dealt with by local GP. For people who can’t afford to visit a GP the Outpatient, or emergency department of their local hospital is free so at least they can see a dr, even if they have to wait for hours. It is better than not seeking medical advice at all.
 
Using a G.P. instead of going to an EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT sounds like a good idea, unless, as we know most accidents happen outside Surgery hours.

How many after hours G.P. Services are there in your local area? Is this usually a first in first seen practice?
If your injury is bad enough, will an ambulance still be called anyway?
 

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