The problems lie with the government by not providing adequate levels of funding to maintain the standard of hospitals, not the staff nor the doctors. I'll assure you that everyone working at the hospital would love nothing more than to see that every patient gets the required treatment in a timely manner. This situation is shared by every hospital in Queensland. The only way to address this situation is for everyone in the community to put each case to their relevant state member, and with time and pressure the situation will be reversed.

Posted 19 Aug 2008 by andyroo

I can relate to your step dad's problems because I had a friend who apart from diabetes and kidney failure developed a calcium disorder which Townsville Hospital had never heard of.
She developed enormous ulcers on her stomach from this disorder and after trying several treatments which didn't work, they sent her to the hyperbaric chamber every day for about 6 months.
The ulcers finally began to heal but she then developed gangrene in her toes from lack of circulation. They gave her pain meds and told her to go home until the pain became unbearable, which it did in about 2 weeks.
To cut a long story short, she was admitted, her leg was amputated just under the knee on Monday. Tuesday she looked pretty good although was in a lot of pain. They sat her in a wheel chair and didn't come back for 5 hours. When they went to put her back to bed, she fell and they couldn't save her.
When her daughter visited that evening she was in total dispair and was saying "I can't do this I want to die". Yesterday she got her wish and died from a massive heart attack.
The level of care she received on the numerous times she was hospitalised, especially the last one was extremely lacking.
To the couple of caring nurses and the staff of the renal unit, thank you. To the rest of the hospital, what a dreadful place to have to spend your last days

Posted 20 Aug 2008 by londonlass