Health service apologises for distress
A local GP has received an apology from the Western Australian Country Health Service for the distress caused by his family’s experience at Kalgoorlie Hospital.
In a complaint to WACHS, Dr Cesar Sofocado alleged lapses in care by nursing staff for his wife at the hospital’s palliative care unit where she died in December.
He described how his 14-year-old and 11-year-old daughters were crying and shocked as their mother could not recognise them any more because of her distressed and disoriented state.
“The almost three hours without morphine were one of the worst times for my already suffering wife,” Dr Sofocado said in the complaint. The Kalgoorlie Miner has seen a letter responding to the complaint from WACHS Goldfields regional director Peter Barratt which includes an apology to Dr Sofocado and discusses recommendations from an investigation into the complaint.
Recommendations highlight further training for staff to “control the symptoms in palliative care patients” and continued attendance by consultant palliative care physicians who will provide training to staff and attending GPs.
“We sincerely regret your family’s experience in the palliative care unit was not optimal and apologise for the distress caused,” Dr Barratt said in the letter.
