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Your views: on a burst appendix during an eight hour wait for surgery

Today, readers comment on a young girl and her parents’ ordeal inside the Women’s and Children’s Hospital emergency department.

Apr 13, 2021, updated Apr 13, 2021
Annabelle and David Oates. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily

Annabelle and David Oates. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily

Commenting on the story: Girl’s appendix burst in WCH emergency department after eight hour wait for surgery

It was not surprising that the head of the ED of WCH, an ethical and compassionate colleague and doctor, came forward to offer his apologies to the parents of Audrey Oates.

However, with the greatest of respect and admiration for him and whilst the apology was certainly welcomed by Mr and Mrs Oates, if their declared intention was to prevent this from happening to other children – as he has no control over the understaffing and under resourcing of the WCH – then where is the apology from those responsible for this sad state of affairs?

Where is the apology from the CEO and her executive of the WCH, the chairman and the board of WCH, the chief executive of SA Health and the Minister of Health? 

An apology from each of them would not only be timely and compassionate, but would be the first step to preventing this dangerous precedent from occurring again – but only if they urgently provide the necessary resources and staff to the WCH. 

Anything less would be disrespectful, not only to the Oates family and the parents and children of SA but also to the medical, nursing and ancillary staff working under such unnecessary duress. – Assoc Professor John Svigos

It’s not the hospital that should be apologising. It should be the health minister. What a disgrace. – Graham Bartlett

This is a shocking indictment on our state government reducing the number on staff over the hospital/medical sector. The state government is acting as if we are living in a Third World country.

The same applies to the number of babies that have died as a result of their paring back one of the most basic needs for human beings – reliable health care.

I truly feel for the young child having to experience such dreadful pain (unnecessarily) and having her future health compromised, and I feel empathy for her truly unfortunate parents who must be equally traumatised. This must never happen again.

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There is a quick fix, which only the government can authorise – they must employ more medical/nursing staff and put on duty, asap. There are no excuses. Christine Nicholls

This is an example of a worsening situation which has been going on for at least 50 years when I was first in general practice.

There is just not the political will to change things for the better. Disgraceful.

The evidence has been there for generations; all the public hospitals, emergency departments, waiting lists, understaffing. It’s not hard to see.

What’s wrong with our priorities? Why no effective action? – Eric Sando

It’s all very well for Chris Picton to castigate the current government in regards to the terrible state of healthcare in South Australia’s hospitals, but Labor were at the helm for many years previous to the Liberals and did little to reverse the slide in service.

I feel for Stephen Wade; what a poisoned chalice he must drink. But the answer is very simple – throw more money at the problem. Provide the facilities and staffing necessary. And don’t mess up the new WCH, for it could well become a millstone around your neck for decades to come. – Paul McCormack

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