Arabic version: مريض بكسر في الورك يواجه تأخيراً طويلاً في نقله إلى أديلايد

According to ABC News, Mount Gambier resident Patrick Rainford spent hours waiting at a Royal Flying Doctor Service facility and outside Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide before being admitted for surgery after breaking his hip.

Mr Rainford, 60, fell on August 25 and was admitted to Mount Gambier Hospital. He was flown to Adelaide about 12:30am on August 27 for a total hip replacement, landing at about 2am. He said he remained on a stretcher at the RFDS base at Adelaide Airport until roughly 9:30am, before being taken by ambulance to Flinders Medical Centre.

He said the ambulance arrived at the hospital at roughly 10:15am and that he was ramped until 5pm. Mr Rainford said he received no medication while waiting, despite being in significant pain. He said he was fasting and was told pain relief could not be provided before admission because of possible interactions with other medication for his health conditions.

Mr Rainford also described discomfort from remaining on a stretcher because he has five bulging discs in his lower back. He said he did not want others, particularly older people, to undergo a similar experience.

SA Health chief executive Dr Robyn Lawrence apologised and said the department would contact Mr Rainford to learn from his experience, including by improving communication with regional patients. She said the RFDS facility was built for patient transfers and that care had been provided by nursing staff and paramedics, while acknowledging delays in the transfer.

Health Minister Blair Boyer also apologised, citing an extremely busy night at public hospitals. He said there were around 100 patients in Flinders Medical Centre’s emergency department for most of August 27, and that he had been told Mr Rainford was ramped there for 3.5 hours. Mr Rainford disputed that account, saying he waited for most of the day.