Audrey Colbert was a patient at Footscray Hospital earlier this month and needed her appendix taken out. She was so appalled by the lack or treatment and care that she went to another hospital. 76505 Picture: Damjan Janevski
By Charlene Gatt
AN ALBANVALE woman has vowed never to go to Footscray’s Western Hospital again after a recent visit.
Audrey Colbert presented to Western Hospital’s emergency department on 19 January this year with abdominal pain and a referral from her local GP.
Ms Colbert was later diagnosed with appendicitis and told she needed surgery, but was left unimpressed when her doctor did not give her the opportunity to ask questions or find out more about her condition.
She was also frustrated when none of the hospital staff could confirm when the surgery would take place and was later cancelled.
Ms Colbert, who has private health insurance, discharged herself to get surgery at John Fawkner Hospital in Coburg.
Her husband had to drive her to the hospital because no ambulances were available to transfer her, despite her having ambulance cover.
“What a ridiculous situation. Here I am with private health insurance, ambulance cover, both of which I have paid for years and this is what it comes down to,” Ms Colbert said.
“My treatment and care was exceptional at John Fawkner. I was never a private health insurance or hospital snob, but I am now.
“I will never trust Footscray Hospital to efficiently treat me or my family.
“We are not a third world country, but our public health system appears to be headed that way.
Western Health, which runs Western Hospital, refused to comment.
