Gary Harkness sits in the beer garden at Eden’s Australasia Hotel amongst family and friends mourning the recent death of his mother, Patricia Harkness aged 90, who was buried on Tuesday morning in Eden Cemetery.
Gary is appalled at the treatment his mother received at Bega Hospital in the days before her death.
“I’m not blaming them for my mother’s death. It’s the way they went about it all. I just want to know why she was discharged from hospital and on what grounds,” Gary said.
Mrs Harkness died four days after being released from Bega Hospital following what can only be described as one nightmare of a day for any older person.
According to Gary - his frail mother who still lived independently in her own home - suffered two falls in two days in mid-December and was subsequently admitted to Pambula Hospital.
The story so far will be familiar to many baby boomers with frail elderly parents.
Pambula Hospital assessed that Mrs Harkness - who had a pacemaker - required monitoring for 24 hours. This couldn’t be done at Pambula.
Mrs Harkness was then taken to Bega Hospital and admitted for monitoring.
Her admission came just before she was due in Canberra for treatment to her pacemaker.
Following the monitoring period, Bega Hospital then put Mrs Harkness into an ambulance on December 17 and had her transported to Canberra Hospital for the pacemaker treatment.
On arrival at Canberra Hospital after the three and a half-hour trip, 90-year-old Mrs Harkness underwent the pacemaker treatment.
According to Gary, his mother hadn’t, at that point, been discharged from Bega Hospital. She was then put back into an ambulance and returned to Bega, another three and a half-hour trip.
When Gary finally caught up with his mum that night in Bega Hospital, she was lying on a stretcher in casualty.
“When I came in a nurse was about to take Mum’s observations. But another nurse told her not to, because mum was about to be discharged.
“They didn’t tell me what was wrong with her. There was no diagnosis. I was given no instructions, nothing about her post-operative care,” an upset Mr Harkness said.
“My gripe is it’s going to happen to others.
“If someone else’s mother is admitted to Bega Hospital I hope they’re treated more humanely,” Gary reflects.
“She didn’t deserve that - she was too good a person. She was good fun, a real grand chick. She’s the only mate I’ve ever had forever,” Gary said.
“If there are no beds in Bega for our elderly parents, do we just drop them off at the dump?” Gary asked.
Gary’s sister, Maureen Mattick from Bowral, was also critical of her mother’s Bega Hospital treatment.
“People should matter more than money. Health care is now driven by the dollar. I don’t believe its driven by concern for the person,” Mrs Mattick said.
Finishing off a Bachelor in Midwifery, Mrs Mattick was also critical of maternity closures in many smaller hospitals.
“They’re closing down maternity sections everywhere. They say it’s for ‘patient safety’ but that’s rubbish,” she said.
Gary has lodged a complaint with the Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) about his mother’s treatment.
After being contacted by the Magnet, Ken Barnett, general manager, eastern sector, GSAHS issued the following statement.
“Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) sincerely apologises to the patient’s family for any distress.
The Area Health Service takes all patient complaints extremely seriously and strives to be open and accountable in an ongoing effort to improve patient care.
GSAHS has commenced an internal investigation into this complaint to review the matters raised by the family.
A senior member of staff from GSAHS has contacted the patient’s family today to discuss their concerns and to offer condolences.
If anyone has a concern or complaint about their care, they are encouraged to contact the GSAHS toll free number 1800 011 824. This number is available 24 hours, seven days a week. Ken Barnett, GSAHS.”
Patricia Irene Harkness
1919-2009
Obituary page 10