Elderly Woman’s Ordeal Highlights WA Hospital System Strain
An 88-year-old Perth grandmother, Elsie McGribben, endured nearly 48 hours of significant pain in a hospital corridor at St John of God Midland Hospital, prompting her daughters to voice strong criticism of the state of Western Australia’s healthcare system.
McGribben was admitted to the hospital on a Tuesday afternoon with severe leg pain. By Thursday afternoon, she was discharged without a diagnosis, her family reporting that she had spent the entirety of her stay in a bed situated in a hospital corridor.
Lynne Kirumira, McGribben’s daughter, described the distressing conditions her mother faced. “She wasn’t showered for two days,” Kirumira stated. “They gave her baby wipes to clean herself in a public thoroughfare corridor with no privacy.” McGribben also reported feeling “freezing cold” and enduring constant disruption. “The lights were on all night because they were going through with trolleys. They were going through with supplies,” Kirumira added. To cope, hospital staff offered McGribben an iPad to block out the light and earplugs for noise, but these were her only comforts.
Family members were permitted only brief visits and observed approximately ten other patients in similar corridor circumstances. Kirumira commended the hospital staff, describing them as “amazing” but operating under “horrific conditions.” She expressed her dismay, calling the situation “appalling” and a “shocking reflection of the healthcare system.” McGribben, known for her high pain tolerance, had only complained because her discomfort was extreme. However, her experience has left her hesitant to seek medical help in the future, fearing lengthy waits in a wheelchair.
Internal Concerns Emerge Amidst Systemic Pressures
McGribben’s distressing account surfaced on the same day a leaked letter from Dr. Michael Levitt, surgical services medical co-director at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, revealed internal concerns about the potential impact of the government’s “winter flu strategy” on elective surgeries. Dr. Levitt’s letter indicated that two operating theatres at the hospital were slated for permanent closure from April 7th to facilitate a new theatre expansion.
The hospital’s executive reportedly expressed “deep disappointment” that this strategy would “disproportionately impacts patients in need of complex surgery.”
However, a spokesperson for the Department of Health contested the claim of permanent theatre closures. They stated the closures would be temporary, lasting only two weeks in April for routine floor covering replacement. “During this brief period, the hospital will manage elective surgery within existing capacity,” the spokesperson explained. They further noted that Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is undergoing a broader maintenance program, with works across operating theatres scheduled over several months, ensuring only two theatres are offline at any given time.
Opposition Condemns Healthcare Underperformance
Opposition health spokeswoman Libby Mettam seized upon both McGribben’s story and Dr. Levitt’s letter as evidence that the current government’s healthcare system is “falling apart.” Mettam described McGribben’s ordeal as representing the “face of a hospital system which is under extraordinary pressure” and questioned the lack of dignity afforded to patients. She asserted that such experiences are becoming “commonplace.”
Mettam also dismissed the department’s explanation of Dr. Levitt’s letter, stating, “The email from the medical director is explicit.” She raised alarm bells regarding the government’s elective surgery strategy and its winter surge plan, labelling it a “sham on every level.”
Hospital Acknowledges Issues, Cites High Demand
A spokeswoman for St John of God Midland Public Hospital acknowledged McGribben’s experience and stated the hospital had apologised. “We take these concerns seriously and will be contacting the patient directly to check on their wellbeing and offer any further support,” she said.
The spokeswoman attributed the challenging circumstances to high patient demand at Midland Hospital, which frequently operates at or near capacity. She explained that this necessitates careful coordination and the use of “overflow areas” to maintain patient safety and allow the Emergency Department to manage new presentations. She added that when necessary, all available inpatient beds, including those designated for the private hospital, are utilised to meet demand.
Premier Defends “Corridor Care” as Necessary Practice
WA Premier Roger Cook acknowledged that McGribben’s experience was “disappointing.” However, he also defended “corridor care” as a “normal part of the practice” for hospitals, explaining it allows them to “flex up and flex down to ensure people get the care they need.” He conceded that while not ideal, it is a necessary measure to manage patient flow and ensure timely care.
