Health Ministry of NSW - SYDNEY CHILDRENS HOSPITAL NETWORK

I was a female victim of assault; however the Westmead Hospital Forensic/Emergency dept. did not support my allegations, upon me having a physical examination there. This meant that the police could not pursue my assault complaint, because of Westmead Hospital denying/not supporting my allegations. The hospital basically took the side of the perpetrator, rather than believing me, a victim of assault. That is an extremely bad outcome for a victim of assault- the Hospital denying my allegations, even after a physical exam and also my submission of a police report. I had signed a police statement after all! However, Westmead Hospital did not support my allegations, which is extremely bad!!

I went in for elective surgery late last year. I didn't want to have general anaesthetic during the operation, and I made that clear. The first anaesthetist I talked to tried to insist that I have general anaesthetic and didn't want to listen to my concerns. Then he passed me onto another anaesthetist who was willing to try regional anaesthetic. It wasn't completely effective. He apologised, but then lied to me, telling me that I could have a 'part-general' anaesthetic and be 'in a sleep-like state instead of being unconscious'. So he implied that he would use a sedative, and I agreed to it. However, I found out later that he had used general anaesthetic and I had been unconscious.

I made complaints, and he and the hospital did end up apologising.

He has since changed jobs and now works at another hospital.

If you have surgery at Westmead Hospital, don't let the doctors pressure you or trick you into having general anaesthetic if you don't want to.