Placeholder Content Image

Great grandma left outside hospital for two hours in the cold

<p dir="ltr">A 92-year-old great grandmother who was rushed to hospital by her family due to a shortage of ambulances was left out in the cold for two hours.</p> <p dir="ltr">Maureen Wortley suffered a fall and was taken to Lyell McEwin Hospital in Adelaide about 6.30pm on Monday night. </p> <p dir="ltr">Upon arrival, Maureen underwent a Covid test before having to do another one due to miscommunication with staff.</p> <p dir="ltr">While waiting to be treated, Maureen was forced to wait outside in the freezing cold for two hours dressed only in her dressing gown.</p> <p dir="ltr">​​"She was asked to sit on her walker, wasn't provided with a wheelchair or a blanket, asked to sit on her walker outside in 10 or 12 degrees," a family member told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/south-australia-news-great-grandmother-left-two-hours-in-cold-outside-adelaide-emergency-room/ea975d2d-f2ad-4a37-b173-0d623e86849c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nine News</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The family made a formal complaint about Maureen’s treatment and claimed that staff were provided with heating while patients were not. </p> <p dir="ltr">South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas was made aware of the complaint and offered his personal apology. </p> <p dir="ltr">"We saw someone not getting the sort of care that any Australian with a degree of compassion would want to see or certainly expect," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Penny Conor from the Northern Adelaide Health Network confirmed that the hospital was busy but was not at capacity. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I probably wouldn't describe it as a substantial stuff up but yes we could've done better," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Again I apologise unreservedly to the family."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>

Caring