Concerns have been raised after a Tasmanian man who can’t walk was “dumped’ in the rain on his driveway after being discharged from hospital.
Reg Rollins suffered a fall and was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital for treatment last year.
However, when it came time for his discharge, the hospital claimed that they lacked the resources to transport the immobile man back home.
Despite his reliance on a walker for mobility, the hospital decided to arrange a taxi for Mr. Rollins’.
This decision left him stranded outside his home while he waited for his wife, Grace, to arrive and help him get inside.
“He struggled and struggled trying to get out. He got out onto the wet drive. If I hadn’t brought the Walker down from inside, he’d still be standing there,” she said.
Grace recently lodged a complaint with the RHH, and Labor MP Dean Winter has this week slammed the situation as ‘unacceptable’.
“Putting him in the back of a taxi without a walker is not appropriate. Taxis are being used when patient transport should have been,” Winter said.
Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson said he was unaware of specifics about the case, but said efforts are made to provide support for patients who lack a friend or family member to collect them from the hospital.
UPDATE – 10:30 AM: A DHHS spokesperson tells Pulse decisions to discharge a patient are made based on “clinical review and assessment”, with transition care or community care arranged for patients if required.
“If family members or support persons are unavailable, a range of options and supports are offered to help the patient return home safely,” the said.
“This includes arranging transfers home through community-based transport services where necessary, and provision of additional assistance and equipment as required based on patient need”.
