19/08/2025
It’s time for the Health Minister Tim Nicholls MP or maybe Shayne Neumann MP our local Federal Minister, Wendy Bourne MP or perhaps Mark Butler MP our new Federal Health Minister, to do an “Undercover Boss” visit to hospitals, I think. Maybe even our Mayor Teresa Harding?
I need to share our very disappointing experience at St Andrew's-Ipswich Private Hospital which was so bad it was almost comical. I went there because we have top private cover and I have had such terrible experiences at Ipswich Hospital Emergency with my clients over the years I'd rather go to the city than risk them.
Last night, I drove our child to the hospital, hoping he would make it still breathing. The last two times we called an ambulance to Thagoona where we live (near Ipswich), it never came—despite hours of waiting so it's just not worth the risk.
With our son turning blue and looking like a croup or Whooping Cough attack we needed emergency. We don’t go to the hospital lightly; we usually see a GP and understand hospitals are busy. But this time, our son was deteriorating fast—like someone with whooping cough or croup. I wasn't looking for canapes and a bar or the red carpet.
We arrived and were sat in the waiting room. It took an hour to see a doctor. I told them he was turning blue, couldn’t stop coughing, and was vomiting from the strain. He’d already had four days of steroids and antibiotics, and was getting worse. I explained he hadn’t slept properly in six nights—barely an hour a night—and now couldn’t stop coughing like a seal. I also mentioned I was shivering uncontrollably and had nearly passed out, and asked if they could check me too if they had a moment. I said I’d pay whatever it cost as we have top cover and I work hard to afford health care. I figured they were busy, so I let it go.
Standard treatment for this situation is a nebulizer quickly, steroids, and a stronger antibiotic follow up. This isn’t our first rodeo. But I felt like I was treated like an alien. Odd, considering we have top private cover and I repeatedly said I’d pay whatever was needed.
The nursing staff need serious training in communication. Our child was gasping for breath, and the nurse said, “Oh, you just need to stop being anxious.” I explained he’s a chill kid—his heart rate is up because he can’t breathe. She asked if he’d had Ventolin or has asthma. I said yes. She replied, “Why give him that?” I said, “Because the doctor told us to.” She then gave a speech about how using it unnecessarily makes it ineffective later. Then she said again, “He just needs to stop coughing.” Has anyone in history ever stopped being anxious about not being able to breathe by being told to “just stop being anxious”?
The lack of eye contact, speech and dismissive, shunning attitude from the nurses made it clear: they wanted us to go away. I even offered to go to a city hospital if they were too busy. But a blue child needs help, regardless. This behaviour is typically what many people living with disability I have supported in the community and advocated for experience from health care, not me at a private hospital with a real emergency usually.
When I asked if we should just leave and go elsewhere, the response was a grumpy, “That’s your decision.” I smiled and said I’d like to make an informed decision—just tell me if you can’t provide care after an hour of a child struggling to breathe and vomiting. I said I’d happily go to the city before he got worse. I know there are no ambulances available, so no drama—but he’s about to pass out or vomit in your waiting room.
Eventually, a lovely doctor came out 15 minutes later and got him started on a nebulizer. The nurse, seemingly worried about being criticized, kept loudly asking the child, “Oh, what changed?” I said, “Nothing. He still can’t stop coughing, still blue, still in pain, still close to vomiting, still can’t catch his breath, and still unsteady.” They also asked if he was usually that pale and I explained "no he is a ginger but he doesn't normally look this pale or go blue".
The nurse and doctor asked normal questions, but each time I tried to answer, they talked over me. It took much longer than necessary. I was glad I had a mask on—I was chuckling at how odd their communication was and how much time they were wasting while complaining about how busy they were.
I told the doctor I had similar symptoms, though less severe. The nurse had taken my temperature earlier and said in a concerned voice, “You’re the one who needs to be admitted—your temp is really high.” I said, “Let’s focus on the child first. I’ll let you know if I feel like dying.”
Later, I asked the nurse what my temp was as she seemed really worried but didn't tell me what it actually was. She said, “38.” I replied, “Not a huge deal then—just a fever. But send drugs my way if you have em.
The doctor returned—still lovely, but not very communicative. She said, “Flu is going around and can last a while.” I'm now thinking are they actually telling me I should not be here because it is just a flu that's lasting a while as if the emergency symptoms are not the reason we are here? I explained I work in disability and public health, and I know how frustrating it is when people show up to hospital just for flu for no good reason, too lazy to go to a GP. But this wasn’t just flu—it was turning blue, coughing for 8 hours straight until vomiting, and 6 nights of no sleep and trouble walking. That’s why we came after hours because it now looked like croup or whooping cough.
I asked about stronger steroids, antibiotics, and a nebulizer. Standard stuff. I was keen to get out of their way and for my son to start breathing again but this took over 4 hours. They were so busy but seemed to make it take way longer than necessary.
Then the nurse randomly announced, “At least we know what it is.” I hadn’t been given any results yet. I asked, “What is it?” She said, “Flu, I think.” I asked if she knew for sure, and whether it was A or B. She said, “I think it’s A,” and walked out quickly disappearing again as I wondered if that was the official presentation of our pathology result or if someone might be back soon for more. This nurse I cant recall ever looking at me or facing me all night any time she talked or came in. I honestly cant remember her face.
At this point, I wondered if we should just leave. No one was explaining anything and the behavior was so odd. As a health and disability professional I know what it's like to have a 'Karen' bug you so I didn't want to pressure them but of all the Nursing students I taught at TAFE I'd be mortified if they treated anyone like this.
I got a random text with results: Influenza A. I guess this is QR-code-style service now. Ok cool so that how results are communicated. Good to know. Again we aren't worried about the Flu, it's the emergency symptoms we needed a hand with.
The doctor came back and asked if Skylar had been given anything. I said, “Let’s check the chart.” She looked blank, then said, “Oh, we’re still waiting.” I said, “No, he’s had the steroids and nebulizer.” I asked, “Where are we at? Do you want us to stay or leave? He’s breathing better now and his colour is improving so to get out of your busy room how about we grab the stronger antibiotic and now he is much better and had the stronger steroids that has helped a lot we will get him home to bed. This process then seemed to draw on like they had all the time in the world now which was confusing.
The doctor then said, “Let’s keep an eye on him for an hour.” I mentioned again that I was feeling dizzy and had nearly passed out. Mentioned it when I arrived and twice now since being here. I asked if there was a buzzer I could press if I felt like I was going to pass out. She said, “No, just come out and talk to staff.” I chuckled and said, “If I pass out, I probably won’t be able to walk out and tell someone while unconscious and usually when someone is unsteady and cant walk and fainting, the last thing you want is them trying stand up and walk around.” That logic seemed lost on her. I got a blank look. She said someone would check on me. No one did—for 45 minutes.
Falls risks and the Hospital risk team would love that one. I’d be very disappointed if any of my TAFE nursing students did that.
After over 4 hours, the doctor came back—still lovely—and asked if anyone had checked me or taken my blood pressure. I said no. She said it might be because it costs extra to treat me. For what felt like the tenth time, I said, “I don’t care what it costs, I'm not fussed, happy to pay”. She was concerned about me having to spend another $100. They just wouldn't check me over quickly to 'save me money'. Certainly an odd business strategy. I think it was because I was wearing tracksuit pants maybe they kept assuming I would rather suffer then pay for treatment. Maybe I need to wear a suit next time and just put a grand in cash in the front counter to shut them up. I work my bum off to afford health care so to be denied it because they thought I couldn't afford it was mind blowing as I said it at least 10 times. I DONT CARE if you want to charge me more. They kept saying they can look at me as they weren't as busy now but it might cost more. It was like the twilight zone.
What is going on David Crisafulli MP? If this is how private hospitals treat patients, how poor must the service be for those who can’t afford private care? God help those in public hospitals and people living with disability and those unable to self-advocate. God help those poor Health staff that get assaulted and attacked because our system is so broken.
It’s lucky I was extremely patient and didn't loose it as I am sure if I mirrored the attitude I was given back to those staff, they would then get upset and I'd be the bad guy.. We ended up in the resuscitation room because no other beds were available—what a waste of resources. All we needed was standard care, which could’ve been sorted in 20 minutes. Instead, it took over 4 hours. Thats the woodsman saying he can't stop to sharpen his axe to chop faster because he doesn't have time.
This system is unfair to nurses, doctors, and patients. On a personal note I did get home without passing out. I still can't quite fathom the suggestion the doctor made - if you do pass out and fall in the room with no buzzer, then just go find a staff member and tell them while apparently unconscious. The mind boggles.
This was very different to my last experience at St Andrew's-Ipswich Private Hospital with the wife after I had to practically carry her in because no ambulances were available for hours. That time they were on the ball and lovely in an emergency.
Pauline Hanson's Please Explain fans Queenslanders with Disability Network Children and Young People with Disability Australia People With disabilities WA Shayne Neumann MP First Peoples Disability Network Nndis News David Martin: Ipswich St Andrew's-Ipswich Private Hospital Senator Jordon Steele-John Disability Community Awareness Australian Disability Network Disability Advocacy Network Australia - DANA People with Disability Australia ABC Brisbane
