Melanie Tracey-Bower was in agony waiting for treatment.
Health officials in Queensland have issued an apology following an incident involving a patient who endured significant pain while waiting for treatment at Logan Hospital’s emergency department. Melanie Tracey-Bower, who arrived at the hospital suffering from a kidney stone, described her experience as agonizing, claiming that the pain caused her to temporarily lose her hearing.
Tracey-Bower set off for the hospital at 11:30 on the morning of the incident, expecting a brief 14-minute drive. Upon arrival just before noon, she faced a nearly two-hour wait before being seen by a triage nurse. During this time, she expressed her distress and desperation, indicating that the pain was comparable to childbirth.
“I screamed out to them. I asked them why they weren’t helping me,” Tracey-Bower recounted in an interview with 7NEWS. Despite her pleas for assistance, she felt dismissed and was told that she was being abusive for expressing her frustration.
After waiting for another hour on the floor of the emergency department, Tracey-Bower described her physical state as critical. “I’m screaming, I’m crying, I’m shaking, I’m losing hearing in my right ear,” she said. During this harrowing period, she considered calling an ambulance but was ultimately seen by a security guard who intervened. It was later confirmed that she was suffering from a 6 mm kidney stone.
In response to the incident, Anne Coccetti, executive director of Logan and Beaudesert Health Service, stated, “We extend our sincere apologies to the patient for any distress experienced.” She emphasized the importance of patient care, especially in emergency situations.
Between April and June 2023, nearly 30,000 patients were treated at Logan’s emergency department. Of those, approximately 67 percent were seen within the recommended timeframes. Tracey-Bower has since lodged a formal complaint, prompting a review of the circumstances surrounding her treatment.
She voiced concern about the potential consequences of inadequate emergency care, stating, “If something’s not done, someone’s really, really going to get hurt.” The incident has raised questions about patient management and emergency response protocols in Queensland’s healthcare system, highlighting the need for immediate improvements to avoid similar situations in the future.
