Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in 4 Cardiac surgery clinics in Australia

I want to express my deepest thanks to the doctors and nurses at RCH, particularly the nurses in Possum ward, for their exceptional care of my daughter Ophelia Low. Your unwavering attention and support truly alleviated our stress during her stay. Thank you sincerely once more.

I was at the emergency with my child today and we saw Dr Kae. He was very knowledgeable. He put me at ease with the concern I was having. I was very worried coming in and waiting long but the 2 hour wait went very quick. I was offered something to drink from a volunteer and when my child’s name was called, the nurse even helped me pushed my pram for me. I’m very happy with my first time experience at RCH today.

Salute to all the doctors and nurses working at this hospital. You guys were awesome! I cannot thank you enough, the amount of support and love show to my 4 year old son who had an Asthma attack. Very professional and friendly. You saved my sons life and il be forever grateful. 🩵💙

Yesterday, I had to have an operation at RPA. It was amazing service, and the staff were wonderful. All the nurses and doctors were fantastic, and I would like to commend them on their work and thank them again very much. Great job. Thank you 😊

The hospital is hit miss like all of NSW Health. The nurses have mental health issues so depending on which nurse you get, either you will receive good care or be subjected to abuse like having your meds not given, information not provided, details not passed to your doctors (who often review remotely so you don’t see them every day). The outsourced food is not relevant to your needs and not replaced with adequate nutrition if you have allergies etc. I saw one new father deliberately kept outside because the nurses didn’t like him then watched them laugh at the struggling new mum who was doing things without support and the nurses just watched, didn’t help her. Same with trying to get information from Doctors, they simply don’t talk to you. The information provided by the nurses is often half-truths designed to placate people not be honest with them.

I don’t know if they will see it but thank you so much to Maddie, Lisa, Eva, Greg, Todd and all of the other overworked nurses and drs who looked after me whose names I didn’t catch or couldn’t remember. I just had my appendix out and it was my first ever hospital visit and everyone was so kind and attentive. I really appreciate how hard you all work. Thank you so much ♥️

Waited since 11pm to be seen, at 5.30am was taken in to be seen by a doctor, 7am and still not seen by a doctor and asked to leave the room and bed as someone else needs it. Absolutely shocking. One doctor on. We are in Australia and cannot receive decent medical attention. Disgusted and will never return here. Triage staff rude.

UPDATE CANCELS Pediatric APPOINTMENT OF MY FIVE YR OLD NEPHEW A DAY BEFORE BY TEXT AND SAID ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WILL BE SENT OUT BY MAIL. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Looking abit disheveled bc of lack of sleep and nurse looks me up and down with a judgey look on her face and rolls her eyes. Honestly the nurses are awful. Trainee nurses can't hit veins and be disclosing personal information about themselves (that they take Zoloft, while forgetting to tell drs I need pain medication, put hot tea in front of my face nearly permanently scarring my eye, also forgetting to ask Drs to check my cervix which nearly led to the loss of my baby and when it finally was checked baby was about to be born her head was past cervix expected to deliver baby on my own and i was unessasarly on heavy painkillers for longer which led to withdrawal symptoms for my child.) Honestly completely unprofessional if they're having a bad day. Old hospital is falling apart while private is upgraded. Honestly if your overworked you shouldn't be working. And that's part of your training. Completely alienated by the nurses looking after my child, it's literally fd up. No information on breastfeeding just yes or no and then a pump sent to my room. Resulting in potentially life threatening mastitis. Along with completely messing up my mental health the social workers seriously need to learn some decorum or at least basic manners.

80 year old woman sat in ED waiting room after botched abdominal surgery in regional hospital. Sat in wheelchair for about five hours in FMC ED after being hastily sewn up by regional surgeon. No pain relief given, eventually admitted into ED and given a bed around 11:00 pm, seen by doctor around 4:00 am the following morning… Eventually admitted to appropriate ward where the specialist and nurses have been brilliant!

My elderly father was admitted by his specialist to the 7th floor. Just want to compliment staff member Ange Power who went above and beyond for my father in every respect and couldn’t be nicer if she tried. If staff always were so lovely, helpful and obliging what a great world this would be. 5*Ange and thank you for your care.

It’s a great place to be sick , staff are all amazing, everything is always clean ,

Just completed a full hip replacement and initial rehab at St Vincent’s private, I cannot praise them enough! As with all hospitals they encounter their issues with individuals, food, cleaning etc but I felt SVP did a terrific job under all circumstances. I was comfortable both in the room and with the service, well fed and felt safe and supported through what was quite a substantial surgery/recovery process. I will not hesitate to return for any further surgery, touch wood!

The best experience ever… thank you so much level 3 birthing unit … I loved every bit of my delivery and the care was the best thank you to my obstetrician dr margie harpham … and all the nurses.

Due to h to he doctor rupturing my spleen during a routine colonoscopy I now have had to stay 2 nights & have extra tests- all at my cost! The food is appalling I haven’t seen a piece of fruit & none offered-just sweet biscuits & muffins! So much healing foods. Nursing staff have been fantastic though hence some stars. Any other business the client would not pay for doctors mistakes! A bit upset !

I had minor surgery there last week which required me to stay 3 nights. Service on arrival and admission was friendly and efficient. Post surgery, the care from Lee in Recovery and the team on Level 5 was excellent - very caring and kind. Thank you so very much to all including; Tate, Georgina, Hema, Ricky, Miguel & Sarah and two other lovely nurses whose names I can't remember. Your kindness was greatly appreciated.

The staff were very attentive and helpful. Arriving at midnight after a workplace incident they adequately took details and then immediately took me through. The staff member was very courteous and reassuring throughout my treatment.

A big thank you to all the staff for looking after my husband. You have done a wonderful job, from the orderlies, food staff, cleaners, nurses and doctors. Everyone has been so kind and caring. Thanks again from all of us.

A beautiful modern hospital with modern fixtures a mall-like atmosphere. The main thoroughfare is lovely but some waiting rooms are small and the multi-stage waiting room system often seems somewhat unnecessary as it is less efficient now that you are unable to check yourself in for an appointment. Instead, you still have to line up to speak with a receptionist - just like you did at the old hospital. The outdoor plaza and the garden areas are a nice touch; hosting community events and providing patients with some much needed respite, and fresh air.

I don't know where to start from,I had a fall on Oct 7 2023 and ambulance took me to ED,I was attended fast and though I was high with green whistle but I can still say all the staff who attended me was very supportive. Mind it I never been to hospital in my full life. After I came out of theatre, I moved to orthopedic ward,some ward5 ..sorry don't exactly remember, but the Nursing staff there was so helpful and supportive they really tried there best,they talk positive they listen you ,understand you and took care of your dignity and privacy,after a week I moved to.plastic OMG the Nursing staff there was like an angles sorry I can't name anyone as they all were the best including an Asian uni student.what a great level of skills and patience the staff have.thank you very much all doctors and nursing staff to fix me up and taking a great care of me.will surely visit in person to pay my gratitude and to say thanks to all once am completely recovered. Wish you all a very merry x mas and a happy new year. Regards

You've been fantastic! Your positive attitude and kindness reassured my family that I was being looked after, and throughout my stay I felt I was in good hands. I am now feeling stronger, and I am feeling much more hopeful about my recovery. Kind regards, Saba

We were ask to attend for an elective planned surgery. This is a second procedure follow on from the first. The 1st admission process was smooth with minor hiccups that we overlooked because we were happy with the surgical outcome. The second procedure we were aware that we might be the 3rd listed for surgery. We were advised to attend for pre-admission procedure at 6.30 am. We did as we were told. The nurse advised us that we might be called in at 1130hrs to get ready to be taken to theatre. We waited, waited and waited and no call for theatre or a decency of an update on the delay. We attend RMH at the surgeon request which we know is best with the expert in the field here. We attended as private patient in a public system. We don't have any problem with that arrangement either. But someone who is highly anxious with heighten anxiety and a delay such as this is entirely unacceptable. It further exacerbated with such appalling poor communication. Providing the best health care does not stop at surgical outcome alone, but how the patient and the family made to feel the entire experience will be what constitutes best health care. I don't know this is a result of poor training where empathy is out of the window or complete complacency of the public system. If one were to admit to ED, with no bed within 4 hours will be a red flag. Not until we approached the reception staff we received an update. What has been a good encounter is tarnish by such lack of attention to basic courtesy of good communication. Very disappointing today.

Worst worst experience ever in my whole life. Brining my child to the emergency and surgery ward, kept him fasting for unexpected hours. My poor child was asking for food Was no updates and everyone was coming we can’t give him drink as they gona take him to the surgery Nothing happened even after waiting 13 hours in without food😡

After having a great experience at the NICU for numerous weeks, my wife and I were looking forward to spending time in 9B as we were allowed to stay the night until our baby boy was discharged. However, that, the care from our surgical team and the allied health team was the only great experience we had at QCH. We did experience a couple of great nurses throughout our time there though, but unfortunately we both felt the nurse care and support was not there. The change overs each day were completely different and wrong, it took a long time to get help when we buzzed (luckily they weren't any emergencies), things were often forgotten or we were told wrong times for when things will be done, we were told cares would be very 4 hours (but this was rarely completed), there was also less optimal/hygienic technique with certain procedures and to top things off, we were given someone elses milk when we were discharged (See the image). Obviously, for confidentiality reasons I blacked out the name. Thankfully, my wife and I both work in the health care system, and we both knew what to do and looked after ourselves. We both hope that no one ever experiences what we went through and that the staff improve their values, procedures and care.

My hospital experience has been flawless from the beginning. The whole process from admission to going through surgery to paediatrics ICU and back to the ward has been carried out professionally and faultlessly from beginning to end. The Neurosurgeons, ENT, Paediatric, Infectious Diseases and all the wonderful nurses have worked tirelessly to make sure my son fully recovered from his infection. I can’t praise the hospital enough on its amazing service. Well done and I am forever grateful. Thanks Jane

Thursday 8th December 9.30pm to 2.30 Janice the nurse in emergency was amazing. She was kind and caring and looked after my son who was having heart problems. Thank you so much Janice! The doctor was also lovely A kind Irish man Very helpful, answering all of our questions.

my partner was taken into the ER on tuesday afternoon and spend all night and all morning wednesday there, the nurses were amazingly dutiful and took great care of both him and me. our nurse sarah went above and beyond for us and did her best to make us comfortable and keep him in the best condition possible at the time. i'm super thankful for all the nurses.

Long waits for surgeries and wait times can take over an hour for a booked appointment. A Dr or two aren’t helpful but staff do their best with the pressure and demand they are under. I have been going to this hospital since birth. They are doing more renovations so it should more upgraded within the next few years. Apart from that staff and nurses are great. Cafes and plenty of food and coffee to grab whilst you wait.

I cannot thank the wonderful people at this hospital who showed great care and understanding to my situation. They were efficient, caring and above all very professional. I cannot rate them highly enough. They deal with some very difficult people and situations and to their credit come back next shift to do it all again. They are special people who should be recognised for their effort.

The doctors and Medical staff are great and they deserve a 5 star based on my experience. However, the Hospital desperately needs to look into how their back office staff treat people. My mother was admitted as an overseas patient. When she was discharged, a lady came and asked us to go to a private area and she put some papers asking me to sign it. When I asked her what I was being asked to sign, her response was “will explain once you have signed it.” When I declined, she started getting aggressive and rude. It came to a point that I had to ask her to get a second person come in and witness what she her aggressive and pushy behaviour. Finally when a second person was present in the room, her behaviour changed to an angel. Then we went through the invoice realising that we were charged for 3 nights when mom was admitted for 2 nights only. There were other errors as well. I am writing this because I hope that this will alert private patients and they are prepared to deal with these scenarios.

I had to have an emergency surgery on the 11/11/2023. I just want to thank the Staff at the hospital for such a professional , polite and extremely well co-ordinated care from start to end . From arriving at the beginning and being interviewed by the first point of contact (nurse) and then the admin staff, both professional and friendly. When the nurse from the Emergency Department came to fetch me , she was brilliant in her care, after the Doctor saw me . She was so thorough and careful in attaching my drip for my medication . She was so careful in finding a strong vein to take my blood , and answering any questions I asked her. What an amazing nurse. The doctor was also polite and friendly and explained what needed to be done . One of the surgical team came to speak to me as well and told me exactly what the surgery was all about , also friendly and polite . They then moved me to a ward and the PSA staff member was friendly and polite. At the ward , there was a student nurse and she was so professional in her manner of asking questions and checking my Blood pressure , temperature and oxygen , she even went to find my wife a chair. When the student's shift ended , the nurse that took care of me was even more amazing , explaining what was going to happen and reassuring me , went with me to the theatre and escorted back after the surgery. Took great care in her treatment of me , with pain relief and antibiotics through my drip. I just want to say a big thank you to her. The anaesthetists were so thorough and reassuring as well as polite and friendly . Both were so willing in answering and explaining my concerns or questions I had .The anaesthetist nurse assistant was polite and friendly. The surgeon was great , helpful and friendly . Sunshine hospital is so clean and has great modern facilities and technology. Thank you so much Sunshine hospital for your great service from ALL your staff .