Health authorities in South Australia's mid-north have apologised for locking a stroke victim out of a regional hospital, despite fears she had suffered another stroke.
Maureen Rogers, 65, was an inpatient at the Balaklava Hospital in January after having a serious stroke the previous November.
She was out on day leave with her family when she suffered what was likely a transient ischemic attack, or TIA — similar to a minor stroke.
"We rang the ambulance, the ambulance crew arrived and wanted to take her back to the Balaklava Hospital," her son Paul Rogers said.
But the paramedics told Ms Rogers they had been directed to take her to the Lyell McEwin Hospital in Adelaide, about an hour away, so a scan could be performed.
After waiting for around five hours at the Lyell McEwin without Ms Rogers receiving any medical attention, the family grew frustrated and decided to take her back to Balaklava, where she was still an inpatient.
Staff refuse to open the door
Mr Rogers called the hospital to let them know his mother was on her way back with the family.
He said he received a return call shortly afterwards to advise him Ms Rogers would not be allowed back in.
Mr Rogers filmed his experience at Balaklava on his phone when he arrived at about 11:30pm.
In the video, he can be seen speaking with a staff member through the intercom.
"I'm sorry, but we can't let you drop her off and bring her into the hospital. I've already explained that to you," the woman is heard to say.
"I'm not refusing medical treatment, I'm going on the advice ... that I already relayed to you that she needed to stay at the Lyell McEwin Hospital and have treatment there.
Mr Rogers then asked whether someone could bring out his mother's medication.
"I can give you her medication, but she cannot come in," the staff member responds.
Medication exchanged through vestibule
Mr Rogers said he would call the police, to which the woman responded that the hospital had already spoken with them.
The video shows him waiting more than 15 minutes out the front of the hospital for nurses to bring out a cup holding two tablets.
The nurses leave the cup in the vestibule between the two front doors, return to the hospital behind the inner door, and unlock the front door for Mr Rogers to collect the medication.
He is heard to express confusion over that arrangement, saying he had not been threatening or violent.
Mr Rogers' manner was blunt and abrupt, but he rejected the suggestion he may have posed a security risk.
"They managed to get the pills out of the hospital for me ... we surely could've got Mum into the hospital without any security risk if they felt that way," he said.
She was formally discharged the next day.
Health CEO finds video 'disturbing'
The CEO of the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network, Roger Kirchner, wrote to Mr Rogers in June to apologise.
"Personally, I found the video you showed me very disturbing and I wish to apologise that this happened to your mother whilst she was an inpatient in the hospital," Mr Kirchner wrote.
He said some medical officers had been reported to the regulator AHPRA over the incident, and nursing staff had been counselled.
In a statement to the ABC, Mr Kirchner said he recognised how distressing the matter was for Ms Rogers and her family.
"This matter has been investigated and the care provided to Ms Rogers did not meet the high quality care we aim to provide all our patients.
Ms Rogers received brain damage and a disability from her initial major stroke in November, but appeared to recover from that day's minor stroke or TIA.
Responding quickly to stroke symptoms crucial
Bruce Campbell, the chairman of the Clinical Council at the Stroke Foundation, said TIAs and minor strokes required urgent assessment.
However, he said if the patient had previously suffered a more significant stroke, there may be little more to do.
He said strokes of any kind required an immediate response.
"We have effective treatments for stroke but every minute that passes, the brain injury increases and the disability increases so we need people to act as soon as they recognise the signs of stroke."
