On the 28th of April 2023 I went into Peninsula private hospital for a replacement pacemaker stayed overnight came home April 29th.
On the 17th of April I went to the toilet and my stools were not the normal colour the were very dark in colour I thought I could have a bleed so I rang my Doctor and was given an appointment for the 19th of April my Doctor said I should go to emergency and have it checked.
I went to peninsula private hospital were I was required to pay $400 I was called into a side room, at the time I didn’t know if the young man admiring me was a nurse or a Dr he took down some information and I ask him if he could check my pacemaker operation sight, the operation sight was red and agree and also swelled he checked the operation site and said it was ok there was no infection I was shown to a cubical until waited until i passed more stools which were pronounced ok and was discharged.
2 days later I woke about 5 30am and the left sleeve of my pyjamas was soaked i though I must have been bleeding on inspection there was only a small amount of blood the wet was clear fluid the stitches round my pacemaker operation had come undone and you could see my pacemaker, the patch over my operation site had come away so I changed my clothes and went to peninsula private hospital emergency I told the girl what had happened and needed to be seen by Dr or nurse she said I would have to pay $400 to see someone I explained I had attended 2 days prior and had brought to the attention of the admitting person my concerns about my surgery and I didn’t think I should have to pay again to which she said to be seen I would have to pay $400 and take it up with the hospital I was admitted and a nurse cleaned the operation site I was told I nothing could be done there and then so I choose to go home I’m my wife’s carer so if nothing could be done I would go home.
I was given a script for antibiotics and discharged.
The following day I was contacted by someone from the hospital to say the hospital didn’t have a surgeon qualified to perform the operation which entailed taking out my pacemaker and leads going into my heart and this is a special operation with only 2 surgeons in Victoria capable to do this operation I received a call from Dr Gareth Wynn to say he new my operation was urgent but he said all his operations were urgent and he would get my surgery done as soon as possible.
I have contacted peninsula private hospital regarding the second $400 dollars I had to pay the said that there was nothing noted about my concerns about my operation site so hospital would not be refunding my $400 my insurance payed over $29000 to peninsula private hospital and over $36000 to Melbourne private hospital.
Thankyou HCF Insurance.