The Northern NSW Local Health District has issued a response to claims by Coorabell man Paul Rea in Echonetdaily that his wife was required to drive him to the Gold Coast for urgent treatment while he was in the throes of a stroke on March 27 as Byron Central Hospital did not have the facilities to treat him.
Chief executive Wayne Jones, said ‘The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSW LHD) is investigating the concerns of a patient who presented to Byron Central Hospital in March 2017, but was subsequently admitted to John Flynn Private Hospital.
‘Initial results from the review show that the patient was triaged, examined and assessed as stable by the senior emergency physician on duty, prior to discharge and referral to John Flynn Private Hospital being arranged.
‘The time taken for the patient to be examined, receive medical imaging and be assessed as stable was one hour 45 minutes, during which time a referral to a specialist neurologist was arranged.
‘Upon discharge, the patient was provided with the option to travel privately to John Flynn Private Hospital based on his stable condition.
‘The specialist physician has since been in contact with the patient who advised the clinician he was more than satisfied with the treatment he received at BCH.
‘The NNSW LHD is pleased to note that the patient has made a full recovery.’
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