A grieving family has demanded answers after a beloved grandfather’s heartbreaking ordeal in hospital ended in his death.
Russell Bates, 76, celebrated a late Christmas with his family on December 30 before passing out and taking a fall.
He was rushed to Queensland’s Logan Hospital, where he spent the first seven hours in a corridor waiting for a bed due to the ambulance’s surge.
Within a fortnight, the retired school principal had died following a series of health system failures, his heartbroken family says.
Mr Bates’ family claims he was repeatedly misdiagnosed due to understaffing at the hospital.
After spending ten days in the hospital, his health deteriorated rapidly, despite the concern of his loved ones who implored doctors to carry out more tests.
Beloved grandfather Russell Bates (pictured) died within 12 days of being admitted to hospital
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By day five his heart was failing and by day 10 Mr Bates was rushed to intensive care with hospital-acquired pneumonia.
He also had intestinal perforation and sepsis.
Mr Bates underwent emergency surgery, but two days later his family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support system.
The family believes Mr Bates would still be alive today if not for a series of failures.
“He went in there as a relatively healthy man until this minor fall and left in a body bag,” said his daughter Michelle Dunne. Seven short stories.
“I kept telling them, ‘please do more tests.’
Mr Bates’ son David added: “The nurses were so worried about dad. They were running around the hospital looking for people to help him.
The family claims a surgeon told them their father “wasn’t sick enough” to operate.
Nurses then urged Mr Bates’ family to use Ryan’s Rule – a three-step process to ensure a patient is carefully monitored if their condition worsens or does not improve as well as expected.
But the family says this led to more mistakes from doctors, despite their assurances.
“We seemed helpless,” Ms Dunne said.
“The nephrologist told us on day 11, ‘We wish we had known three days ago, he might have had a chance.’ It broke me.
David fought back tears as he remembered his last conversation with his father moments before he was rushed to undergo emergency surgery.
“In the 10 minutes we had to say goodbye, I said to Dad, ‘How much fight do you have left?’ He said ‘I’ll keep fighting, buddy, if you do” – and we do,” he said.
The cause of Mr. Bates’ death has not yet been determined.
The family was also informed that the coroner’s office had not yet received the autopsy report, which could take up to two years.
Russell Bates’ health deteriorated rapidly in hospital before he was rushed to intensive care on the 10th day. His life support system was turned off two days later.
Logan Hospital has launched a “comprehensive review” of Mr Bates’ care.
An independent investigation into Mr Bates’ death is also underway.
“Logan Hospital has been in contact with Mr. Bates’ family and is committed to providing continued support,” said Anne Coccetti, executive director of Logan and Beaudesert Health Service.
“As this incident is now referred to the coroner, Logan Hospital is unable to provide further comment.”
Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman also offered to meet Mr Bates’ family to find out what happened.
The family has appealed to Queensland Minister and Premier Steven Miles.
“Enough is enough: fix your system,” David said.
“Our fights won’t bring dad back, but how can we send a message to the health minister, to the government, to ensure this doesn’t happen to anyone else’s family.”
Her sister added: “This has to stop. »
Several reviews of the care provided to Russell Bates at Logan Hospital (pictured) are underway.
