Queensland Health Appointment 21/05/2025

Dear Meg,

I am submitting this as part of my formal complaint regarding ongoing care failures and breaches of duty by Queensland Health.

At my recent appointment 21st May 2025, I was scheduled to see a doctor at 1pm who turned out to be a registrar, not a specialist. His supervisor, who was meant to oversee my care, was unavailable for over an hour and ten minutes. No one informed me of this in advance. I was left sitting in a standard chair without support, despite my documented spinal & neurological, disabilities, which make it unsafe and extremely painful for me to sit for long periods, I lay on the floor to relieve my pain multiple times.

Eventually, I confronted the doctor on the way to the bathroom and asked if he had forgotten about me. I explained that I am a chronic pain patient and cannot sit in a waiting room chair for that long. He told me his supervisor was in a meeting until 2pm. I went to the toilet and cried.

By the time I returned, I said I wanted to go home and rebook. The receptionist offered me her chair only after I had already cried, but it was too late, I told the doctor this treatment was inhumane.

I went outside for 10 minutes and then lay on the floor crying for another 10 minutes until the doctor was ready to see me.

I had asked many times for a support person—someone like a social worker—to assist me at appointments. Each time I was given excuses. I have since found out about the Nurse Navigator service, yet no one informed me it was available.

This was not just a difficult day—it was traumatic, humiliating, and entirely avoidable. Queensland Health has failed to meet its obligations under the Human Rights Act 2019 and under its duty of care. I am asking for this incident to be formally recorded.

My next appointment is on Wednesday. Could a more suitable chair be made available to accommodate my disability and prevent further pain and distress in the Mental Health department please.

Dear Danielle

I’m sorry you experienced so much pain while waiting. Is your next appointment on 28 May?

I will ask Mental Health to provide a chair that is more suitable for you at your next appointment.

I have enquired with the Nurse Navigator Service and I can make a referral for you to be considered for their service.

Nurse Navigator is a short term service where you work closely with a Nurse Navigator to improve your health outcomes in a team approach. They will identify suitable longer term services that may be appropriate for you.

The referral will include a lot of your medical history and current health issues.

Do you give me permission to make the referral?

Dear Meg,

Thank you for your response, and yes—my next appointment is on 28 May.

I really appreciate you arranging a more suitable chair for me. That will make a big difference, as sitting for long periods is extremely painful with my spinal condition, I don’t mind waiting when comfortable.

And yes, I give permission for the Nurse Navigator referral. I hope it helps bring more coordinated support, especially given how complex my health needs are.

Please feel free to include my full history so the team has a proper understanding of what’s been going on, I did self refer yesterday but would appreciate the extra support.

Thanks again for taking these steps. It means a lot.

Warm Agent Orange Burns regards,

Danielle