Child's appendix bursts after 20 hour ER wait
Published: 19 Nov 12 16:36 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/44514/20121119/
A nine-year-old boy with appendicitis was made to wait more than 20 hours for surgery at the emergency ward of a Stockholm-area children's hospital before his appendix finally burst.
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William arrived at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital in Stockholm last Thursday after suffering stomach pains for days. He was immediately diagnosed with appendicitis, but then nothing happened.
After having his operation repeatedly pushed back by doctors, William's desperate parents were told by the chief surgeon that an operation would only be possible if it was carried out "the old-fashioned way", rather than using a procedure which resulted in less scarring.
"There was only one overnight operating room to handle all of Stockholm's children," William's father told DN.
"I'm convinced that if we hadn't demanded to speak with the chief surgeon we would have had to wait yet another night."
But by the time doctors operated on the nine-year-old, his appendix had already burst, resulting in an extended hospital stay, two weeks of missed school, and no ice hockey for young William until after Christmas.
"If they had operated sooner, I'd be home now," the nine-year-old told the paper.
Employees at the hospital acknowledged that patient safety is in jeopardy.
"Tough budget cuts, staff shortages, and recruitment difficulties have unfortunately put more pressure on surgeries and meant that children and parents have had to wait longer as a result," a hospital employee told DN.
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God help those who are tortured and murdered by the Swedish state.
The other side of the story is that it was fika time.
And no, the abysmal state of Swedish health care has nothing to do with budget cuts. It is the system, ruled by bureaucrats.
It seems Swedish people want the benefits of a free market (competition, innovation, customer service) while not actually permitting one to operate. Truly private businesses must please their customers in order to survive. How much can you reasonably expect from workers who can't be fired nor sued?
The "free" healthcare here continues to rise: I pay a minimum of 150 kronor for a "normal" doctors visit (and more for specialists), and then another 50-200 kronor for each prescription medicine.
I'd love to know where all this tax money goes to here. It sure doesn't come back to the people in any type of actual benefit.
+1 wxman
Looking forward to my 20hr wait to see the govt. nurse.
When I was 17 my family went (from Australia) to America to seek the best medical treatment for my mothers brain tumour, after being convinced by a relative that, that is where we could find the best doctors. The doctor strolled in (late), and without looking up from his clipboard ordered she undergo Chemotherapy (duh). Then walked out and we never saw him again(anyone want to guess how much that 30 seconds cost us?). 1 year later she was dead.
USA!USA! Yeah, so much better than every where else. If you truly believe that lie, then F-off back to the land of the "free" and the home of the grave.
FYI. Sweden has private hospitals.
Less rant and more facts, please.
Questions:
Why didn't Australia provide treatment for your mother? Australians boast about their wonderful "free" health care.
After the Australian system failed you, why did you expect that American doctors should treat your mother for free (as you seem astonished you had to pay)?
At what stage was the tumor when you transported your mother to the U.S.? Some brain tumors are inoperable, in which case chemotherapy is the only option. And yes, even with intensive chemotherapy, many patients die within one year.
Your ire is misguided. Rather than the tired old "blame America" reflex, you should direct your rant at Australia, where your own system failed to help your mother.
Please show me where I stated that the Australian health care system failed my mother. Oh, that's right, you can't, because I didn't, because your an idiot.
I will not humour your pathetic comment with all the details of my mother demise. But I will say that the Australian health care system did not fail her.
If you were not such an flag waving idiot you would probably be able to see that my comment simply points out that the American health care system is no better than a universal health care system, but they'll charge you through the nose for it anyway.
(1) the idea of medicine as a vocation, i.e. as something you do because you want to rather than to screw as much money out of the system/the sick/the disabled etc as possible seems to have gone out of the window for a significant number of doctors, surgeons, nurses et al - though by no means for the majority!
(2) and VERY apposite: governments, health 'managers' and bean counters (aka a lot of accountants) are (allegedly) trying to make the provision of health care and treatment more efficient when the bottom line should surely be to make it more EFFECTIVE! The two ain't the same! Closing wards to make more intensive use of staff on the basis of average patient numbers looks a bit sick (!) when a serious epidemic comes along. Discharging patients at the earliest possible moment may make sense in terms of efficiency but it isn't very effective when it means they have to be re-admitted a few days later (though they do of course count as a new patient, thus adding brownie points for the managers). Pushing mentally ill people onto 'care in the community' is neither effective nor kind when the necessary care simply isn't there - might be considered efficient though!