Caulfield Hospital

It was my first visit to this hospital, and the doctors I met with were attentive. Easy place to find and parking was easy be it free 2 or 3 hour on street parking or $9 in the hospital car park.

Horrible car park. You need to pay in coins, so need to get cash out to the convert to coins. Caused frustration with so many drivers. Need to get card payment asap

On Wednesday 29-12-2021, my husband, (who is my Medical and Financial Powers of Attorney and also my principal supporting care-giver) accompanied me to Caulfield hospital for my 12: 00am (midday) C. A. T.scan appointment with the Imaging Department on the 1st floor.

My husband and I had already received both of our required Pfizer injections, but our vaccination documents, although perfectly clear, were not yet in the customary format.

Upon request, my husband produced our original medical certificates, which had been typed on ‘Surgery-Headed’ notepaper and in each case hand-signed in ink by our GP, Dr. Belinda Carne, from Inkerman Medical Group.

These original documents had thus far satisfied all medical personnel who had cause to inspect them, including in particular the same staff just one week earlier in the same hospital for the same Covid screening process in the same foyer.

As we entered the foyer, we were confronted by a middle-aged woman called Anna in a nurse’s uniform.

‘Anna’ declared our documents to be obvious forgeries and as such completely unacceptable, we would therefore now have to leave the hospital, regardless of my imminent imaging appointment.

My husband posed the question to her as to how this state of affairs could possibly exist today, when only one week before, these exact same documents were deemed entirely satisfactory for my previous imaging appointment at the same hospital, for the same Covid screening procedure and in the same foyer.

The woman ignored the question and ironically began commanding my husband to immediately stop shouting, stop pointing his finger, take control over himself and to calm himself down.

My husband told her her that he was completely calm, that this is how he normally talks, that he hadn’t shouted and had also never pointed his finger at her or at anybody else.

My husband then endeavoured to ascertain from her how we should therefore best proceed going forward, given that she had rejected the integrity and authenticity of our documentation.

‘Anna’ once again offered no reply, but continued unabated with the same ‘mantra’ for my husband to calm himself down and to stop shouting, with renewed vigour.

Every time that my husband tried to ask this woman a question or establish any constructive dialogue, she reacted as if these attempts were somehow yet more ‘proof’ of my husbands’ ‘guilt’, which could all be added to her own rapidly expanding ‘mountain of evidence’ against him.

‘Anna’ did eventually call the Inkerman Medical Group and although we didn’t hear what transpired in that conversation, we were subsequently, though grudgingly permitted to enter the hospital.

My husband successfully managed to sustain a calm and cooperative approach throughout the entire ordeal, despite the relentless stream of threats, insults and false accusations.

In my opinion, toxic behaviour, and especially of such magnitude from this particular hospital employee (and therefore an ‘ambassador’ for Caulfield hospital) is not only unacceptable, inexcusable, hurtful, unwarranted and deeply offensive, but also entirely unproductive and manifestly pointless.

By complete contrast, this woman potentially could have chosen a professional, courteous and helpful demeanour, and if required, could have advised us politely, that regarding our current documentation, it would be a great help to the staff if we could please present our Covid status as soon as possible in the preferred format to avoid any future complications.

This woman, however appeared to completely luxuriate in her empowered position of denying hospital entry for any Caulfield community residents to whom she had decided to take a personal dislike.

I am deeply shocked that my husband, who was only ever at the hospital because he wanted to assist and support me, should have been ‘rewarded’ for his kindness to me by being singled out as an object of public ridicule, scorn, humiliation, and, absent one single shred of evidence, falsely accused of being a loud-mouthed, angry and aggressive troublemaker with forged documents.

We are very grateful for the fantastic care that our Dad received from Rehab at Caulfield. The Allied Health team were committed to getting Dad well enough to get home in a safe and timely manner. Thank you so much to the OT, Physio, Social workers and Nurses. Your concern and care for Dad was outstanding

Rude staff at the entrance when checking in with Covid QR code.

I am a Care worker and this is my first time at Caulfield Hospital and came with my client.

Reception staff just said that " you can't walk off without QR scanning. "
I know rules but staff think they are superior than everyone else.

Shocking treatment of elderly, food is really bad, staff and unit managers have no empathy towards patients and their family members, nursing staff can’t speak English and it’s a struggle to understand what they say, level of care is zero, government should cut all funding to this site and shut it down, they way they treat elderly is criminal.

I had to watch a nurse refusing to change elderly father from his soiled nappy until he had eaten his dinner. People talk lots about abuse towards kids and public services, police ambulance and nurses, but no one wants to bring in mandatory Jail sentences against abuse of elderly people.

People seem to have a constant belief that elderly people have had their day in the sun and that once they end up in hospital or sick that they should just be left to nature to sort them out.

I think that Caulfield hospital is a massive joke its obvious why the hospital is there, the extra revenue Alfred health claims form the Australian government for the running of that site is ridiculous.shut it down spend the money on changing laws to protect Australian pensioners from abuse in the system of care.someday its us and our children that are going to have to rely on the system that abuses our loved ones.

In response to Vu ck review: You say that they treat the elderly citizens with contempt, can you tell us in what way? My elderly Mother was in here with Dementia and i witnessed the staff treat her and the other patients with the utmost respect and kept her clean and well fed. I used to visit her everyday and witnessed many times, elderly patients refusing care and being racist to the Indian and Chinese Nurses who were trying to care for them. I even saw an elderly patient throw their food tray at a Doctor.

I also witnessed very confused and agitated patients wandering into my mothers room and the staff were wonderful in there way of getting this person out as it was clearly upsetting my mother and the patient was not listening to me.

This is a Public Hospital, what are you expecting? If you don't have Private Health Insurance then you will get what you are given. Yes, it is an old hospital but i found that the staff were doing the best under the circumstances and had to put up with alot. Don't you think if the hospital was so bad that there would have been and investigation already and it would have been closed down by now?

Caulfield Hospital pain clinic continue with the abuse of people that have a disability after over a year of waiting for a nerve block, I collapsed After 14 months where Caulfield pain clinic have charged for telehealth appointments To discuss when I would be receiving them only to further exploit more money for services I have not received received no service since March 2020 despite nerve blocks being booked But not received seen that I reported on Caulfield pain Clinic Manager for violating the privacy act in 2019 Early 2020

I have not received
my neuropathic pain Coldness numbness and burning Has not been addressed I was meant to receive in March 2020 support workers have suggested to report Caulfield for neglect and abuse and exploitation Discrimination not to mention Medicare fraud as several occasions they have claimed for a service i have now denied the nerve blocks but have charged for 3 telehealth appointments regarding when I receive a call back when nerve blocks were available however have now denied me treatment for my neuropathic pain only to further try and exploit and charge for more telehealth appointments Without receiving a service
Statements have been done about discussions what nerve blocks would be trialed to charge the several telehealth appointments only to further try and do the same and deny the series of nerve blocks I was meant to receive and was stated multiple times backdating November 2019

I have not been able to get out of bed in tears Caulfield as others have witnessed have made my life a living hell and just done nothing but exploit me What appears to be for financial benefit I collapsed from exhaustion and extreme nerve pain after over a year for waiting for pain management treatment that was organized only again to further exploit myself after reporting on previous medical fraud and Medicare fraud confirmed by Medscape for healthcare professionals

I am terrified to talk to Caulfield without a lawyer present as I'm still waiting for my nerve blocks as am terrified that I will continually get abused and exploited by Caulfield pain clinic As a number of support workers who have noted the Neglect and exploitation of my Irlen Syndrome dyslexic disability Who have ignored the complications from an injury due to previous misdiagnosis And medical fraud confirmed by Medscape for healthcare professionals Number of people who know the situation have suggested reporting Caulfield pain clinic for violations of the privacy act Neglect and discrimination and exploitation Emotional and psychological and physical abuse using deception for financial Benefit
It was claimed I had received occupational therapy Physiotherapy clinical psychologist When I attended back in 2015 this service Has never been received Using deception to agree to telehealth appointments then claim I agreed to assessment to exploit more funds is also fraud

see the medical error action group that discusses the very same type of people that are abusing people Committing Medicare fraud I have received no service only an appointment on 11 March 2020 Still waiting for The series of nerve blocks after November 2019 was organized and 3 telehealth appointments to discuss Nerve blocks Have not been received

I never would have went to Caulfield 2019 if I was not going to receive a service just exploitation and neglect as other people have witnessed then to further try Charge for more telehealth Appointments in September and November 2020 (a year later)

Using deception to charge for telehealth appointments regarding nerve blocks form 2019 The people I have discussed this with consider Caulfield pain clinic After all 2019 2020 stuck in bed waiting to receive a service feeling dizzy Like passing out I collapsed a few weeks ago from exhaustion After over a year of waiting for a service I was meant to receive not provided,

I reported on previous Medicare fraud According to law medical fraud MRI confirmed by Department of radiology

Have heard nothing but bad things about this hospital, the management of Caulfield hospital and the state government should hang their heads in shame. They treat our elderly citizens with such contempt and the condition of the hospital is appalling. The whole system needs a overhaul, with this hospital first in line. Such an uninviting place to visit, you'd not know that you're in a first world developed country. It's no surprise to hear the same from other reviewers. What a disgrace to our public health system.

Had an accident where i slipped akwardly on to a wine bottle which ended up getting stuck and my partner was unable to remove it. Turns out the staff
were very descrete and said they had seen accidents like this all the time.
Thanks so much guys and will always use rubber/plastic from now on.never glass bottles

Unfortunately, I had a negative experience with Caulfield Hospital.

The trouble started when my elderly mother was admitted to the Dementia ward.

From the beginning there was little, if any, information forthcoming from ward staff in regard to her general condition and progress. As the days went by, I didn't receive one phone call and even during personal visits it was a challenge to find out what was happening. Clearly, as her next of kin, primary carer, enduring guardian and medical power of attorney, I had the right to be kept up to date.

Finally, I was summoned to a meeting and advised that the powers that be at the hospital had decided that my mother should / would be committed to a nursing home. However, there were a few problems. First of all, she didn't want to go into such a place. Secondly, I wouldn't agree to it. And, most significantly, her GP, with whom we had regular contact including home visits, stated that such a move wasn't necessary. When I wouldn't comply, Caulfield seemed to retaliate by steadfastly refusing to discuss the subject of when she could leave. In other words, she would be held hostage until I agreed to their demands. A lawyer who was involved with a seniors rights advocacy group, quickly informed me that the hospital did not have the legal power to take such a course of action. In fact, what they were trying to do was a direct violation of patient rights.

We became locked into a stand off situation which dragged on for several weeks during which time my mother became increasingly distressed and disorientated. Every conceivable obstacle, excuse and delaying tactic was thrown in the way to prevent her from leaving.

When her own doctor was able to establish that there was no medical reason for her to be detained any longer, I made the decision to discharge her. Ward staff then provoked a yelling match in her room which reduced her to tears.

In a last-ditch effort to impose their will onto us, the hospital then tried to have me removed from the picture as the power of attorney and guardian by making a concerted (but unsuccessful) attempt to discredit my performance as a carer.

We ended up going to VCAT. An investigation was carried out by the Office of the Public Advocate which included interviewing around a dozen witnesses. The findings of that investigation obviously left the tribunal member with no doubt that the hospital was in the wrong and the case was decided in our favor. Not only did the relevant managers at Caulfield repeatedly refuse to accept my authority as being my mother's legally appointed decision maker, they also tried to deny both of us our legal rights and completely disregarded our wishes. But, perhaps most alarmingly, when the real trouble began they appeared to make a deliberate attempt to cover up their unacceptable conduct.

My advice to other carers who find themselves in a similar situation is to know you rights. Also, insist that both your own wishes and those of the person you are caring for are respected and don't allow the hospital to forcibly take control of the decision making through a process of bullying and intimidation.

Even though the hospital may believe that they are acting in the best interests of the patient, trying to institutionalize someone without good reason is a very serious matter.

Perhaps we were just unlucky and ours was a one - off case. Hopefully, others have had much more positive dealings with Caulfield Hospital.

The Staff in the ABI gave my brother the best care and attention during such a scary time. Thanks to all the Medical and Nursing staff for their kindness and compassion. God Bless You!

I've been going here for legs since 1985. Always do the best they can with funds available. Kept me on my "feet, Wildmann Walker walking " since then.

Medium sized hospital and few paid car parking space available inside. If you are here for X-ray or pathology, the parking is free, otherwise it’s $7 flat. There are 2 hours, 3 hours parking just outside on street. However, it’s very difficult to get the parking there. There is a cafe near to the Gate 2 reception.

Went to the pathology and the staffs were very friendly and helpful, especially Shane.

All equipment is outdated food is discussing today it is so burnt i can't even eat it! Can't get any time to myself cleaners come in to my room 6 times a day even when I'm trying to have a nap. Very noisy hospital! However most of the nurses are great and the physios are excellent.

I am very fortunate enough to have been given permission to be able to visit my mother for 1hr once per week every week during the COVID 19 pandemic and have never seen any of the staff not wear a mask. So I find a couple of the reviews stating that the staff are not wearing masks quite interesting. Every time I go in to the hospital through the main entrance and up to the ward where my mother is staying, everyone is wearing a mask including the cleaners and security. However, I have seen on a few occasions in the ward family members of patients who are visiting deliberately take off their mask to go and kiss and hug the sick patient and then the nurse has to remind them not to do this and keep their mask on due to their being a virus. All the staff seem to be taking the whole thing seriously and on another occasion 2 weeks ago, I saw a nurse go up to a patients husband and offer him a mask as he was in his sick wife's room sitting close to her face and talking to her without a mask on. He had taken his mask off and had it in his pocket. I have also seen visitors not using the alcohol pump to disinfect their hands many times. From what I've seen, its the hospital staff who are taking COVID virus more seriously than the general public so why would they go around with no mask on so that they would get sick and give it to each other or their families?

None of the hospital stuff a not wearing their mask COVID19
I refuse to come back and work for this hospital again. Some of the stuff a coughing sneezing and runny nose and have tested positive but still come to work.

My partner was treated here after being shifted from RMH for a brain injury and undergoing 4 operations. At ABI, the staff was incredibly amazing the social worker. Everyone being prompt with any inquiries initially. Food yes I agree not so great, some I wouldn't even feed it to my pets, moving to TLS, they became the total opposite. No empathy or real care for patients or family members. We are really dissatisfied and disappointed. I wish we hadn't moved him to Caufield at all.

I would like to thank the staff especially the nurses at the ABI who took great care of my uncle who had a stroke last year. They did a fantastic job!