When Louise and her partner Lyn set off for a relaxing summer holiday in Coffs Harbour, they never imagined it would become a life-changing experience. Louise, in her 70s, suddenly became unwell and was rushed to the local hospital, where she was diagnosed with a bowel obstruction.
This marked the beginning of a complex health journey that highlighted the importance of continuity of care, compassionate support and access to vital medical equipment that helped Louise return home and recover.
Coordinated surgical care
After initial treatment, scans revealed a hernia from a previous surgery that required specialist attention. Being far from home in Ryde, the hospital coordinated an appointment with hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon Professor Anubhav Mittal at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH).
The following week, Louise was well enough to return to Sydney and meet Professor Mittal.
“Louise had a 10cm hernia with multiple openings, and it was going to be a complex surgery to close the hernia and strengthen her abdominal wall,” said Professor Mittal. “I offered to schedule the surgery at Ryde Hospital as soon as possible during the Christmas period.”
Louise wasn’t happy being on a strict diet over the festive season, but she was relieved to be allowed a Christmas dinner. Lyn recalls the outpatient’s department was decorated with holiday cheer and the staff’s warmth made a difficult time feel a little brighter. However, it was an anxious wait, as Louise also lives with atrial fibrillation – an abnormal heartbeat – and her surgical team were carefully assessing the risks before proceeding.
The surgery took place in early January and lasted three hours. Louise spent 10 days in ICU, requiring intubation support. Lyn was relieved to be able to visit her the night of her surgery and even more grateful to see that she was OK.
Louise’s care was seamlessly managed across departments, from ICU to the ward and then to inpatient rehabilitation. Just as things were improving, however, her wound became infected.
Prof Mittal requested that Louise be urgently transported to RNSH where registrar Dr John Yeh performed surgery to debride or remove the infected, dead tissue from the wound to promote healing.
“We appreciated Dr John’s bedside manner,” said Lyn. “He took the time to explain the operation, answer our questions and even visited us post-surgery when I had a concern.”
To promote faster healing, Louise was provided with a portable vacuum pump that sat over the wound to remove bacteria and fluid. This pump also allowed Louise to remain mobile and continue with rehabilitation. Louise and Lyn affectionately named the pump “Boris”.
Tests revealed that Louise had contracted Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a challenging infection due to its resistance to many antibiotics.
Hospital in the Home – care beyond the ward
Five weeks after her initial surgery, Louise was discharged on IV antibiotics and referred to Hospital in the Home (HITH) – a service that allowed her to receive acute care from a multidisciplinary team while recovering in the comfort of her own home.
Lyn says the transition to HITH was smooth, with the nurses visiting regularly to redress the wound, change her IV medication and monitor “Boris”. They kept her informed and included her in Louise’s care, which was a gesture that meant a lot to them both.
Being home allowed Louise and Lyn to relax and reconnect with loved ones. Lyn’s grandson was especially happy to see his Nonna Lou again.
Over six months, Louise’s care gradually transitioned from daily visits to regular check-ins. To improve her mobility, Louise became an outpatient at Graythwaite Rehabilitation Centre at Ryde Hospital. Under the care of Professor Mittal at RNSH, she continued to see Dr John Yeh and had regular blood tests to monitor the infection.
The coordinated care across hospital, home and outpatient services ensured her infection was managed and her health steadily improved over the course of a year.
Looking back on the experience, Louise and Lyn shared their deep gratitude for the Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) and the compassionate care they received.
“We felt supported from beginning to end,” said Lyn. “The professionalism of the nursing staff and doctors, and the continuity of care, gave us hope.”
Lyn, as Louise’s primary carer, valued being included in every discussion about her partner’s care and appreciated the respect and dignity shown to them throughout the journey.
“When I thought about donating to the NORTH Foundation,” said Louise, “I remembered the vacuum pump. If they didn’t have one available, I might still be in hospital. That equipment allowed me to go home, which made all the difference in my recovery.”
If you would like to help patients like Louise access exceptional patient care and vital medical equipment, please donate to the NORTH Foundation.
