When Chloe was just five weeks old she suffered respiratory distress after a cough rapidly escalated. Pip drove her daughter to the Dumbleyung Hospital, not knowing if she was conscious or breathing. She called ahead to inform the staff which resulted with staff at the hospital and ETS ready on standby.
Upon arrival at Dumbleyung Hospital, Dr Leman, a Paediatric Emergency and Acute Medicine Specialist, who was working that shift and quickly made the initial diagnosis of bronchiolitis. He then instructed the nurse to provide emergency paediatric care and administer antibiotics to stabilise Chloe.
The ETS team arranged her transport to Narrogin Hospital, where she was met by the Newborn Emergency Transport Service (NETS) and the Royal Flying Doctor and subsequently flown to Princess Margaret Hospital.
Chloe spent 24 hours in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and another two days in the Recovery Award, before being discharged. Dr Leman said, Chloe “could have easily died” if it weren’t for the initial treatment received at Dumbleyung Hospital.
Chloe is now a bubbly and bright five month old!
ETS is the national leader in providing emergency medicine to rural health services. The service provides local clinicians with immediate access to highly trained emergency medicine specialists, and is greatly valued by local GPS and nursing staff. Beginning as a pilot project in 2012 linking only eight hospitals in the Wheatbelt, has extended to 76 sites across the state. ETS doctors conduct approximately 300 consultations a week across these sites.
Last month the State Government announced funding for the ETS will continue for two years.
Information sourced from the WA Country Health Service.