This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/29/teen-left-on-hospital-floor

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sydney hospital left teen with appendicitis on floor for nine hours Sydney hospital left teen with appendicitis on floor for nine hours
(21 days later)
Lack of hospital funding resulted in a young girl with appendicitis lying for hours on the floor of a Sydney emergency waiting room, the NSW opposition says.Lack of hospital funding resulted in a young girl with appendicitis lying for hours on the floor of a Sydney emergency waiting room, the NSW opposition says.
Demi Ellul, 17, spent nine hours on the floor of Campbelltown hospital's emergency department on Monday with only a blanket, which her mother says was "thrown" to her three hours after she asked for one.Demi Ellul, 17, spent nine hours on the floor of Campbelltown hospital's emergency department on Monday with only a blanket, which her mother says was "thrown" to her three hours after she asked for one.
Opposition leader John Robertson said the government had taken $3bn out of the state's health budget and only 24 of the hospital's 36 paediatric emergency beds were open at the time.Opposition leader John Robertson said the government had taken $3bn out of the state's health budget and only 24 of the hospital's 36 paediatric emergency beds were open at the time.
"People die if an appendix bursts," he told reporters on Thursday."People die if an appendix bursts," he told reporters on Thursday.
"It is a very serious matter. And someone like this was left for nine hours simply because beds were closed.""It is a very serious matter. And someone like this was left for nine hours simply because beds were closed."
Health minister Jillian Skinner joined hospital staff in apologising to Demi and her family and said the incident would be investigated.Health minister Jillian Skinner joined hospital staff in apologising to Demi and her family and said the incident would be investigated.
"Clearly I think this was not the best possible treatment, which is why I apologise to the family," she told reporters on Thursday."Clearly I think this was not the best possible treatment, which is why I apologise to the family," she told reporters on Thursday.
However, she denied that beds at the hospital were closed.However, she denied that beds at the hospital were closed.
"My advice is that all of the beds are open, that there's been an increased budget ... and that we are in fact treating more patients right through the hospital," Skinner said."My advice is that all of the beds are open, that there's been an increased budget ... and that we are in fact treating more patients right through the hospital," Skinner said.
When contacted for clarification on the conflicting claims about bed numbers, a NSW Health spokeswoman said the hospital had advised her all beds were open.When contacted for clarification on the conflicting claims about bed numbers, a NSW Health spokeswoman said the hospital had advised her all beds were open.
The clinical excellence commission and the Health Department's director general would determine what led to the incident, Skinner said.The clinical excellence commission and the Health Department's director general would determine what led to the incident, Skinner said.
Demi's mother told the Daily Telegraph she was forced to take her daughter home without treatment after nine hours but returned the following morning and the teenager was given morphine for extreme pain.Demi's mother told the Daily Telegraph she was forced to take her daughter home without treatment after nine hours but returned the following morning and the teenager was given morphine for extreme pain.
The husband of the triage nurse who provided the blanket for Demi said there were more urgent cases that night, including two patients who needed resuscitation.The husband of the triage nurse who provided the blanket for Demi said there were more urgent cases that night, including two patients who needed resuscitation.
"This girl would have been given painkillers and so on and so forth – she's not just put out there in the waiting room," he told Southern Cross Austereo radio."This girl would have been given painkillers and so on and so forth – she's not just put out there in the waiting room," he told Southern Cross Austereo radio.
"It's her choice to lay on the floor.""It's her choice to lay on the floor."
But he criticised the government for not upgrading the hospital, which had become too small to cater to demand in the growing local area.But he criticised the government for not upgrading the hospital, which had become too small to cater to demand in the growing local area.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.