Ramsay Newsroom

The Allied Health team at Hillcrest Rockhampton Private Hospital needed advice on the management of a patient who was admitted to the medical ward with severe cellulitis on a background of melanoma with lymphoedema of the upper limb. 

The patient was had developed severe cellulitis around the shoulder and upper arm, preventing the team from providing the usual care that would involve lymphatic massage to reduce the severe lymphoedema that he was experiencing. The patient was not able to sleep well or use his arm to help with his daily care and mobility due to the discomfort he was experiencing.

Juliet James (Physiotherapy Manager, Donvale Rehabilitation Hospital) was at Hillcrest Rockhampton on secondment with the Allied Health team and was able to contact her colleague Elise Pound (Deputy OT Manager, Donvale Rehabilitation Hospital) who was also on secondment at Mt Wilga Private Hospital. With the patient's permission, the team at Hillcrest sent through his case details including photos of his upper limb to the team at Mt Wilga.

Elise discussed the case with the team at Mt Wilga and sent back the latest guidelines and advice on management. The team at Hillcrest had to be inventive as access to particular brands of bandaging were not available. 

Through communication back and forth with Elise, the team was able to utilise alternative materials to help the patient. This resulted in the patient reporting a successful reduction in symptoms saying he was able to get a comfortable night's sleep and start to move his arm again.*

Tom Laycock, Physiotherapist at Hillcrest, hopes that he and the team at Hillcrest Rockhampton Private Hospital will now be able to provide a similar level of care in the future if required. 

The secondment of staff around the network and subsequent collaboration that occurred demonstrated that sharing of resources and knowledge can benefit our patients and the care that we provide.

* It is important to note that every patient responds differently to treatment and should seek independent medical advice about what is best for them.