A fisherman was forced to wait almost two days with a stingray barb stuck 5cm deep into his foot because hospital staff were too busy to operate.
Patrick Lawlor, from Anula, Darwin, stepped on the barb while crabbing on Saturday but was left in agony until Monday when doctors finally removed it.
The 28-year-old was told to fast for surgery before his operation at Royal Darwin Hospital was rescheduled twice, leaving him hungry, frustrated and fearing an infection.
‘I was crabbing at Gunn Point when I stood on the barb,’ he told Daily Mail Australia. ‘It was so painful that I couldn’t walk.’
A fisherman was forced to wait three days with a stingray barb stuck 5cm deep into his foot because hospital staff were too busy to operate. Pictured: Patrick Lawlor with the barb stuck in his foot
Mr Lawlor (pictured with a friend) went to the nearest clinic in Palmerston but the GP ‘freaked out a bit’ and sent him to Royal Darwin Hospital
Mr Lawlor’s friend then drove him to the nearest clinic in Palmerston but the GP ‘freaked out a bit’ and sent him to Royal Darwin Hospital.
There were not enough beds available so staff set one up for him in the plaster room where he was told to fast before surgery.
The 28-year-old, who hadn’t eaten since breakfast, waited from 5pm to 10.30pm without food before being told his operation was rescheduled for Sunday.
After being moved into a room with another patient, he was woken up at 5.30am and told to fast for surgery.
It was not until 2am on Monday morning – after nearly a whole day without eating – that he was told his operation was rescheduled for later that day.
Mr Lawlor, who works as a horticulturalist for Darwin City Council, said: ‘They made me fast for two days in a row but ended up telling me I couldn’t have surgery late each night.
Left: The sting ray barb with an arrow showing how far it went into his foot. Right: The X-Ray
‘They only fed me a sandwich for dinner and a small packet of rice bubbles for breakfast once.’
Mr Lawlor eventually had the operation at 9am on Monday. The barb was successfully removed from his foot but – after three days of waiting – the fisherman said his faith in Darwin’s medical system was lost.
He said: ‘I was frustrated and worried about getting an infection. Even after surgery I asked for a pillow to put under my foot and they said they didn’t have any.’
A hospital spokesman said: ‘While we acknowledge delays can be frustrating for our patients, our clinicians make decisions based on the needs of individual patients, some of whom are very sick.’
Mr Lawlor is now recovering at home, unable to walk for at least a week.
Mr Lawlor (pictured) eventually had the operation at 9am on Monday. The barb was successfully removed from his foot