A 17-year-old alleged rape victim says she is “disappointed” that it took reporting by the media for her to receive an offer of an apology from a Queensland hospital, seven weeks after the last correspondence regarding her complaint.
Guardian Australia revealed on Thursday the year 11 student, Tilly*, left the hospital in tears without undergoing a full examination in August after waiting three hours due to no trained staff being available. Tilly said that when a doctor did come, she admitted to not being qualified to perform the procedure and appeared “aggravated”.
Tilly* said she felt “humiliated” and “stupid” by the way she was treated and had suicidal thoughts after the experience.
Her mother lodged a complaint with the hospital, for which she received an email saying it was “sorry for the experience” and would investigate. The family says they have not heard anything since that email on 23 August.
Tilly said she was “disappointed” that she and her family had not heard from the hospital for seven weeks.
“I’m disappointed [and] upset. All I received was a last resort of an offer of an apology via text,” she told Guardian Australia.
Tilly received a message at 9.31am on Thursday, after the Guardian’s report was published about her experience, from the doctor who saw her.
In the messages, seen by Guardian Australia, the doctor asks Tilly if she wants to meet face-to-face to “chat” and says the “big boss” would “like to apologise to you from the hospital”.
Tilly’s experience dominated parliamentary question time on Thursday, as the Liberal National party opposition questioned why it had taken two months for the alleged victim to hear back from the hospital.
Speaking to reporters, the shadow minister for domestic violence prevention, Amanda Camm, said the treatment Tilly received was “nothing short of disgusting”.
“I expected a lot better, and the women of Queensland and victims of sexual violence should expect a lot better. It is unacceptable.”
Earlier on Thursday, the health minister, Shannon Fentiman, dedicated her ministerial statement to apologising to Tilly for what had occurred.
She acknowledged the teenager “did not receive the timely, compassionate, trauma-informed care that she was entitled to”.
Fentiman said that as a result of the complaint issued by the family, the hospital has moved to implement a series of “improved processes” , including ensuring social workers were present at the time of presentation to the hospital and “ensuring continuity of care by a specialised nurse and medical officer”.
“I want to thank this young woman for bravely speaking out about her experience. We have heard you and we are acting,” she said.
“The hospital and health service has apologised to the young woman and I would like to also unreservedly apologise to her for the ongoing impact that this incident has had on her.”
The Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service has been contacted for comment.
* Names have been changed
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. International helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
