Outrage as 93-year-old patient goes a full day without pillow, blanket at Adelaide hospital

Sandona said her dad was told pillows were a “precious commodity”, a notion that’s left her gobsmacked and in disbelief. 

“It just tipped me over the edge, it’s like saying when you’re in a hospital and there’s no bandaids,” Sandona told 9News.

“They were actually done making excuses for why they didn’t have the resources to provide the best client care, that’s what I saw on their face.”

QEH executive Rachael Kay said the incident occurred during an “extremely” busy period. 

“It was an extremely demanding day for us in relation to activity across entire system,” Kay said.

Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn said that was not good enough.

“We have hospitals around South Australia that are running out of seats and pillows, but Peter Malinauskas is very quickly running out of excuses,” Hurn said.

Health Minister Chris Picton ordered all hospitals audit their supplies and denied the government had been slow to respond after a similar issue was raised at the Royal Adelaide earlier this month.

“I think it’s incumbent on us to take this action and that’s why we’re taking this very urgent action today,” Picton said.

Since hearing Teresa’s story, it’s understood the QEH has brought in an extra 100 pillows – an emergency order the health network says it’s never had to make before.

But it wasn’t the only pillow fight brewing.

“It is an extraordinary capitulation, extraordinary capitulation,” Opposition Leader David Speirs sad.

The opposition went as far as moving a motion of no confidence in Picton following days of accusations the government was backtracking on its promise to fix ramping.

“If he doesn’t resign, the premier must sack in,” Speirs said.