An frail elderly woman lost five kilograms in five days when she was being treated at Perth's new Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH), but the West Australian health minister said doctors did nothing wrong. Joyce Tabram, 82, was 39 kilograms when she was admitted to FSH on March 30 with swollen abdomen but left weighing just 34 kilograms. She was told to fast for five days while waiting for tests to be performed on her. Joyce Tabram, 82, lost five kilograms in five days while she being treated at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth . Ms Tabram told the ABC her test was put off until April 3 after she became fed up with no action being taken. She has called for the hospital to be shut down. 'Fiona Stanley Hospital, I think it stinks that's all I can say,' Ms Tabram said. While Opposition leader Mark McGowan said it was a form of torture and gross incompetence at FSH, Health Minister Kim Hames defended FSH doctors' treatment of Ms Tabram. Mr Hames said the 82-year-old had a medical condition that required her to fast and she was given fluids intravenously. He said a planned medical test was delayed but her condition improved and she was still expected to have the test this week. Doctors at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth asked Ms Tabram to fast for five days after arriving at the hospital on March 30 with a swollen abdomen . 'Even if that test had been undertaken, she still would not have been able to have food and water by mouth because of the medical condition, so her treatment was correct,' Dr Hames told reporters. 'It wasn't that she was having to continue to fast waiting for the test - she had to fast because her medical condition required that to occur.' Dr Hames said there had been miscommunication between staff and the patient and her family. 'Either they haven't understood, or haven't been given the full amount of information,' he said. 'It's unfortunate they believe she's been terribly treated when in fact the review of the medical notes suggests that that's not the case.' Dr Hames was confident based on the medical notes and his own treatment of patients with the same condition that Ms Tabram was cared for appropriately. He also apologised to the family for the incident. 'Clearly they don't feel they've been managed well and that means there's been a communication issue,' he said. But Mr McGowan said this was 'part of a pattern of behaviour of the management of Fiona Stanley Hospital', adding: 'She could easily have died.' Dr Hames said the matter would be followed up with the specialist.
Perth's Joyce Tabram was admitted to Fiona Stanley Hospital on March 30.
She spent five days not eating because doctors told her to fast for testing.
Ms Tabram, 82, had a swollen abdomen but was not tested up until April 3.
She asked to be discharged and is expected to be tested later this week.
The frail, elderly woman has called on the hospital to be closed down.
But WA's Health Minister said hospital doctors had acted appropriately.