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4 ED visits & 3 GP visits over 2 weeks - but finally helped

Posted By bonanzapk33

"4 ED visits & 3 GP visits over 2 weeks - but finally helped"

About: Joondalup Health Campus / Emergency Department Mental Health Hospital in the Home SCGH Mental Health Observation Area (MHOA) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a carer),

This is a long time overdue but just wanted to pass on a heartfelt thank you to QEII ED, ED Psyc team & especially MHOA Team & then HitH. You saved us both earlier this year. My spouse was going through a crisis like we have never experienced following post major surgery, adverse reactions & a perfect storm of medications... We were at our wits end & literally on a knife edge when my spouse was finally referred & invited to self admit to MHOA & then 3 days later Home under HiTH care. We can never repay you guys for the caring & support that got us through that time.

On a critical feedback note, I realize these things may not be within the power & resources of the Hospital ED &/or MHOA but better access is needed.

I feel more awareness & access is sorely needed. We went through 4 ED visits & 3 GP consults over 2 weeks of pure hell to finally voicing/showing self-harm/suicidal tendencies to finally find true help in the form of ED psyc team assessment & then referral to MHOA.

I voiced concerns to Joondalup ED nearly a month before this crisis that if taken seriously I feel may have averted the perilous point we reached. Of the 2 visits to QEII my spouse "could" have & I feel likely should have been referred to mental health assessment on our 1st visit.

But 1. we didn't even know MH member is at every ED & we could have asked

2. the Govt seems to tout MH help but really the phone lines & such that have a high media profile I feel are next to useless; we felt very alone;

MHOA & similar needs to be known, have much higher profile & exposure at least to those who need it - to not be informed of that type of help in any of the EDs until our 4th visit where things progressed to self harm, suicidal thoughts over 2+ weeks is a bit sad, in my opinion.

On a very positive final note though – thank you!

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Responses

Response from Mary Ferrier, Director of Clinical Services, Joondalup Health Campus 7 months ago
Mary Ferrier
Director of Clinical Services,
Joondalup Health Campus

Submitted on 20/05/2024 at 11:13 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 12:48 PM

Dear bonanzapk33

Thank you for sharing your experience when attending Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) Emergency Department (ED) and Mental Health Observation Area (MHOA). I am very sorry to read that you and your spouse were going through a crisis at the time of presenting to our hospital and pleased to hear you are both in a much better place. I would like to acknowledge that this must have been a very difficult and distressing time for you both and how difficult it was for you to navigate the Mental Health system.

JHC strives to deliver the best mental health care in an environment that is least restrictive to our patients. We appreciate your feedback and will continue to work with our community to promote the services available.

Please accept our best wishes.

Kind Regards,

Mary Ferrier.

Director of Clinical Services

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Response from Theresa Marshall, Executive Director, Mental Health, Public Health and Dental Services, North Metropolitan Health Service 7 months ago
Theresa Marshall
Executive Director, Mental Health, Public Health and Dental Services,
North Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 20/05/2024 at 2:10 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 2:25 PM

Dear bonanzapk33,

Thank you for providing positive feedback regarding Mental Health Observation Area (MHOA) and Hospital in the Home (HiTH) teams and we are glad to hear that you found these services valuable. We will ensure that we provide feedback to the teams and thank them for the care and support that helped get you and your spouse through this stressful situation.

We also appreciate that while you eventually received the help you needed the pathway was not without its challenges and we very much appreciate you also providing us with constructive feedback on how our services could be improved.

We are sorry to hear that you felt alone and unable to access timely mental health support during your spouse’s recovery period. As you suggested we will commit to working with our Mental Health teams, within the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Emergency Department (ED), to raise their profile and encourage consumers and carers to reach out earlier for support and advice rather than wait until issues have escalated. Within the ED setting family members can escalate their concerns via the Aishwarya’s Care Call line if they are worried about their loved one's condition. There is a pink phone located in the waiting area of the ED or alternatively family members can contact a senior staff member on 1 800 792 621, using their mobile phone.

In addition, there are several other support lines available to support people experiencing difficulties such as the Mental Health Emergency Response Line (1 200 555 788) and Lifeline (13 11 14) however we also understand that often a face-to-face assessment is more valuable. Often, the ED is not the right place for people who are experiencing mental health difficulties and so a range of options should be available to meet wide ranging needs.

If you feel the above has not acknowledged your concerns, please feel free to contact us on 9313 0555 to discuss your individual situation further.

We wish you and your spouse the very best in recovery.

Kind regards

Dr Theresa Marshall

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