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Hostile vibes from nurse

Posted By scorpiusts53

"Hostile vibes from nurse"

About: Albany Health Campus / Emergency Department

(as a service user),

I attended ED and was standing to the side waiting to be triaged. Then when I was summoned to be seen the nurse gave me what I felt was a very dirty impatient look asking if I wanted to be seen by a doctor. 

I sat down at the triage counter and I felt their tone felt very aggressive as though I was unwelcome and they didn’t want me there. When we got to the subject of why I was there and I mentioned that I had hit my head and that it was deliberate self harm, they gave what I experienced as a very judgemental look and tone asking I think how and why and I said with my hand.

I paused and then decided that I didn’t feel safe in that hospital environment with a nurse who seemed to be judging me with contempt for having experienced a mental crisis that I already felt ashamed for having experienced. 

So I preserved the remainder of my dignity and told the staff member not to worry about it and turned around walking towards the exit door. I could hear them and another nurse laughing at me as I walked out of the hospital.

So I walked home for an hour in the dark with a potential concussion and once I got home booked a consult with a telehealth doctor who actually treated me with some compassion and respect. 

I will never ever go back to this hospital again if I have further mental health issues as I feel like it’s not a safe place to be.

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Responses

Response from Kate Hambleton, Director, Albany Health Campus, WACHS GS 15 hours ago
Kate Hambleton
Director, Albany Health Campus,
WACHS GS

Submitted on 4/08/2026 at 12:17 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 1:16 PM

Dear scorpiusts53

Thank you for sharing your experience. We are very sorry to hear about the circumstances that brought you to our Emergency Department and the distress you experienced while seeking care.

Presenting to hospital following self-harm takes considerable courage, particularly when you are already feeling vulnerable and distressed. We are sorry that, instead of feeling supported and safe, you felt judged, unwelcome, and unable to continue with your assessment.

We are particularly concerned to hear that you perceived the interactions with staff during triage as impatient, aggressive, and lacking compassion. Every person who attends our Emergency Department should be treated with dignity, respect, and kindness regardless of the reason for their presentation. This is especially important for people experiencing a mental health crisis, who deserve care that is compassionate, non-judgemental, and person-centred.

We are also sorry to hear that you left the department feeling unsafe and unsupported, and that you then walked home despite concerns about a possible head injury. It is disappointing to learn that your experience led you to seek assistance elsewhere and has affected your trust in our service.

While we cannot comment on the intentions of individual staff members, we take feedback such as yours very seriously. Your comments have been shared with Emergency Department leadership to reinforce expectations regarding respectful communication, trauma-informed care, and the importance of ensuring all consumers feel heard, valued, and safe when accessing our services.

Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience. Feedback from consumers helps us understand how care is experienced and identify opportunities for improvement. We sincerely apologise that your interaction with our service did not meet the standard of care you expected and deserved.

Should you wish to discuss your experience further, please feel welcome to contact me directly.

Kind regards

Kate Hambleton

District Director |Lower Great Southern

WACHS Great Southern

9892 2222

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