"Discharge from Beenleigh Mental Health Service"

My child, who has a serious mental illness, was discharged from Beenleigh Mental Health Service last year and referred to a GP (also my GP). I made an appointment to see the GP to discuss this matter and she expressed reservations about having enough expertise to take on the mental health care of my child. I was told she had not been asked by the mental health service if she would be willing to take this on. She had only been sent a letter saying that my child was now in her care.

Before my child was discharged from the mental health service I had been assured by the treating doctor that any decisions regarding my child's discharge would be discussed with us. This did not happen and we still do not know who actually discharged my child.

Recently my child experienced severe vomiting and was treated at Logan Hospital Emergency department. The doctor there could find no reason for the vomiting but suggested that it could be a side-effect of the anti-psychotic medication my child was taking.

My child went to the GP to get the medication changed. The GP did not feel confident in prescribing a new medication and instead referred my child to a private psychiatrist who subsequently changed the medication.

I am very concerned with the method that Beenleigh Mental Health Service discharges their patients. There does not seem to be proper consultation with the treating GP prior to the discharge or a consultation with the patient and their carer.

The medication (fortnightly injection) my child was prescribed before discharged did not seem effective in treating the symptoms and my child had been hospitalised with severe psychotic symptoms while on this medication previously, so in my opnion my child was definitely not stabilised.

I am also concerned that other patients are being discharged before they are properly stabilised and sent off to a GP who may or may not have enough knowledge to be able to treat them.