"Sir Charles Gardener Mental Health Unit - A Great Leap Ahead"

My ex-wife was admitted here last year and was discharged a few months later.

Having visited her as a patient in several private hospitals, and also the old Mental Heath Unit at Charlies, the new Mental Health Unit is world class. Our State Government should be congratulated on providing such a high level of care for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

The facilities are excellent and well thought out, including the outdoor gym areas.

The staff, like most WA public hospitals, are polite, respectful, kind and caring.

I feel the only flaw in the system was that my ex-wife was seen, back at that time by emergency and then the Mental Health Observation Unit - near the ED department - who seemed to want to quickly discharge her. Even though I suggested she be transferred to a private hospital to be monitored further, the registrar advised me that he thought my ex-wife was just reacting to a recent change in her medications, even though I told him her behaviour had been changing over the last year or so.

As a result she was released, and days later readmitted, after police attendance and a lot of stress for her and her neighbours. It was only then that she was transferred to the new Mental Health Unit.

I was then informed by the Mental Health Unit psychiatrist that what was happening was a long term deterioration, and nothing to do with the recent drug change.

Fortunately, at the Mental Health Unit, after two months of great care, they used day release, and then made sure there was adequate support at home when she was finally discharged.

I can't praise the system highly enough, and think the new Mental Health Unit is fantastic. Please make sure it is easy for mentally ill people to be admitted to it.