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Care Opinion

Mental Health Presentations in ED

Posted By Warrior

"Mental Health Presentations in ED"

About: Mental Health Unit Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a carer),

I don't feel ED Triage staff at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital understand the difficulties of someone who presents with a mental illness health issue.

I am not about naming names and giving dates. I feel we need to educate and skill staff in the actual 'how' they interact with such patients. My experience is that there is not one hospital where they show understanding towards the patient or family/supporter.

Poor or a laissez-faire attitude towards a person who is seemingly OK, whose history would state otherwise, continues to be cause for real concern. Serious incidents can occur in the blink of an eye. I don't see any change over the years. I don't see that department heads are embedding better attitude within the staff. Notwithstanding those champions of healing and care that work with compassion and thoughtfulness.

I would remind staff that everyone who presents to ED would rather not be there. Every ailment, illness and symptom of ill health are driven by what is being processed in our brains, the most complex organ of all. Walking in the shoes of a person with mental illness and their family, for five minutes can make us all stop and think. 

Recent experiences at Sir Charles Gardner Hospital hospital involving the Mental Health Observation Unit have been exceptionally good.

Seeing the whole me

Seeing the whole me


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Responses

Response from Janet Zagari, Executive Director, Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group 4 years ago
Janet Zagari
Executive Director,
Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group

Submitted on 21/05/2019 at 7:09 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 22/05/2019 at 8:56 AM

picture of Janet Zagari

Dear Warrior,

Thank you for your feedback on the need to deliver services that are compassionate and caring and the impact that every interaction has on the patient experience. Your role as a carer is essential to ensuring that our patients receive the best possible care and your message is a timely reminder that the care we deliver should always pass the family test.

It is pleasing to hear that your recent experience involving the Mental Health Observation Unit has been a positive one and I will ensure the staff receive your feedback. Once again thank you for taking the time to provide us feedback so that as an organisation we can continually works towards improving the care we provide.

Kind regards

Janet Zagari

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