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Attitude towards mental health patients

Posted By carinasf49

"Attitude towards mental health patients"

About: Armadale Hospital / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

I was taken to my local Emergency Department (ED) because I was experiencing a mental health emergency and had taken too much of one of my prescription meds to try and calm down.

I have been coming to this hospital for many years as a mental health patient and I feel I have always received poor treatment that left me feeling like dirt.

They tell people to come here when in crisis but I feel they treat you like dirt so next time you are in crisis you don’t want to go. 

I was talking to a nurse who I have known for years then told me that there is an unspoken policy at this hospital that all mental health patients are to be treated the same as those with illicit drug addiction problems. I was shocked and I told the nurse that this is discrimination and also goes against the Mental Health Act 2014 where all mental health patients are to be treated with respect.

I was shocked because this is a public hospital owned by the WA state government and it is breaking state and federal laws to make work a little easier for the staff.

At a minimum, some education but I believe this hospital needs to be following the correct policy and procedures to treat mental health patients such as the Mental Health Act 2014 and Equal Opportunity Act 1984.  

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Responses

Response from Diane Barr, Executive Director, Armadale Kalamunda Group 4 years ago
Diane Barr
Executive Director,
Armadale Kalamunda Group

Submitted on 12/11/2019 at 6:54 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 13/11/2019 at 9:57 AM

picture of Diane Barr

Dear carinasf49,

I was extremely disappointed and saddened to hear your story. I would like to sincerely apologise for your experience. The comments you have shared with us give me great concern. Your story has been shared with the Head of Department Emergency who will be reviewing with the full team and I will also be personally following up on your experience.

The Mental Health Act 2014 is an important document that the hospital upholds. Further to this our health service values of respect and kindness are expected to be upheld by all our staff.

I wish to assure you that we are taking your feedback seriously. If you would like to discuss these concerns, please contact our Consumer Liaison Officer on (08) 9391 1153 or AKG_ConsumerLiaison@health.wa.gov.au

Again, please accept my apologies for your experience.

Di Barr

Executive Director

Armadale Kalamunda Group

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by carinasf49 (the patient)

Dear Diane,

Thank you for responding and letting me know what actions are being taken. I am currently studying to become a mental health peer support worker at TAFE, and as such, I am aware of my rights as a consumer of mental health services.

I am a resident of the city of Armadale and I would love to help create some positive changes for how mental health consumers are treated in the Emergency Department. I would love to either contact you directly or meet with someone from the AKG service to set up a consumer advisory group for Armadale ED.

Patient Opinion has given me an alibi to protect my privacy on this website but I am well known by staff at Armadale ED.

Would it be best for me to contact the Liaison Officer first? I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,

MH consumer (city of Armadale).

Response from Diane Barr, Executive Director, Armadale Kalamunda Group 4 years ago
Diane Barr
Executive Director,
Armadale Kalamunda Group

Submitted on 15/11/2019 at 3:59 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 4:04 PM

picture of Diane Barr

Dear carinasf49,

Thank you for responding and providing me with further feedback. I am happy to hear that you want to affect positive changes for patients experiencing a mental health crisis interacting with our services, I fully support this.

Yes, if you can please contact the Consumer Liaison Officer on (08) 9391 1153 in the first instance to arrange a meeting, that would be appreciated.

I look forward to meeting with you.

Di Barr

Executive Director

Armadale Kalamunda Group

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
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