"Early discharge"

My recent admission to Bentley’s EMyU was, quite frankly, awful in my opinion. I was admitted due to a steady increase of suicidal ideation, which lead me to attempt an overdose with suicidal intentions. 

I believe my problem lies within the doctors treating me - if you could even call it that. I found them to be rude with a sense of superiority.

I felt they were very dismissive of my recent diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder which overrides borderline personality disorder, which I was previously diagnosed with. My ASD diagnosis papers state;

“Patient’s experience of difficulties with interpersonal relationships, distress surrounding the loss of structure, and identity disturbance are key features of Autism, and as such, these symptoms in Patient are considered to be more consistent with Autism than Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).”

I had told the treating staff this many times, however, it seemed it was dismissed. Due to their failure to take this seriously, I was admitted under a 72-hour crisis admission. Which, for one suffering with BPD, I believe is ideal. However, I am not suffering from said condition, therefore, had 0 change in my mental state over that time. 

I and my parents had expressed that we felt this is not a good plan and none of us were content with that plan. We were told they would discuss it and give us notice prior to discharge. This did not happen, I woke up the morning of discharge (which I was not made aware was happening) asking how I planned to get home. For context, I live 3 hours away. So getting home isn’t a simple drive up and bring me home. Obviously, I was scared, unprepared and anxious, on top of my mental state, having not improved any. 

I expressed that I didn’t have a way home and more importantly, was not safe to be home. It seemed this was dismissed and if I couldn’t get a way home, I was going to be sent on a bus home. I, a disabled, autistic teen, who on the best of days can’t go through a checkout, being expected to independently get on a bus and travel 3 hours alone. This doesn’t even include the fact that I was at high risk of self-harm and suicide. 

Now, although my parent organised to travel the 6-hour round trip to bring me home so things did not come to this, it is, in my opinion, absolutely disgusting that this was even considered. 

I represented to the Emergency Department the same day of discharge due to the exact same reason I was admitted.

Some other important things to note are:

1. I, on my day of discharge, attempted to self-harm with a metal clip that was provided with an informative package provided at admission. When this happened I was still under Bentley’s care. I, fortunately, did not manage to do substantial damage but the fact that this is provided to every patient baffles me.

2. I felt pressured by staff to validate my use of a mobility aid due to a major injury/surgery I had a few months prior to admission. My use of said aid is supported by my physiotherapist and treatment team as an important part of my recovery. It was not of the hospital’s concern, or my best interest to pester me for mobilising with mobility aids.

Overall, I and my loved ones are very, very, disappointed with the care I received at EMyU. In my opinion, something needs to change, no one should have to go through what I went through, especially when this service is supposed to be there to help struggling youth.

My recommendations are that the doctor staff listen closely to the concerns of patients and their carers, and take appropriate action, staff are given appropriate training and knowledge on those on the autism spectrum, as I felt their information is extremely outdated and bias, that the metal binding clips are removed from the admission package and finally, that if a patient is directly telling staff that they are not safe, for the love of life, do not discharge them. Take their cries for help seriously. 

From, a Concerned Patient and Family.