We took our teenage child to the ED due to self-harm. Our child has a history of depression and anxiety. We got there around nigh time and was not seen by a Doctor until early hours of the next morning in the Short Stay Unit. The Doctor who eventually saw us and treated the wound was exceptional. Extremely kind, compassionate and caring.
The extremely disappointing and concerning problem is that they were the only one to see our child. Not one person from the Acute Care Team or anyone from the Mental Health Team came and saw us... not one.
I feel this an extreme lack of the hospital’s duty of care to their patients.
We are disgusted to say the least and have been let down.
It’s sad that this wonderful young Doctor had to apologise to us for taking so long to see us but worse than that, I feel this Govt expects the hospitals to operate with such minimal staff.
We were told that because the Acute Care Team classed it as an act of deliberate self-harm, that they wouldn’t help us! I believe Self-harming comes under Mental Illness and here was the Acute Mental Health Team telling us they wouldn’t help because it was deliberate.
We are lost for words.
"Lack of adolescent mental health support"
About: Gold Coast University Hospital / Emergency Department Gold Coast University Hospital Emergency Department Southport 4215
Posted by Fordfan351 (as ),
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