This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?
Care Opinion

Treatment of my spouse at the ED and Mental Health Ward

Posted By pyxisjt95

"Treatment of my spouse at the ED and Mental Health Ward"

About: St George Hospital / Emergency Department St George Mental Health Service

(as a relative),

Keeping in touch

Keeping in touch

My spouse was brought to in to the emergency ward at St George by the ambulance and police and they had been under alcohol influence and attempted suicide. At the emergency ward they had refused to be sedated and wanted to leave and when arrived, I was told they had to be under restraints because they showed signs of aggression. When my spouse started waking up and I was speaking to them, they had asked for the restraints to be taken off which the nurse complied as I was there. When they started picking at the needle on their hand, the security officers tried to restrain my spouse and it got worse from there as 3 of the security guards tried to sit on them. I was unable to witness fully what happened but I know one of the officers kneed them in the hand. This is a pretty bad bruise as when I was allowed to visit my spouse 4 days later, I noticed they had a big bruise forming on their right eye and it was slightly bloodshot.

The doctors at the mental ward also informed me that my spouse was heavily sedated which is slightly higher than normal, and I do not understand how the doctors are questioning them and expecting that they form coherent sentences when they are heavily under sedation. This is an act I find horrible as I was at the emergency ward with the doctor demanding my spouse to speak properly since they were slurring their words under sedation.

I was also told for 4 days that as their spouse, who has spent the last 12 years and constantly been beside them, I was not allowed to visit my spouse because they had not done a PCR swap when at the emergency ward, a RAT test was administered and they were negative. This caused a lot of stress to me and I was in a very bad state of depression since I had just witnessed my spouse trying to kill themselves and then was further denied my rights to visit or talk to them.

To my knowledge, my spouse was also withheld basic necessities like shower and change of clothes until they had done a PCR test.  

Staff attitude

Staff attitude


Treatment

Treatment


Being listened to

Being listened to


Explanations

Explanations


Nurses

Nurses


Doctor

Doctor


Other staff

Other staff


More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Angela Karooz, General Manager, St George Hospital nearly 2 years ago
Angela Karooz
General Manager,
St George Hospital

Submitted on 25/05/2022 at 10:50 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 10:50 AM

Dear pyxisjt95,

Thank you for your feedback about your recent experience in our Emergency Department and Mental Health ward. Our aim is to provide the highest level of care to all our patients and carers, and I was disappointed that this was not your experience.

I understand that this is a difficult time for you and apologies for any distress that you may have experienced. I would also like to invite you to reach out to our Patient Experience Manager, on 9113 2687, to discuss in more detail, the specific issues which you have highlighted, so as we can improve how our services are delivered.

Thank you again for bringing your concerns to my attention. I look forward to meeting with you.

Ange Karooz

General Manager

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k