"Mental health service"

I was seeing a Psychologist through King Edward Memorial Hospital during pregnancy and after the birth of my baby. I also continued to see them during an admission to the Mother Baby Unit when my baby was 4months old. I knew I would be discharged from the service and I had found a new Psychologist for treatment (however they were not available for 4months after I was discharged). The psychologist at KEMH chose to discharge me at the time of the anniversary of losing a baby (a horrific experience that resulted in PTSD). I asked them not to discharge me at that time due to me being in an incredibly vulnerable and fragile place emotionally. It was the anniversary of that event and I was still only 8months postpartum. The psychologist refused to listen or have any compassion for my situation. They then referred me to a mental health service I knew nothing about, or one that did not meet my needs in any way, without my consent. I felt they referred me to cover their own back which I understand, but they could at the very least have called me to explain the referral and what the service offered etc. I was already in a high state of distress and that referral sent me to a higher place of distress. I genuinely feared my baby would be taken away from me which is truly terrifying. All I asked for was some psychological support to get me through that period (a matter of weeks) and then I would have been discharged in a mentally stable place and was happy to wait for the new psychologist I had chosen to see.

I find it baffling, and concerning, that the psychologist seemingly thought that was an appropriate time to discharge me and then didn’t seem to care at all when I asked them not to. The psychologist claims to practice trauma informed care. How is discharging someone from psychological support during the anniversary of an event that resulted in PTSD trauma informed care? It simply isn’t.

I made a complaint to KEMH and asked for an explanation. I felt they replied with a vague response and no explanation and took no accountability, claiming the decision to discharge me was well considered.

After escalating my complaint to senior staff in the North Metropolitan Health Service, I was allowed a 30minute meeting to discuss ‘any outstanding matters outside of my original complaint’. I just wanted an explanation as to why I was discharged at that time and didn’t have any other matters of concern! One of the senior members I met with I found was extremely rude and unprofessional. When asked directly why I was discharged at that time I felt they were unable to provide an answer. I felt they used demeaning language such as I recall calling me stuck and obsessed, to try to invalidate my complaint, in my opinion. I’m not “stuck” or “obsessed”. I felt I was not provided with an appropriate level of care and I would really appreciate an explanation as to why.

I took my complaint to HaDSCO who requested a meeting with KEMH to provide an explanation for their decisions. KEMH declined the meeting, stating that they had already met with me.

I understood I was to be discharged from the service at KEMH and had found a new psychologist to see. There was a wait period but I was happy to wait. I have PTSD and was still in the postpartum period and struggling with my mental health. I did expect to be discharged from the service in a safe and stable way. I have been assured that changes to processes etc have been made and while I welcome these changes and hope that no woman in the postpartum period is ever left in the position I was left in, I would still really appreciate an explanation as to why this happened and why the decision to discharge me at that time was made. I don’t understand why KEMH are unable to provide me with an explanation and continue to refuse to provide one.

I am not expecting, or looking to, change the response from King Edward Memorial Hospital. I am not looking for a response from King Edward Hospital at all. I know their stance is that the complaint is closed and I accept that they will not be re-opening it.