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Refused treatment at the hospital

Posted By wolf

"Refused treatment at the hospital"

About: Geraldton Hospital / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

Refused treatment by the ED mental health team due to being on medicinal cannabis (on a legal government script).

I recall; There will be no admission today,there will be no medication review, there will be no medications given due to you being on the (medicinal) cannabis...

In Adelaide I was allowed to take my medicinal cannabis as a patient on the psych ward and they dispensed it to me.

The Geraldton Regional Hospital ED medical (physical illness) team were very supportive of me being on medicinal cannabis for chronic pain. Its massively reduced my pain, helps stabilise my moods, and has given me my life back.

The ED Dr gave permission for my NDIS support worker to go and collect my medicinal cannabis in case I ended up being admitted. 

Then when I saw the Geraldton mental health triage worker I felt they treated me like a drug addict and said it wasn't approved. on a legal government script from gp. They refused me any treatment whilst I am taking medicinal cannabis.  I'm taking it the legal way (trying to do the right thing) and it's the one thing that helps me to stay well the most.

Not impressed!

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Responses

Response from Lindsey Money, Regional Manager, Midwest Mental Health and Community Alcohol and Drug Service , Mental Health, WA Country Health Service 9 months ago
Lindsey Money
Regional Manager, Midwest Mental Health and Community Alcohol and Drug Service , Mental Health,
WA Country Health Service

Submitted on 8/08/2024 at 2:55 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 3:15 PM

picture of Lindsey Money

Dear wolf,

Thank you for reaching out to us on Care Opinion.

I would like to apologise that your experience of our service has left you unimpressed and feeling like you were treated as a drug addict. Our aim is to provide compassionate and non-judgmental care for our community members.

Being prescribed medicinal cannabis by a GP would not in itself be a barrier to you accessing care from our mental health team. I would like to apologise that your experience with the staff member led you to believe this was the case.

I would be grateful if you would consider making contact with me. This will allow me to listen more to your individual situation and decide how best to support you obtaining the care and treatment you need. My name is Lindsey Money, I am the Regional Manager, Midwest Mental Health and Community Alcohol and Drug Service. I can be reached on 0448 426 691 or email at lindsey.money@health.wa.gov.au.

We acknowledge that interactions with the health system can be a challenging and stressful time. If at any time you feel that you or a relative are not receiving the care or treatment you need, we have a service at the hospital called Aishwarya’s CARE Call. You may notice posters about Aishwarya’s CARE Call in our Emergency Departments – this is a 3-step process for patients, carers and family members to use if they are worried, or they, or a person they care for, are getting sicker in hospital. In the Midwest, no matter what public hospital you go to this number is 1800 316 729 or you can find out more here at: WA Country Health Service - Aishwarya’s CARE Call

I do hope to hear from you.

Regards

Lindsey Money

Regional Manager, Midwest Mental Health and Community Alcohol and Drug Service WA Country Health Service Midwest

0448 426 691

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

Update posted by wolf (the patient)

Hi Lindsay thanks for the reply. I have just left a message on the mob. number you've posted.

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