"My mentally ill grandchild"

My grandchild was transferred to Wyong Hospital recently as they suffer schizophrenia and have been suicidal.  Their medication was due late one evening to help curb the voices in their head. Later that evening my grandchild asked the nurse if they could have their medication (because the voices were returning) and the nurse said no, they'd have to wait for the doctor.  My grandchild asked again - because they very much needed the medication - and angrily the nurse said no again. They said they would have to wait, in an angry manner.

If a nurse working in a ward with the mentally ill can be that caustic and unsympathetic to a very ill patient, in my opinion they should not be working with the mentally ill! Also, it seems my grandchild's medication may have been changed as usually the medication makes them drowsy and that night's medication didn't have that effect.

A mentally ill patient isn't stupid - just mentally ill! If their medication was changed my grandchild should have been paid the courtesy of being told a change had taken place to prepare them for a change in outcome. They are now anxious and worrying (because the medication didn't' made them drowsy) that it may not dampen the voices.  On top of what they are dealing with, they don't need the added anxiety associated with wondering if the medication will be effective!  The change in medication, and what to expect should have been explained!