I have struggled with serious CPTSD and GAD for eleven years. SJOG staff at times have been fantastic, in particular one or two nurses who are compassionate and professional. As hospitals go, it is not bad but there is definitely room for improvement. My previous psychiatrist was amazing but he left to go OS and the next psychiatrist was beyond atrocious. She had the compassion of a fence post and actually accused me of feigning. Over the years there was pushback from Management re admissions but my previous psychiatrist advocated so well on my behalf. His medication management was fantastic and he actually believed in therapy. He was a rare beast and sadly missed by myself and my family. Since COVID the introduction of some, so called, improvements are ridiculous. Window dressing. They are not running a five star hotel. There is a balance between horrible, hospital like environments and overdoing it and making you feel like your money is being wasted. The real reason you are there gets lost in the traffic. The obsession with CBT and DBT, Groups is conterproductive. The Art Room is one of it's biggest assets. Groups, in my opinion, are more triggering than helpful. The hospitals develop these programs but I just never felt that at any point were those with Lived Experience consulted. Groups are too big, too generic and badly managed with oversharing happening way more than it should. I know this is not specific to SJOB but all Private Mental Health Hospitals. Making it compulsory to attend groups is just plain cruel. Surely if a situation is triggering you should not be forced to stay in the situation. Quite frankly, I often came home more traumatised than I went in. The 21 day program supposedly to fix trauma/cptsd etc is a joke. Some creation by the Private Health Funds.
Posted Date : 06/02/2024
Anonymous
My sister was admitted to the Mother and Baby Mental Health Unit at SJOG Burwood suffering from an acute mental health crisis. Even to a lay person it was obvious she was incredibly unwell (nurses even documented other patients approached staff worried about her and asking nurses to help her).
My sister was worried about the effects of her medication in her 3 month old baby. The psychiatrists response was to take her off any mental health medication.
The staff would not allow me to express my grave concerns for her over the phone (I was not permitted to visit due to covid)
My sister (unmedicated and severely anxious and unwell) was finding it difficult in the hospital. Rather than spend time with her and encourage medication they instead encouraged her to discharge
They even documented how they had to ‘set boundaries’ and stop her approaching the desk to talk to them about her anxiety
They sent her home with no safety plan, no medication or scripts for medication, no arranged follow up with her community psychiatrist or psychologist, no number for the mental health line or any other supports.
She jumped off a cliff a few days later.
Please do not trust these people with your health or your loved one’s health. The staff are a dangerous combination of lazy, lacking in empathy and low IQ. They should not be allowed anywhere near vulnerable people
Anonymous
I recently attended SoG as I was struggling to keep myself afloat. Maybe it was because I had been an inpatient at another clinic and it was a good experience, but this place was seriously inadequate. The nurses, at least the majority, should absolutely not be working in a mental health facility. They ask inappropriate questions in group settings, such as lining up for meds or at the nurses’ station, they don’t know how to appropriately deal with someone in distress, and make you feel awful for asking for help. Despite assuring me I would be seen by a psychologist the morning after admission, I did not and therefore was not placed in a group and was told I would have to wait until Monday (3 days later) to attend group therapy. The lack of communication is abhorrent, not even just among the nurses, but the allied health team as well.
The psychiatrist didn’t get to see me until the night after my admission, which was expected, and he was amazing, but they had to change my psychiatrist as the one who was assigned to me on admission didn’t come to see me on the day of admission, despite literally being in my room talking with the person sharing my room and then wouldn’t have been able to see me until Wed the following week.
This isn’t a place for young adults looking for care. I was in a room with someone double my age despite my expressing how uncomfortable that would make me prior to admission. I would say the average age of patients is around 40, and while I can’t comment on their experience, I can say that this hospital is far more suited to adults looking for care. If you can get past the uneducated nursing staff and the absolute chaos that ensues. I was told by a lady from the pastoral care team that they had just reopened a ward after covid so the nurses are all a bit frazzled so maybe this could be a good hospital, but for now, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. I would go into the public system before considering ever going back here. Truly has traumatised me. I discharged myself after 3 days.
Anonymous
The alied health staff are very good, however on time the nursing staff were a little disorganised due to staffing issues.
The Director of Nursing is not cut out for the role as she lacks compassion and the demeanour to interact with mental health patients. I was denied permission to attend a funeral under the guise of dubious covid management rules.
I attended the funeral as it was the right thing to do. Upon my return I was advised that under the direction of the DoN I will be moved from single room to a shared room. I believe this was a vindictive act unbecoming of a senior health professional.
In summary, SJoG Burwood, pull your socks up.
Anonymous
My son has been attending SJOG for around 20 years when he was unwell. He looked on the staff and nurses as friends who supported him when he needed compassion and empathy.
The last two visit he was treated atrociously. The first of the last two visits he was sectioned and the second visit he was involuntarily discharged. The lack of care for those who are seriously unwell is non existent.
I believe there is new management.
Anonymous
Some of their psychiatrists lack compassion and not up to date with medications not sponsored by big Pharmaceutical companies. Other support staff very good but undermined by inept psychiatrists