12monthsinCasual Contributor
Locking down private patients
Hi, I am completely new here and hope this question is in the correct place
I am currently a voluntary inpatient in a private psychiatric facility and there is a plan to put swipes in the lifts to restrict after hours access/egress from the unit. As I understand it, to leave our floor after hours we are going to have to find a nurse to swipe the lift to give us access to it so we can descend to the street level exit. I am wondering about the legality of this as to me it constitutes locking us on the ward where we can easily be held against our will if a nurse refuses to swipe the lift. It is my understanding that voluntary patients within a private facility cannot be locked in in any way. (I live in Queensand in case the law differs across states).
Lock down is a major trigger for my anxiety. Last year I spent nine weeks over three admissions as a voluntary patient (I did not know the clinic I am currently in existed at the time neither did I have health insurance) locked in the local Adult Adult Mental Health Inpatient Unit. during two of these admissions the fire alarms souded in the iddleof the night. Instead of being take to the proper assembly area patients were loced into a small courtyard where the only exit was a small gate in the 4-5 mtr fence, and was attached to the building or back through the building itself.
While this turned out to be false alarms the next morning, after my overnight PRN's had completely worn off, I realised the possible, even probable, consequences of this action and since then being locked in in any way is a major trigger for my anxiety
I would welcome some feedback on this issue as my anxiety is high regarding it and I will feel unsafe if it comes into place. In Acute I understand I would be locked in, I dont like it but by admitting there I woud have accept it. However I am a voluntary patient in a private facility and I value my right to be able to enter and leave at will. The unit is secure from the outside, entry can only be regained by pressing an intercom at the front door, however patiets can leave the building simply by opening the same door from the inside.
I have only just readmitted after a three month admission, I was out for only 12 days, and my pdoc is now suggesting a proactive treatment program and I would hate to feel unsafe in this environment due to the placement of locks on exits I have, until now, had the freedom to use at will.
Any comments and suggestions will be very welcome.
I don't really have anything helpful to say because I've only ever experienced the public mental health system. However, I just wanted to tell you that I can relate to your anxiety around being in a locked ward. I have had oh-so-many psychiatric admissions as an involuntary patient in the public system and most of my issues now are related to trauma experienced in that system rather than the stuff that brought me into contact with the system in the first place. I'm sorry I don't have anything helpful to say...I just wanted to let you know that I hear your anxiety around this issue. Hopefully someone will have an answer to your question.
