AttahuaSenior Contributor
Let down by the system once again resulting in a near tragedy
once again my partner has had a relapse, he has lived with schizo effective disorder for the past 27 years. As soon as I recognised the early signs (although in hindsight I now realise I missed many) but nevertheless this particular incident occurred one month ago today and I called upon our community of mental health team immediately. On this particular Monday morning another worker from yet another agency came and visited upon my request as well, he was quicker then the MH team and upon conversing with my partner he knew just how unwell he was and knowing his past history he was also well aware as to how very quickly he deteriorates. He left shortly after assuring me he would inform the MH team of the seriousness of this and that he would ensure one of the team was a nurse who could assess and take my partner to hospital. Well the team came and chatted and basically told me that if they took him into hospital he would be sent straight home again!!!!!!!! Never mind the fact that he was delusional and believed I had poisoned his food and he was very paranoid, all part of his usual pattern going by prior admissions. Instead they got another agency involved called ICP who were to check on us later that evening. Well I called ICP and asked that they come sooner rather then later as he was deteriorating before my eyes and although I would normally call an ambulance I didn't see the point as I had been told by the MH professionals that he would be sent home. So ICP turn up, talk to my partner and as they were leaving they told me that he just wanted to go to the pub and have some space. I tried to tell them that he NEVER goes to the pub , only when he is unwell and that we should call an ambulance. One of the workers response was ' well what are you going to tell the ambos???' I replied that I would tell them he was a risk to himself and his dog as if they knew his past history they would see he had a habit of taking off , whether it be by car or foot, and disappearing which always leads to statewide police searches. They told me they hadn't had time to read his case notes and he had told them he just wanted to go to the pub and have space. So they left and shortly after do did my partner with his dog. As predicted he did then in fact go missing for 27 hours which resulted in him being listed as a missing person and a statewide search began. 27 excruciating hours later filled with anxiety, worry and fear his rolled over vehicle was found with him clearly delusional and unwell but not injured, nor was our dog thankfully but I have since had to have him put down as he was riddled with cancer. Just another thing I have to face when my partner is finally well enough to leave the locked ward he is currently in. His car is a write off, we have lost an elderly family member and his dog ( his companion of 11 years) is no longer with us. And despite my numerous phone calls etc requesting at least an apology from the people involved in the lead up to this , one month later I have heard absolutely nothing. It seems no one is willing to take accountability for this bear tragedy, and to top it off, he was issued with a fine for driving a vehicle eith undue care, a vehicle the ICP team were aware he was getting into but clearly felt he was sane enough to do do despite my appeals to the contrary. I am absolutely at the very end of my tether. My work has been affected and I have now had to take leave and my daughter is trying to get through her last few weeks of year 12. I feel so despondent and let down by the system!