I am writing to you to express my disappointment and lack of care that I recently received during a medical experience?? at ……
On Monday the 9th September I made an attempt at ending my life. I fortunately reached out for help and emergency services attended, however I still required an ICU admission.
On the Monday afternoon, I received a phone call from the ….. service at …… however I do not recall the name of the caller. It was a female staff member though. this phone call was regarding a script, however the caller perhaps? could tell by my tone of voice that I was struggling, as she asked if I was ok. I said no. The caller then asked if there was anything that she could do, and I replied ‘I don’t know’. The caller then ended the conversation and hung up the phone.
I want you to understand how difficult it is at times to express how I am feeling and to answer this callers questions and tell her that I was not ok was a big thing for me. Had the caller probed me a little more, asked some more questions, checked in around my safety, my attempted later that day could have been prevented.
The service is well aware of who I am, of my history of previous attempts and were aware of my recent increase in suicide ideation.
I am disappointed that more care and ???? was not provided and that the staff member was dismissive of my answer.
I am not writing to you to see this staff member reprimanded, but perhaps more of an opportunity for further training and changes to the services.
I would also like to address the lack of care and follow up that I have received since discharge. I was discharged from ICU on Wednesday the 11th September. Prior to that I had a very brief 5 minute conversation with some from the psych team who discharged me from their care. I was suppose to be followed up by the comhet team and then back with the …. team. I had a prebooked home visit with my case manager on the Thursday, which went ahead and I have received zero support since. Considering the severity of my attempt, I believe …. Wish…..
