Terrible fall out from Govt cutbacks

[jean2579]

I wonder if when the Government decides to withdraw funding for a medical safeguard if they have any idea of the consequences for the family of the patient involved. About 18 months ago the funding for a psychiatrist to travel from Sydney to a regional area was stopped with short notice. Since then both the patients and their families have been left in limbo. My relative has had an ongoing bi polar issue for almost 40 years and for the past ten years it has been kept under control by the constant checkups with the psychiatrist, then suddenly we were left on our own. Now we are in the midst of a full blown attack with no assistance or help. I called the mental health team, who spoke with him and he assured them that everythng was fine, apparently they are not allowed to talk to me about this.

They suggestd that he speak to a local psychiatrist, but he will need a referral froma GP to make an appointment and they don't know how long the appointment will take to happen. All of the local GP's need 7 days notice for an appointment to get the referral, but the problem is now.

 I found it hard to deal with this in my 20's but now at 70 I found it impossible. I really am at my wits end.

Are there any health professsionals on the board who can offer advice.

[lyndal1838]

Oh Jean, I feel for you.

My initial suggestion would be to get him into the local hospital and let them deal with it but if he will not/cannot/does not acknowledge that there is a problem then I guess it will not happen.

I am used to living in the city with a GP who will see emergencies at a few minutes notice and a very good hospital a few minutes drive away.  I just can't get my head around waiting a week to see a GP.

[***super_nova***]

In emergency situation GP cannot refuse to see you. 

[2106greencat]

I agree with both Lyndal and Supa -

If it were me (and the hospital was too far away) - I would go to the nearest GP and sit in the waiting room until they saw you.

Don't waste time with a phone call, go in person with your friend and let them see in the flesh the way this poor soul is suffering.

Then I would come home and think up every possible way I could to get this diabolical situation out into the public arena, as most of us have pretty much had a gutful of this Government's actions I doubt it would take much to get the ball rolling.

.

Good luck Jean, please let us know how you go.

[sandypas]

My daughter has bi polar (under control for 5 yrs now ), but when she had a severe manic episode, we had to ring the CAT team.  They will assess the patient and admit them involuntary if necessary.  As I understand it, if you don't have a CAT team at your hospital, the police can do the same thing.  Sorry if your relative is not that severe at the moment.  Maybe ring your closest emergency department and ask them the procedure.

[cherry*135]

Jean, if/when you feel up to it, let your local MP know about the problems the withdrawal of funding of the visiting psychiatrist has had for you and others in your area.

A week or more wait for an appt to see a Dr is a problem in regional towns & rural areas. Not enough Dr's.

[debden8]

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@sandypas wrote:

My daughter has bi polar (under control for 5 yrs now ), but when she had a severe manic episode, we had to ring the CAT team.  They will assess the patient and admit them involuntary if necessary.  As I understand it, if you don't have a CAT team at your hospital, the police can do the same thing.  Sorry if your relative is not that severe at the moment.  Maybe ring your closest emergency department and ask them the procedure.

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Thank you all for your advice.

The person involved is my OH and the first place that I contacted was the hospital and they told me that I had to call the Mental Health direct line which is located in Wyong, a very long way away, several hundred kms in fact.

They in turn called the local crisis team and it was they who called and said that we needed to contact a local psychiatrist. They used to come out to the house but they said that due to budget cuts they were no longer permitted to do this.

They also told me that if I took him to the local hospital emergency they would only be able to tell me to contact the psychiatrist and could not help him.

It is like being in an eternal loop. It used to be called the public service shuffle.

He seems to be a little better this morning, so hopefully this is not going to turn into a major drama.

Sorry for the post, when I posted last night I was losing the plot and needed to vent.  You would think that after nearly 50 years of this I would know how to deal with it by now. Slow learner I guess!

[debden8]

WOW, I really am losing the plot. Just realised that I had signed in on the wrong ID.

[freddie*rooster]

Hi jean, just wanted to tell you from previous private messages the situation we spoke about is now in the process of becoming a reality with our unit.

All the best with your problem, it's a daunting prospect when urgent medical help is required in our country communities. I will never forget when I called our local Radiography rooms to book a mammogram for suspected breast cancer and was told I couldn't get an appt for a month.

[lyndal1838]

No Jean, you are not a slow learner....things always look blackest in the middle of the night, especially when you are dealing with things on your own and can't see any help on the horizon.

A few years ago we were looking at getting out of the rat race of suburban Sydney but I was turned off the idea after reading these boards and learning how difficult it was to get madical attention in a timely manner.

Freddy, I recently had to have a pelvic ultrasound done.  Called in to make the appointment on the way home from the GP on Wednesday afternoon....turned down an appointment for midday the next day but went on Saturday morning and had the report in my hot little hand half an hour after the procedure.