Charlotte Varcoe
A COMPLAINT has been made to the Limestone Coast Local Health Network and the Chief Psychiatrist’s Office following difficulties faced with a 25-year-old woman presenting to the Mount Gambier Emergency Department.
Emma Thulborn presented to the emergency department on June 26 after excessive vomiting with her mother, Michelle Thulborn, accompanying her for mental health support.
Previously struggling with mental health issues, Emma’s mother hoped to accompany her daughter while she received medical treatment for the vomiting as a carer, something she stated was denied multiple times.
After being denied entry to the emergency department to support her daughter, Ms Thulborn wrote a lengthy complaint to the local health network and the chief psychiatrist.
It comes following a gazette was lifted on the Mount Gambier and District Hospital in regards to its mental health service in mid-June.
Speaking with the Border Watch, Ms Thulborn said she felt extremely disappointed and frustrated at the denial of being able to attend treatment with her daughter.
“Emma presented to the emergency department multiple times since we lodged the complaint last week and we have stressed at each presentation our concerns in regards to her unstable mental health,” Ms Thulborn said.
“We have both repeatedly requested for Emma to be allowed to have me accompany her into the emergency department as her mental health support person and assist with providing information about her history and to assist with communicating her current condition but we were constantly denied.”
She stated mental health issues were not treated as a serious issue at the local emergency department, stating treatment such as their experience may delay others needing help.
“So often people with mental illness delay seeking help because they constantly come up against brick walls within the health system,” Ms Thulborn said.
“This means by the time these people are often in distress, they are not able to advocate for themselves so support from a family member, carer or mental health support person is vital for effectively communicating with staff.”
Within her official complaint, Ms Thulborn said there were a range of issues which attributed to her daughter’s difficulties, including the sudden passing of her father recently.
She said due to Emma’s ongoing vomiting she was also unable to absorb her medication and once admitted and treated, she continued to vomit uncontrollably.
“I attended the emergency department and asked to be let in to support Emma but this request was again refused,” Ms Thulborn said.
“I expressed my concern for Emma’s fragile and unstable mental health and I was told to wait in the waiting room and that someone would come out to speak to me.
“After more than an hour I asked again to speak to Emma’s treating doctor and was again told to wait.”
She said once a doctor formally spoke to her, they informed her that Emma was to be discharged soon.
“I once again expressed my concern for not only Emma’s physical condition but also her mental state and the fact she was not keeping down her medication,” Ms Thulborn said.
“The doctor refused to allow me to be with Emma to support her and told me she was being discharged.”
Ms Thulborn said despite being discharged multiple times, Emma was still vomiting.
She was soon officially admitted to the hospital on Monday and was discharged on Tuesday, her 26th birthday.
“Despite the difficulties we found the staff who were on the ward amazing and in addition to the gorgeous nurses who helped look after her, the mental health team were also amazing,” Ms Thulborn said.
“They were all very thorough once Emma was admitted and great for mental health support.”
Ms Thulborn said although once admitted the care was fantastic, at no point prior was she told why she was not able to support her daughter in the emergency department.
A Limestone Coast Local Health Network spokesperson said the health and safety of patients remained the “utmost priority” and the best interests of mental health patients remained at the forefront of the system’s care.
“Visitors are not permitted in the emergency department, with the exception of a support person which can be arranged with the nurse manager on a case-by-case basis,” the spokesperson said.
SA Health and due to privacy reasons, it is unable to comment on individual patient case details.
