EP

Evie P. one year ago • From Google

Rating

Poor

Dismissive staff compound mental health patient's struggles

I contacted the clinic today seeking assistance after a mental health nurse failed to return my call as promised, following a month-long wait for an appointment. Additionally, my subsequent e-consult was misinterpreted and dismissed as an appointment scheduling request. Given my disabilities and mental health challenges, phone calls are extremely difficult for me. However, feeling desperate, I anxiously made the call despite the significant emotional distress, already having been in tears beforehand. The receptionist's response to my complaint about the nurse not calling back was dismissive: 'yeah, she's had stuff going on' - with no apology or acknowledgment that someone should have contacted me. She even questioned whether I had followed up earlier. I explained my struggles with communication and self-advocacy, detailing how my e-consult was incorrectly processed, leaving me stuck until today's call. Her tone was unsympathetic, seemingly challenging me about why I hadn't called sooner, when making this call required immense personal effort. While acknowledging it wasn't her fault, I requested help and was only provided a general enquiries email. I left feeling that my disabilities were viewed as an inadequate excuse for not persistently following up, while simultaneously a mental health professional could neglect a patient callback due to having 'stuff going on'. Their numerous administrative errors are compounded by making patients feel incompetent, which is particularly devastating for individuals already struggling with mental health and social difficulties. The experience was so demoralizing that I'm uncertain when I'll find the courage to make another phone call, as this interaction completely overwhelmed me and reinforced my belief that seeking help is futile.

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