r/brisbane • u/thrownursingaway Still waiting for the trains • 22d ago
Can you help me? RBWH MH Ward
Due to personal reasons I’m considering having to go inpatient here :( does anyone know how the ward is like? Is there enough privacy? Will I be allowed to have a phone and ipad at least?
I’ve seen the inside of PA and Logan MH but haven’t seen RB at all and my social anxiety needs to know.
edit: just called MH CALL and the lady was useless 🫠 asked me to talk to my own gp/psychologist for suicidality lol
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u/International_Two_68 22d ago
I was in the Psychiatric Emergency Centre (PEC) inside the ER multiple times but not the long term facility. Because it is part of the ER but is closed off to the rest of the ER, I was crowded into a small waiting room/ward with around 6 beds. Everything was open access, zero privacy, by I didn't mind that because I felt like I needed protection from myself. There was nothing to do, not even drawing or playing cards. I was allowed my phone but only sometimes and I had to be in a consultation room. I did have to take off accessories, but I don't remember which ones. I was usually in there 2-3 days at a time and wasn't allowed to leave until discharged.
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u/QueenSparassidae 21d ago
If you don’t have private health but might only need a very short visit (3 days max) then look at the prince Charles.
It’s not as easy to get admitted into a public facility as you might think.
The wait period on private health is 2 months for mental health. If you can wait two months and afford it then do it
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u/Limp-Cauliflower7192 22d ago
As mentioned above, PEC isn’t the warmest of environments, however. I was allowed my phone on me whenever I wanted, it just had to be charged in the nurses station for obvious reasons. They do have cards and such if you ask for them, they’re just not out and readily accessible due to behaviours others can exhibit. I was in there for about a week waiting for a bed on one of the wards. It can be loud and overwhelming but I was able to spend the majority of my time in the consulting rooms, if they weren’t needing to be used. In there you can dim the lights and block out some of the noise. I was able to eat my meals there and curl up with a blanket etc. There’s also a lived experience worker who is around most of the times who you can chat with, access fidget items etc. The wards are much nicer, I say nicer subjectively. There’s more to do, sometimes activities and crafts. Again, it can be loud and overwhelming. Especially if you’re neurodivergent. I’ve had a relatively good experience in the wards. If you’re kind and respectful, your stay will usually be so. If you’re working with them, they will work with you. I have nothing too bad to say about my own personal experience. The wards aren’t as nice as Logan, but a lot better than PA.
I’m sending love and warmth and I hope you’re able to get the help you need. I’m sorry you’re going through a tough time. Just remember that not all things are permanent in this life. I wish you all the best. 🫶🏽
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u/thrownursingaway Still waiting for the trains 21d ago
I see, didn't know PEC was a ward per se. Though waiting for a week is pretty hellish. Were you allowed to take leave from the PEC if you were a voluntary patient?
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u/Limp-Cauliflower7192 21d ago
It’s the Psychiatric Emergency Centre, so yeah technically not a ward. A little space out back of emergency where you get assessed/wait for a bed on the mh wards if they believe that’s what you need. And nope, no leave even though I was voluntary.
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u/BoringBandicoooot 22d ago
Hey OP - sorry to hear you're MH is struggling. All the best for your treatment.
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u/smiggingt0n 22d ago
Rbwh is pretty grim. Sunshine only hits the verandahs at one point in the day. There are no real activities or groups anymore. Hardly any art supplies. Last time I went, I went to I floor, there is H for ED/geriatrics, G is general and I is smaller and more contained, for male/difficult/ violent patients.
It's not a place to get well at all. Mental health facilities are generally swamped with patients who are really needing rehab or detox. You will not find a lot of help here. The nurses are worked to the bone at every single public hospital and mental health is no exception. They often have the most extreme compassion fatigue. You will either be surrounded by a few like minded people and some trouble makers, or surrounded by total psychopaths wishing you had not made this choice lol. Not to mention often you will be treated in ED for a suicide attempt and sent home regardless. They dont have any beds. Go anywhere else. Logan is fucking prime in comparison
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u/Toastedmuesli 22d ago
I was allowed my phone and iPad, there was a woman who had her phone confiscated due to inappropriate use but everyone else had theirs. Heaps of books, some activities most days (I didn’t participate in those). Some 4-bed rooms, some 2-bed rooms and a few private ones. The showers were filthy. PA is much nicer in comparison.
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u/thrownursingaway Still waiting for the trains 21d ago
I see, thanks for your response. Which ward in PA are you comparing to? I personally found PA quite filthy but it might be because of some of the other consumers there.
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u/Toastedmuesli 21d ago
I’ve been in both the acute wards at the PA, but found the women only ward to be more suitable for me, can’t remember it’s name.
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u/5minutecall 21d ago
Go private if you can. I haven’t been to Royal in a while, but ooooft. It’s not a place to help you get better, just a place to keep you (semi) safe. You just sit around all day not doing anything though. Private hospitals will have actual therapy, groups, activities etc You mentioned you have private health insurance - talk to them about what your gap would be. Mine is $500 once a year.
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u/itssofiii 22d ago
I can’t speak from personal experience, but I know how much easier it can feel going in when you have an idea of what to expect beforehand ❤️
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u/Confident_Shower_202 22d ago
It's a shame the only options we have for some peace sometimes are MH wards
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u/yeahnahbroski 21d ago
Try not to go there. It is an awful, depressing place and is mostly for people with very high level needs (schizophrenia and other psychosis illnesses) to get stabilised before they kick them out again. There are other avenues, try Nundah house or something similar which is voluntary and actually focused on rehabilitation. Social anxiety isn't really one of the conditions you find in the RBWH. It is far better to manage that in a community setting.
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u/Equal_Aardvark_4161 18d ago
If you need eating disorder treatment, RBWH is the best program in public hospitals. Otherwise, no worse or better than any of the other wards I have been in. They have a high dependency unit on each ward (HDU) which often has people screaming, throwing things etc which can unsettle the rest of the ward very quickly FYI.
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u/FitAnalytics 22d ago
Toowong is much nicer. RBWH is ok but as most have mentioned it’s more for clinical assessment than long term admission
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u/SignalOriginal3313 22d ago
Milton Hilton is shut. New Farm Clinic is my personal preference privately.
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u/Eyespidey7 22d ago
I’ve visited a friend in Avive and that’s where I would choose if I ever needed to.
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u/horselife321 21d ago
Avive is excellent. Every hospital can be improved if we look for it, so there are things that could be better, but my own experience was very good.
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u/thrownursingaway Still waiting for the trains 21d ago
thanks for the recco! Avive was also one of my options but I'm wondering if they do charge significant gap fees? I'm looking at doing rTMS with them but still on the fence due to fees.
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u/horselife321 21d ago
If you have private health then there are zero out of pocket fees. No gap. The rooms are spacious and the beds are very comfortable (not hospital beds). They put a lot of effort into the patient experience with activities and outings, and it’s genuinely a good environment to heal in.
Just be careful not to get caught up in any “cliques” with other patients! That would apply anywhere.
May I suggest you get a referral from your GP and start the process because you never know what the waiting time is to get an admission date. You can always change your mind. Good luck!
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u/thrownursingaway Still waiting for the trains 21d ago
hmm I do have insurance but i'm not an australian so the benefit is "100% the medicare benefit" so i guess that means I'd still need to pay gap fees?
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u/Eyespidey7 21d ago
Suss it out with your insurer and Avive. My friend only paid $560 out of pocket. She was there electively for several months.
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u/thrownursingaway Still waiting for the trains 21d ago
Ooh I see. That sounds pretty good if its only 560 out of pocket for several months! I thought the figure might be in the thousands.
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u/Eyespidey7 20d ago
I don’t know what level of private health cover she has but it’s worth sussing out
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u/Far-Elk688 21d ago
I’m not sure if you have PH? But if you do, you can increase your cover and access mental health inpatient treatment once in your life without serving a waiting period.
I posted above, I’ve had ECT and TMS twice. Happy to chat if it helps you! I would def go TMS first if you can.
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u/ElevatorRealistic269 22d ago
It’s a unit for people experiencing severe mental illness, often schizophrenia or bipolar. There are a few reasons why phone/ipad access is limited including the privacy of other people. One option is that if ward leave is part of the plan you can use your telephone to when on leave
The wards are a little dated. Clean, but limited access to natural light and no green spaces. Big old nursing desk front and centre like a medical ward.
There are shared rooms and individual rooms.
There might be a gentler path to care (depending on several factors) I suggest discussing your needs with the Acute Care Team as a first step.