St John of God Richmond Hospital - North Richmond, New South Wales

M M

I have had several admissions to SJOG Richmond prior to them moving into their new hospital. Each of the admissions in the old hospital were amazing, would have given 5 star reviews.

However, since spending over $80 million on their new hospital, they have overspent on their new facility and now are unable to provide the same level of care due to cutting staff numbers per shift by 50%, this has lead to the staff not being able to fulfil their duty of care for the number of patients they are expected to care for.
did make a formal complaint to the NUM while I was still an inpatient, and whilst my feedback and concerns were listened to, the NUM could only agree with my concerns and agreed that what I had experienced was not acceptable, it was perceived that my complaint was resolved by having the NUM talk to me about my concerns, but with no actual resolution.

Due to the lack of staff availability and accessibility and reduced level of care, I had requested to change wards as I was advised that the other ward had more staff that had more experience than the ward I was in initially. The process to change wards was not possible due to the NUM not being in on the day I requested to move wards. At this point, I packed my things and asked to be discharged as my condition was deteriorating and was not being cared for. I was then told I would be discharging against medical advice, however as this is a self admitting and self discharging facility, if you wish to discharge yourself you are threatened that you will need to sign yourself out as discharging against medical advice, or without using the exact wording, that you would be scheduled if you chose to discharge prior to your expected discharge date.

So, after being threatened that I would be discharged against medical advice because they were unable to facilitate a ward transfer, the nursing staff contacted my doctor who was understandably upset that his patient would be discharging even though it was his advice to change wards. After speaking with my doctor, I was able to move wards, however my experience did not improve in the new ward.

They run groups for inpatients that were facilitated by a psychologist in the old hospital, however, now the psychologists seem to have been removed from facilitating the inpatient groups so they could facilitate the outpatient groups- assumption is there is more money in it for SJOG to run the outpatient programs, putting inpatients who were in a crisis hence the inpatient status 2nd to their ability to make more money.

I would like to point out that although the psychologists were not running the inpatient groups, that their level of care, compassion and focus on recovery has not changed since being in their new facility. The psychologists are brilliant, and I was able to access their support during my stay as I had worked with them on previous admissions, however if you were a new client to the hospital, you may not even be aware that their are psychologists employed at the hospital.

A special mention to Brigitte and Gabby- two amazing psychologists who have been instrumental in my recovery in both previous and my latest admission.

Special thanks also goes to Nurse Carly, and all the Exercise Physiologists, kitchen and cleaning staff. It appears they are the backbone of this facility and other staff should be striving to deliver the level of professionalism, compassion and support the named team members are providing.

The admin team at the medical centre are down right, rude, disrespectful and it is a disgrace they are employed in a facility that is promoting wellness, when in fact they are causing more harm than good. After being discharged I contacted the medical centre to enquire if they had any other psychiatrists that I could get a second opinion from as it is my belief that my doctor was over medicating me, and ultimately changed one of my medications which sent me into a suicidal spiral.

If you are considering being admitted to SJOG Richmond, I strongly advise against it.

n k

Don’t be deluded by a brand new facility/ building.

The program is a scam and money making joke.

Workshops are held in small rooms with issues with temperature which facilitators laugh about it. Chairs an insufficient or inadequate; a patient had to sit for 1.5 hours in a walker. If you are aged or immobile or disabled; good luck.

Construction is everywhere making walkways hazardous. You risk inhaling cigerrette smoke whilst falling as there is no defined pathway to get efficiently to the gym etc except for a muddy decline where you can slip and again especially if you are old or immobile.

Psychiatrist see you “when they want.” Despite them having a schedule of attending the clinic; they lack basic logic and common sense to tell you an approximate time for an appointment. Or nurses make excuses and say they only have to see you once a week. LOL. $22k or $900plus a day to be seen by a lousy psychiatrist three times in your stay for 5 minutes? Money making bullshit. Nurses make excuses when you ask why a psychiatrist has not seen you saying depends on his discretion/caseload..

Why was my admission accepted then? That money hungry? Psychiatrist sees other patients at length and twice a week. It was noted the consults where full of his narcissism and baseless and no conscious efforts were make to replace him.

Staff watched on and even patients heard as he verbally abused, screamed and made me cry.

He speaks over you; screams as does a pathetic incompetent bumbling old hav of a nurse named Turd.

He advised multiple options for medication after you have to beg him multiple times to know when you are seeing him and to actually complete a consult with tangible information. He then tells you to Google them yourself and choose and tell the nurses which you want- some of which are not even in stock.

Pharmacists then tried to charge you for unknown brands.

2 male nurse staff sit passively and watch him scream and argue at you when you express whilst crying how unsafe and uncomfortable you are. You are not allowed to leave the room and request a person of support. Max & Deo.

No one except patients check up on you. They leave you to be even though you are scared, highly distressed and alone. No one of authority is available to be there to support or help you as a place like this should!

Some nurses take 5 business days to get of their chair and tend to you or their office/station is unstaffed. Half of them gossip or make snide comments about patients.

Alternative treatments like TMS etc were never explored only told “booked out.”

Mary Heffernan

I had been in this facility a few times prior to the opening of the new facility, but when I came in back in May, & was admitted to the new facility, I hated it! It is like a huge air-conditioned box with no opening windows! There were no Masses, & one Pastoral Care worker run off her feet, dealing with several areas at once, & the lovely chapel had gone! I was also counselling another of the patients, who was very upset, & shared what had brought him into the facility, which upset me in turn. When I left several days later (I couldn't wait to get out!) I was advised by two young psychologists at my exit interview that I would be referred to do the Schema Group at St. John of God at Burwood, as I live close to Burwood in Sydney, but then waited a couple of months, & wasn't contacted, so I rang Burwood, & was told they would contact Richmond for my referral. Several more months & more phone calls later, & the referral from the psychiatrist came through for the WRONG GROUP, the Anxiety & Depression group. I have been trying for days now to get a referral to the SCHEMA GROUP at BURWOOD - how hard is that
I would have gone into Burwood, but was told when I rang there back in May that if I went into the Depression Ward, I couldn't attend the AA meetings in the Drug & Alcohol Ward, because I was 35 years sober at the time (now 36 years), & I wasn't prepared to go for 3 weeks without 12-Step meetings, & be set up for a possible relapse! Don't you hospital people realise that alcohol & other drugs are often caused, or can be exacerbated, by underlying mental health issues?

Just received a "note" from the team at Richmond, asking me to let them know of my concerns! Isn't there enough information in my review for you? You are quite at liberty to contact me, you have my details on file there!

Colin Maunder

If zero stars were an option I wouldn’t hesitate. Absolutely disgraceful attitude towards helping suffering people. I have been trying for months to get an admission, but because I dared to open my mouth about serious issues in the hospital, I have been basically black listed.
Unfortunately one of the only hospitals that treat cptsd in first responders, but they would rather have a person hurt themselves, rather than interrupt their money making machine.
Everything they display on their website is a lie and the fact they profess to being godly people cannot be further from the truth, a godly person or organisation would not turn away a person genuinely in need of help, unless that person shuts up about malpractice and misconduct.
And generic responses to complaints! Do you think that this organisation actually responds to my problems. Just another boxed ticked so they can carry on making $21,000 an admission. Well done St John of no God but money.

Howard Neely

I've had several admissions here as an inpatient and a day patient. I find it a calm,peaceful sanctuary of hope with empathetic professionals doing their utmost for us.
The new facilities are amazing, but the standout are the staff whether it be the admin staff,the psychologists or the catering angels.
Thankyou for giving us back our dignity.

Dianne Jones

Abrupt and unhelpful admissions officer. He was arrogant and dismissive. For a hospital that claims so much on its website, I suspected to be treated with courtesy, especially at the first point of contact with the hospital.

J R

Honestly have no complaints about SJOG richmond, the staff were absolutely amazing! The kitchen and housekeeping staff were lovely and accommodating. The Dietican, OT and social worker were absolutely amazing and went out of their way to support me.
I had one negative experience with who I believe was the NUM at the time? But honestly this hospital is amazing, put me on the right mood stabiliser which drastically improved my mood. The facility is beautiful and so are the grounds. The only negative about the hospital was the access to leave especially when you are from out of area and have no one to take you. Besides that I have zero complaints and would recommend this hospital to anyone. My admission prices was positive and extremely prompt.

Mark Howden

SJOG Richmond is the fourth Mental Health facility I’ve admitted myself too in the last 11 years, and my experience here was the best by far.

I can only speak of the nursing staff in my particular ward, but the level of care, compassion, and attention I received is miles beyond any nursing support I’ve had before. Their duty went beyond our medication and obs. All nurses in my ward proactively checked in on me to see how I was doing, if I needed anything, while also researching resources for support for myself and my young family outside of hospital. If I need to head back to hospital again I’ll be asking to be in this ward.

The facilities are starting to show their age a little but this is a moot point as the new wards are currently being built, which, once finished, may turn SJOG Richmond into the best facility in NSW, if not Australia.