Northside Group St Leonards Clinic

Rate 0! No professional, No service, only care about earning patients money, and discrimination! Very bad center…. Very shameful with Dr Zhuang Miao, discrimination & no ethical as Dr! Thie… as no refu…nd

Dr ward at Ramsay through my psychotherapist. I went through my gp to get a referral as an outpatient. After not hearing for a week my mum and I called, they said that we had to wait for him to look at the referral. A month gone and still nothing, but we decided to be patient. Today I get a call from my GPs receptionist saying I’m “rejected. ” When I asked why, she said that she wasn’t told and thought it was odd. I called dr wards receptionist. He continued to say that I’ve been “rejected” and was also not able to give me a reason. Basically told me to find someone else. My gp and I are shocked and I think I’ve dodged a bullet. Wouldn’t have mattered as much if they simply contacted ME first and stated that he was either booked out or just not available for new patients. But to just say I’m rejected is harsh and unprofessional.

"thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We would like to follow up with you about this. ", standard comments to protect its image. I am a regular day program patient who has not attended for 2 weeks, not that anyone noticed. I emailed on 12 November a letter to Day Program, and like phone calls, was not acknowledged. The letter was polite, explaining why I was upset by an experience a few weeks earlier whilst a temporary facilitator was filling in.

Getting into Day Program itself was hard as when I left the hospital 4 years ago I waited hours on the ward for John to come see me regarding admission. After a wasted morning sitting around, staff apologised and said he would ring me when I got home. Still waiting for that call, amongst others that are never returned. I ended up having to ring to get myself admitted to the program.

Each week they send a text asking you to respond whether you are attending so they can plan for group. I use to immediately respond and was always punctual to group. On 28 March 2022 I arrived at 8.00am. Group commenced 9.40am, however after waiting 30 minutes I was the only one in group and it could not go ahead, this after walking there to attend and left to walk home (4 hours each way) - not bad for someone supposedly not wanting help. No one came to me in the 1½ hours I was in the waiting room to say no one was coming, making you question what planning, if any, goes into groups. I have never received an apology from the NUM for this pathetic organising, only avoidance, something I have learned much about since attending Northside.

I always wanted to attend for improvement and support. Learning to ask for help has always been hard. After an incident earlier in the year when I fled, I promised the facilitator that next time I would make the effort to remain on the premises. I did this on 18 October 2022 when I left the group distressed. On checking in a group member accused me of NOT WANTING HELP. This could not have been further from the truth, was out of line and allowed to occur. Seems it is okay to try to open up, just to be accused unfairly and cause more trauma. I remained on the premises distraught only for the fill-in facilitator to bring me my bag and say she was discharging me. So much for doing what the facilitator had requested previously. I only made it a few steps down the road when in a bad way I had to ring my psychologist who worked with me for 30 minutes to get me to a safe state. This was Northside's responsibility. I did not make it home until after 9.00pm. Northside cared little for my well being allowing me to leave in that way. I did nothing wrong and have been left to feel like I am at fault.

In 2022 I have paid $22,500 to Northside, but despite putting concerns in an email 2 weeks ago I have been ignored. They are only interested in people pleasers who aren’t in the too hard basket or those that stroke their egos. For the large fees Ramsay charges, each patient has a right to equal caring treatment. Knowing I could not meet due to trauma surrounding meetings, I put concerns in a letter believing this the best way to communicate. Reading a letter would take less time than a meeting, but it is too hard to read a letter in which a patient has been vulnerable and honest. It may require actual care and work. I would love to be back in my group but obviously by their silence, because I dared to challenge them, they are wanting me gone or to flick me to another group. So much for duty of care and honesty.

I kept attending because I wanted help and support, particularly right now. I find the talks helpful but judgments from ill-informed patients are not and should not be allowed. I have provided feedback before through correct channels of feedback form and letters (we have been encouraged to complain), but why, when feedback is ignored. No wonder people use this platform to complain when all other doors have been shut. With such large fees you think picking up a phone and providing real care would not be such a big issue

Pity you didn't offer a Young Adult inpatient service when I was 18 and in Northside at Greenwich back in 1997! I was shoved in with everybody else, even though I had just turned 18 and was the youngest person there. I was forced to share a room with someone twice my age who had just been released from prison and who was also a heroin user! It was frightening, but no special concessions were made for me. No duty of care whatsoever - totally disgraceful!

If I read the reviews before I would never waste my time and money here due to their lack of empathy - my first experience with a psychiatrist and could not say how disappointed I’m. Over $2k spent and still left without a diagnose. It feels all about money and not about individuals. Dealing with mental health and coming across those so called professional can give you a feeling of giving up to life. Dangerous!

Came out of the appointment $540 poorer and incredibly frustrated as Dr Wettasinghe stubbornly refuses to believe that people can have both depression and ADHD despite the sheer amount of research suggesting a strong relationship between the two. Complete waste of time and money due to their lack of empathy - one of the WORST psychiatrists I've been to by far.

My teenage daughter recently attended Northside Clinic for anxiety related issues and trauma.
It was a five star experience all the way from the exceptional, welcoming rooms (with window ledge to read on), through to scrumptious food which ranged from Shepard’s pie favourite to Mongolian lamb and Danishes for morning tea.
Parents could also have dinner for a small fee.
Above and beyond that was the exceptional care including experienced psychiatrist once or twice weekly, group therapy with psychologists and mindfulness/activation outside walks.
The nurses were a perfect mix of high clinical experience senior nurses and a few upbeat, young and engaging nurses who know exactly what it takes to engage with an adolescent ward. We feel so lucky to have had this important medical education and there has been a huge lift in mood and resilience.

One star is too high a rating to give this organisation. I sought this place out knowing I needed help, and was met with a complete lack of empathy and respect. After submitting documentation multiple times, i was significantly delayed in finding help & was still no closer to being admitted. And each conversation I had was with a rude and unsympathetic person (Leanne) who obviously has had no, or insufficient training in supporting people in need. I have reached out to another organisation and had a completely different experience and thank my lucky stars I avoided Northside.

I Admitted myself to level 6 a 3 weeks back i was extremely nervous as it was my first time ever dealing with my past and my addictions.unfortunately i discharged myself as i thought it was the right thing too do at the time, if i could take back leaving and spend my full time there i would.

I haven’t found any negitives towards north side level 6 i have encouraged other friends to give it a try. The people i met the staff guest speakers nothing less then amazing in my opinion and i believe most of the other people felt the same.i’ll always be greatful for the people i met and the help the staff gave me…
i wish i was able to stay in contact with a few people i had met if i didn’t leave abruptly

thanks level 6

I attended the DBT outpatient program for nine months. The facilitators were amazing and caring, and the group was great, and there was a great atmosphere.it was structured and well paced very well, and they were able to be flexible for individuals. Of course, DBT depends on your own engagement, and personal circumstances, but I gained a lot of important life skills and tools for dealing with emotional dysregulation whilst in the group. Thanks Northside

Patient care - they wouldn’t know the meaning of it. Good at playing on vulnerabilities of patients. They treat patients like fools who they can lie to. So disrespectful Calls never returned and waiting lists that go nowhere. When admitted they can’t even put correct reason for admission on papers. No wonder so many people kill themselves. Day programs are currently a shamble and a not a day more like 2 hours.

A horrible large corporate mental clinic where they push people in and out of the factory-like process. The admissions team are rude and insensitive. The clinical director is abusive, discriminates and stigmatises conditions. If you want to get away and stay in a weird big hospital, go for it - but don’t expect a recovery.

I came out much worse than when I went in. Northside seems to have lost its way in terms of patient care. It used to be more nurturing and supportive, now it seems perfunctory, manipulative and patient blaming. Corporation first, patients last. The lower ranking junior nurses (the "workers") were kind and supportive. The art and music groups and food were good, nice kitchen staff and cleaners. The treatment has been mostly damaging and has given me health problems I didn’t have before. I found the doctors (and some of the senior nurses) to be more focused on internal politics, saving face, and self-interest. The NUM Kylie had a bad attitude. Overall I got the impression that the hospital didn't care about patients. More about business than mental health support and treatment. I didn't find it safe to be an in-patient here.

If you are in a really vulnerable place, don't go- they will deem you complex and difficult and end up traumatising you further.
The nurses on level 4 care more about internal politics, then patient care.

Northside clinic caused me serious physical and psychological harm. There is something dangerous and unhealthy about this Clinic.

Waited months for an appointment only to be told 5 minutes before the appointment in the waiting room that I can't be seen.
To be turned away has had a huge impact on my already terrible mental health.

I begged this place to admit me because no other hospital would because my trauma is too complex. First they made the excuse they don't deal with trauma, which they do, then they changed it to 'we don't deal with DID', when I don't have DID. Then it was changed to ''you misuse Benzos we don't deal with that' firstly you do, and secondly taking medication prescribed from my psychiatrist is not 'misuse'. Basically I really needed help and this place just made excuses and lied to me. No valid reason for not admitting me. So nice job convincing me I was undeserving of help when I already felt worthless. From my experience, you don't wanna call this place when you're borderline suicidal cause its a hit & miss whether they're going to accept you or make things up to deny you help.

Ps: no point replying asking me for feedback because i spent months trying to speak to someone in charge which was denied. Eventually someone told me that the person in charge said no and they don't have to give me a reason. Probably because every EXCUSE you gave me was refuted. Your hospital made me feel like I was truly worthless and would never get help. You know what's not okay? That behaviour and treating a mental health admission like a job interview. Oh we don't like this one-bin.
So sick of the 'too hard basket' and 'professionals' inability to admit you just cannot be bothered.

The psychiatrist Dr Dillion Cheah was very educated and well-trained in his professional medical practice, and was more effective in his treatment than the counsellors/social workers at Headspace. A strong sense of empathy and compassion.

The admin staff are also quite good in processing invoicing and scheduling appointments correctly and if you have any questions for the psychiatrist regarding the medication prescribed (or conflicting advice provided by psychiatrist and the pharmacist), you can email the admin staff and they will forward it to him for a response.

I was recently a patient here for 2 weeks in Dec and then 4 weeks in Jan/Feb. I found the nurses and psychologists fantastic, along with my psychiatrist, who i had previously seen as an outpatient.
I had read the other reviews and did not find them as strict on not mentioning my trauma. That being said this is a facility who’s strengths are teaching you how to live day to day, by giving you all the tools to help with the issues of anxiety and depression. I found Northside to really help me have a plan, moving forward, to achieve goals and live a fulfilling life.

I've had 2 admissions here. First time the staff were wonderful and the food exceeded all expectations. I arrived as a significantly underweight young adult male but with the excellent care and healing environment I was able to leave a much healthier and optimistic human. I felt that everybody in my care was there to genuinely help me cope and become the best version of myself.

On my second admission I was really let down by them. I'm aware that the world has changed recently and that people aren't coping, including our amazing health care workers who are under tremendous pressures. But when you yourself are also someone who isn't coping, to the point that your life is now dysfunctional and your condition is worsening, you need to rely on the health care workers that are stationed there to help you. I found myself unravelling toward the end of my stay. I felt as though my psych wasn't invested in improving my wellbeing. It started to increasingly feel like I was wasting his time. It was as if my "3 weeks" was almost up and he wasn't interested in the fact that I wasn't improving on my medications or from the current model of group therapy.

My psychiatrist told me there wasn't anything he could do for me and suggested that I would be better off somewhere else. Didn't offer me another doctor or anything like that. I was shocked and that was basically it. He walked out of my room and knocked on the room next door to me contently continuing his rounds.

From this point onward I noticed most of the staff began treating me differently too. I know this was partly just how I felt at the time but it did feel awful to hear my favourite nurses knocking on other patients doors checking if they are ok, while they left me alone as I was clearly upset and unable to cope. When I asked for help I was greeted by someone I'd never met who knew nothing about me or my situation and they just offered to give me more medication. I became hysterical and had to call my family for support instead.
I admitted myself here to be fully supported 24/7 while in the care of professionals so my family wouldn't have to, but I ended up being discharged by family a couple days early after the whole experience.

I'm still struggling and I find myself back on Northside website wondering if I could try it all over again. I read the reviews and feel better knowing I am one of many with similar experiences at Northside.
I completely agree with another person's comment below that if you're an easy admission you will have a good experience at Northside. I have had an amazing experience at Northside and I genuinely believe this place has so much potential for many out there who are struggling. But if you're in the "too hard" basket like I was on my second admission.for about $20,000 that's the experience I walked away with.
I found it pretty horrific and it gives me anxiety just to think about it.
Not to mention they sent my confidential discharge paperwork with all my personal information and diagnoses to the wrong patient and I received someone else's. Huge red flag. And they kept some of my medication that I needed. I had to drive back to the hospital after arriving home to get it and initially they told me that I was wrong and they already gave it to me. It was all an unbelievable experience by the end.

There are lovely people who work there and it has amazing facilities. Northside can really help you if you need somewhere to get away for a while, or if you have an eating disorder or need to detox from addiction. But if you're looking for helpful life changing therapy along with a psychiatrist who's invested in your health, just be aware it's not what you think.