Albert Road Clinic

RUDE STAFF (Dr Jaya Reddy's Office)

If you have a referral from your GP and try to call them to discuss, they will not let you talk and will hang up on you.

I have severe allergies and went into anaphylaxis twice during my admission. None of the nurses knew how to use an epipen to save my life so the student nurse had to show them how. He was able to use it the second time, but stabbed it near my knee instead of in my thigh.

Then the second time, a clinical nurse consultant triggered one of my epipens accidently whilst trying to work out how to use it. Luckily although not using it in the right place, she eventually worked out how to use my second one. All I was told from my nurse unit manager was “we are trying to arrange some training for staff”. Which could take months so that essentially means nothing to me. I have had to bring my own practise epipen in to show nurses how to use myself. This basic first aid skill is taught yearly by teachers even though they don’t dispense new medications like these nurses do to patients all the time and anyone at anytime here could have a severe allergic reaction. By not ensuring staff have basic first aid training, I could have died this week. I feel extremely unsafe here now though.

While my stay in the Sandridge ward ended abruptly at the beginning of the year, I can confidently reflect that all the staff, psychologists and nurses are so caring and understanding.

I came here yesterday for major surgery. I have to say everyone is so nice a friendly. Also asked if I’m comfortable and need anything. Will recommend

If I could minus as a score I would. No duty of care. Don’t bother asking to have time to yourself as nurses will just come in and annoy you waiting for you to do something wrong so they can ask you to leave.
Don’t waste your time.

I’ve been coming to Albert Rd Clinic for 16 yrs and in the Parklands Adult Unit level 3. This stay 2023 I was put in the seniors ward Yarra East level 2, due to my health issues.it's all changing at the moment. But the staff working in the seniors unit are the same staff I've had and known for 16 yrs. So I feel very safe and like at home here. Every staff member is amazing and not just in my unit.

They are so accommodating to my needs and always up for a chat if I need it. It's very clean, great group programs. I love Art therapy. I can't draw but enjoy talking about what I have attempted to drawn and love hearing others talk about what they have expressed on paper.

They now have a little smoking/ vaping area outside.

The big negative is the food arrives in a paper box so hot food is cold. But in saying that it's only for those people who can't eat downstairs. Plus there is a kitchen on every unit and a laundry too.

The dining area has everything and the food is getting a lot better. Great vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Across from the entrance has a beautiful sitting area surrounded by tall trees and a cafe close by. Also, there is a grocery shop and a massage place around the corner. Also a gym for the exercise group.

If you need help and want to go into a mental health hospital. This is the place.

Good luck and hope you get well soon

Nina

Most uncaring disgusting place to go to for help. A 5min call charges you $250.00 if you dont pay you dont get your script for medication you need. Should be reported to the medical board. Total an utter disgrace.

Definitely don’t recommend this hospital to anyone. After spending hundreds of dollars to get a referral, i wasn’t able to reach the referral team for weeks. When i finally got through to them, they told me that they saw my referral but no doctors are accepting referrals for ADHD at the moment. Honestly such a waste of time, only to go back to square one where i have to look for a new clinic to get referred to. After being off my meds for months as I was diagnosed and treated for ADHD back home, it has been a struggle to get medicated again here, which has been such a distressful period of time. It’s funny how these hospitals completely disregard conditions such as these, completely ironic when the basis of adhd is the lack of attention, motivation making it difficult to seek help when the process is so long and frustrating.

As an employment option, be careful. Take notice of any red flags. Remember your worth. Do not stay anywhere you are not treated reasonably well.

I’d give zero if possible. I called to specifically check if they were taking ADHD patients. They said yes send your referal to this email. I made an appointment with my doctor and sent it and 4 days later they decline saying they’re not taking new patients. It’s so distressing trying to get help and getting the wrong information, so then you waste your time seeing your doctor and have to go back to square one. Get the info right from the start.

I have been an inpatient to ARC twice and am going back for some fine tuning. I feel very well cared for from the nurses, GP’s, cleaner’s, maintenance and therapist’s. My psychiatrist is brilliant. I’ve made more progress in 6 months than what I have in 7 years under the care of someone else.

Saw my psychiatrist daily. Wonderful nurses, and great therapists for group therapy. Modern facilities and not over crowded with people like most other private inpatient psychiatric facilities (such as The Melbourne Clinic). Rooms cleaned daily by cleaners. Been to many other clinics and Ramsay Albert Rd is by far the best.

I’ve never been an inpatient at this clinic, but I’ve seen four different psychiratrists at the Private Clinics (First Floor Suites) over the past 25 years or so.
I’ve never felt the need to change psychiratrists because I had a “problem” with them, only when the one I was seeing was leaving the clinic. However, whenever this occurred, the psychiatrist I’d been seeing always recommended me to another psychiatrist based at the same clinic, & provided my new one with a good “handover” of my conditions, & my current (& previous) medications & other treatments etc.
The quality of care that I’ve received from all the psychiratrist’s has varied a bit, but for the most part it has all been good to excellent.
As I have a reasonable knowledge of the complex interrelationships between my physical & mental heath, much of the variability in the quality of care I received seemed to be due to differences in how long it took for my new psychiatrist to accept this, & to get a reasonable understanding of how these interrelationships worked, and the background behind them. This in turn effected the length of time it took before I felt comfortable enough to fully “open up” to them. This time varied from a couple of appointments over a month or two, to half a dozen (or more) appointments spread over a year or more.
Depending on which psychiatrist you are seeing (or trying to see!), it can be difficult to get an appointment here, especially on short notice, however, once you’ve established a ongoing relationship with a particular psychiatrist, this seems to improve (or it always did for me). Therefore, if you need to see someone quite often (ie.weekly or fortnightly), especially when you first see someone, then it’s best to make a ‘series of appointments’ well ahead of time, or straight after your first one. Alternatively, if you only need to see someone on less frequent basis (ie.monthly or less often), then it’s best if you just make your next appointment as soon as your current one finishes.

Uncaring is the perfect word for this so called mental health care hospital.

I attended the DBT program for about 8 months. I persevered for as long as I could in the hope it would me cope with my depression and coping skills. The first group I attended was not run well at all. The second facilitator left a couple of months after I started, leaving the running of the sessions to just one facilitator. The remaining facilitator did not say very much and let the sessions be dominated by the more talkative attendees. After I could not stand anymore I made an excuse to go to another group. This group was well run and helpful with 2 much more sympathetic and organised facilitators. Unfortunately, the facilitator from the first group was my assigned one on one psychologist who focused solely on practicing skills in each session. Several times when I was upset she did not listen to my concerns or offer any kind words of support. Often, she would just look at me to get me to talk which I found most uncomfortable.

The psychiatrist with whom I was assigned was unhelpful also. Her diagnosis of my condition and the medications which she prescribed for me was questionable based upon my medical history and discussions with her. The most noticeable feature of the medication was the amount of weight it caused me to gain. Each session covered the same ground as the previous one and I would often have to remind her of issues we had previously discussed. I felt that I was not being listened to most of the time.

I would not consider returning to this facility.

This place, described as the public hospital disguised as private. The only good thing about this place was one or two nurses. The groups are useless and not taken seriously, staff aren’t concerned for your well-being (apart from those very few). You already have judgements towards you based on your diagnosis, and the only therapy received will be from your psychiatrist (if you’re matched well with them). If you want to be treated like a lesser human being, this place would do the job. Honestly don’t know how I lasted a few weeks there. Do your research, Google this place, make an educated decision. There are podcasts on the internet about incidents at the clinic I think? This place just wasn’t for me.

Also, please don’t reply asking me to email you. I very much doubt it would make a difference.

Have been to other psychological facilities. But none made me feel as valued as this one. There is the help available that I need and they ensure ongoing support. Support is all one can ask for when going through a tough time. The groups are what I feel I need and hope to get the help to be a better version of myself x

Fantastic psychiatric hospital - great staff, professional and friendly. Great place to recover and look forward to a brighter future. ️

My experience of this clinic was exceptional. The therapists are completely non judgemental and very supportive of individual needs. They are highly qualified and the group therapy sessions are professional, effective and I have learned very much about my own behaviour and where it stems from. The nurses are also non judgmental, attentive, regular in their care and checked in with my needs regularly. My treating psychiatrist saw me almost every day to review my progress and was highly supportive. The rooms are single and have an ensuite bathroom and are cleaned every day. The food has a good variety of options - it's not gourmet but well prepared and tasty. There are scheduled gym sessions with exercise physiologists, as well as 2 walks per day. If you have permission from your doctor you can have up to 4 hours leave outside of group therapy times. I would highly recommend this facility and my time spent here has greatly improved my success for a healthy future.

This facility needs to get with the program and offer electronic scripts. Having to attend the facility (during Covid-19) just to collect a paper script is beyond ridiculous.

I cannot fault this facility, it has provided me with the most therapeutic treatment I have ever received. All staff genuinely care about their clients physical and mental health, from psychiatrists, GP’s and top-notch clinical nursing staff, to the PSA’s and chefs who ensure the premises are spotless and spoil you with choice for food. There are many facilitated day programs to choose from, a great gym next door and twice daily walks - all essential for good mental health! The nurses do an incredible job of closely monitoring your physical and mental health, and take a genuine interest in your well-being, often taking the time to sit and talk through issues with you in a therapeutic manner. No demand was too much for them, and it was obvious they take genuine pride in providing clinically sound, respectful and judgement-free treatment. The treating psychiatrist was also available every morning to monitor and re-evaluate my progress, and discuss future needs. I cannot recommend this place highly enough - if you value and want to invest in your mental health, this clinic is the place to be.