I called this AM to see how my family member was doing, as I could hear in their voice that they were crying during a previous phone call, and the Mental Health Worker, ANNABELLE, informed me she was not responding to them informing her of my phone call and stated, "she's crying like a little girl". At this moment, I abruptly excused her and informed her that this was no way to speak to a family member regarding her patient and it highlights the lack of respect she has for the patient and she laughed and replied, "well sorry, it's just 'cause she's 22 and she is crying like a little girl and I'm trying to help her- whats wrong with her" I went on to explain that crying is an appropriate response to stress and it does not alert to anything being "wrong" with an individual. I added that she is frustrated because she has yet to speak to a doctor and wants to go home. Moments later, I called to speak to the RN and requested he transfer me to the appropriate party to make a complaint against the Mental Health Worker and he agreed to help. As I explained the event, he stated,
"Well, I spoke to her and told her that she can't speak to family members like that." I expressed that this comment does not assure me, as a family member, that my family member is receiving appropriate and respectful treatment from the Mental Health Worker. The RN, Andy, went on to add that my family member is being fed, offered medications, and given access to several amentities. The RN stated he would not allow Annabelle, Mental Health Worker, to conduct phone calls to family members further, however, this did not resolve anything for me. Mental Health Workers, despite tough circumstances (though I think a patient crying is hardly a "tough" circumstance), should remain professional and speak to all individuals with dignity and respect. If ANNABELLE, spoke to me this way, I can only begin to imagine the treatment my family is recieving from her, and this does not bring me comfort at all.
On top of this, I called this evening, after speaking to my family member, and notified her nurse, Paul, that she was telling me she was in a lot of pain from her menstrual cycle and requested she be given more medicine to combat it. He replied, in a nasty and snappy tone, " yes, FINE, ill text the doctor and ask if he can prescribe her more, OKAY? BYE." The care they provide here is not care at all.