HADS Unit

Ok so my experience was differed. Majority of staff are amazing. Shoutouts to Kate. She is honest and helpful. Couple of things that need fixing. A. Mixing peoples different recoveries In the same shared rooms can be confronting and uncomfortable. B. A lot of cancelations of programs. C outside time can feel like a prisoner even though you are voluntarily in there to help yourself when going on a daily walk past people that probably a lot have the same problem but not willing to admit it can be confronting. If you are a smoker or vaper the amount of people that discharge early is purely because it’s to much to come off to many different things at once. A grade to most staff apart from a couple who I won’t name. Just need to remember we are all human and someone wanting to get of the drink doesn’t need to listen to people who have conquered drug addiction and same goes the other way. Might be more useful smaller groups that target what the person needs. Budget restrictions are obvious as well but investing in a councillor that has at least one -two sessions per person would do wonders as well.

Don’t be discouraged by the bad reviews. The people here are great. They helped me get past my Xanax withdrawal safely and they were nothing but respectful, understanding and kind.

The best help I have had. Lots of useful information counselling and a great service. They also give you helpful medications to help you through. Thank you HADS.

I guess only attend as a voluntary patient with dependants if you want child safety involved after discharge (for absolutely no reason other than to cause undue stress to a recovering patient and their families) No help with triggers for PTSD patients during admission either. Drs are cold are very impersonal, make you feel guilty for having a disease in the first place (perhaps they need to be finding another scope of practice if addiction makes them judgemental)

I am however completely sober even upon self discharge. So I guess that's something, only through my own sheer will though and I credit none of that to HADS. Thanks for the unneeded stress!

Horrible experience doing detox. Used this service last year and successfully completed the detox program. Also got 7 months sobriety up. But this time made it to day 4 of my detox. I had to make a choice to leave because I had external issues that needed resolving as well as being placed in a room with 2 snoring women. As I have decided to self discharge my nurse was not about, but this "Geoff" a first nations nurse decided to get right up in my face and call me a waste of time and why come in. Being a first nations person myself I felt surprised that such a person would work in the detox unit and not be of support to his fellow first nations peoples. (and yes everyone should be treated equally no matter race and sexuality) but I was extremely shocked to be talked down to. I was ready to detox, I just didn't appreciate the way he talked down to me and got in my face, I felt so judged and as if my journey was not respected. I assertively asked him to please get out of my face. After being a person whom had just left a DV relationship. I felt frightened and cried, I asked him to please get out of my face. I was shaking and crying I felt no support or empathy from anyone. Once I broke down, he decided to take a lunch break. How wonderful, trigger someone and then take a lunch break. There was zero compassion or understanding of what addiction is. Being a first nations person I felt my needs weren't met and that I was judged. Addiction isn't a choice it's a disease and I think some of these nurses employed haven't had the correct training or understanding. I wasn't welcomed back for when I was ready it was all pretty much rush me out the door and like my life didn't matter. Addiction is life or death. I didn't even get my script for anti craving medication because I decided to leave day 4. It was such a horrible experience for someone who is battling alcohol addiction. I had put in a formal complaint to the RBWH and that was 4 days ago. They said someone would be in touch but I havent had a reply after my formal email explaining the treatment I received. I believe I was walked out by my nurse, I'm sure her name was "Candice" i asked her how to go about putting in a complaint, her response was she didnt have a clue. In other words they couldnt care. Honestly I won't go through public health again after this experience and no feed back. Or formal apology, I think it's absolutely disgusting the treatment I had received considering it was a voluntary program. I respected each and every nurse who tended to me. So Im still so confused as to why I received such disgusting behavior from "Geoff" as he should be aware of DV and know how to professionally deal with situations like mine without being intimidating and show a bit more compassion otherwise why work in a workplace as such if you have no understanding or compassion/empathy.
But if you want to get treated like another statistic, RBWH is just the place. Bunch of robots off text book learning, no real experience.

My mother went to HADS with a fractured pelvis. Emergency doctors said for her to rest and manage pain.
HADS wouldn’t even help her out of a chair, made her walk everywhere and would only give her panadole.
She’s 70.
I was assured they would bring her out in wheelchair instead made her walk. As they where coming up ramp they kept telling her to keep walking.
They serve disgusting food.
Waste of time. Don’t send your loved ones.

Was told I had a bed and hopefully booked in turned out they never made any booking or space. Thanks for the help jerks