The CVP occasionally receives complaints from family members experiencing difficulty liaising with the doctor responsible for treating their relative (with the consent of the person receiving treatment).

• One such complaint was received from a parent whose adolescent child (over 18 years) was experiencing an episode of psychosis. The parent wanted to speak to the doctor about why his son had become unwell, and to express concerns about involuntary treatment in the Joan Ridley Unit. The complaint was resolved when a meeting was organised between the doctor and the family member.
• It is particularly difficult when the person has been admitted to an inpatient unit in the Northern Territory when family lives interstate. One family contacted the CVP after unsuccessfully trying to contact the doctor over two days. The complaint was resolved after the Community Visitor contacted the doctor concerned to find that attempts had already been made to contact family. In the meantime, the Community Visitor visited the consumer in hospital and with the consumer’s permission phoned the family member to reassure her that the person was coping well with the admission.
• A family who had a close family member admitted to the TEMHS Inpatient Unit suffering first episode psychosis had not met with the doctor or staff from the Unit in the first two days after the admission. The Community Visitor, while on a visit to the facility, met the family and asked them how they were coping with the person’s illness and admission to hospital. They had little knowledge or understanding of mental illness and appeared quite bewildered by their experience. The Community Visitor spoke to the family about supports available in the community and about the social work service now offered through the ward. The family stated that they would find it helpful to speak to the social worker and agreed for the Community Visitor to contact the social worker to arrange a meeting. The social worker followed up immediately and met with the family the next working day.