Mary Guthrie House Nursing Home

Mark B

SCI If you value giving yourself or your loved ones the best chance of recovery this is not the place to be. Please reconsider your options. I would recommend remaining at any well resourced hospital rather than being sent here. The culture simply does not consider seeking any form of functional recovery as a worthwhile goal. Not only is this evidenced by the utter lack of time and effort dedicated to it (on avg 3 x45 minute physio sessions p/w) but even more so in the attitude of staff should this even be desired by the patient. I would regard the attitude shown towards patients seeking this as condescension bordering on contempt. Grown adults aren't asking for miracles, they are just asking to try and that they are given the best possible opportunity to recover. Post a life changing accident even tiny and seemingly insignificant improvements can be transformative. The staff (nursing) are pot luck. Some are absolutely incredible, most are cheerful and helpful when you need them. Some are incompetent, rude, disrespectful and have no regard for the wishes of the patient and collaborative approaches to finding solutions. You are at the mercy of being assigned a primary nurse which may fall into the latter category. This will have a significant bearing on the level of medical care you will experience. The doctors are a mixed bag. If you are unlucky they will simply not be present enough to gain the necessary knowledge on the individual patient. If you are lucky their rotation will end and will be replaced by one who is dedicated and goes over and above to ensure the care of the patient and that their diagnoses are based on current and correct information. In short I believe the issue here is simply not enough doctors to cover all the patients appropriately. Also, should one take leave the machine will virtually fall apart. You have been warned. The therapists are spread too thinly. Don't be surprised if your supposed "intense" and "dedicated" therapy averages out to be around 3 x 45 min sessions per week. Once again. They are simply spread too thinly for the number of patients. Not to mention they don't seem to have anything more than a passing interest on any sort of therapy that may return function in situation barring the most grave scenarios. You can largely expect to be taught to use a wheelchair at best. The facilities. Dated. Old. Feel dirty. Mostly constructed around the 70s and 90s and you can feel every bit of the neglect shown towards the place since. The setting is lovely and has so much potential which makes this quite sad. The therapy room is filled with millions of dollars worth of rehabilitative equipment, as one might expect. What one might not have expected is that the majority of these only seem to have been gathering dust for years. As stated, the "rehabilitative" culture is virtually non existent. Unless you can virtually walk with close to 100% functionality you won't be given any opportunity to try or to build towards that here. As someone who is now receiving treatment in a leading European facility the contrast could not be any more stark. The culture absolutely values rehabilitation of one's own body as a worthy goal, the facilities and equipment are first rate and the patients are actually treated with respect for daring to seek their best possible chance to have some return of function. It is shameful how different the experience is. In my view every single individual should be given the support they need to return any amount of function, no matter how small. You just don't know the difference to someone's quality of life it could make.

Sally Bo

Avoid this place like the plague! Some of the nurses are absolute angels but apart from that avoid avoid avoid! The allied health team although some we’re lovely there was one that was unkind and clearly has power struggles and needs to control everything including matters that are absolutely none of their business. Honestly the worst experience our family has encountered. It was already a difficult time made worse by a particular member of the allied health team! Also we saw no improvements for the entire period our family member stayed at this facility. In fact, I feel they progressed backwards. Patients are ignored, and experience fall after fall after fall! Absolutely would not recommend to your loved ones if you’re trying to decide which rehabilitation centre.

Tahara Deutscher (Taharastar)

Patients screaming ignored when Doctor 3metres away, patients taken to hospital for suspected brain bleed due multiple falls in 24-48hrs. Patients out of control, yelling and bullying other patients, staff and management, no action taken. Left after 24hrs, was dropped by physio and hoisted, staff member hurt in fall and physio insisted on continuing exercises. Physio were advised of previous issues attempting the same move. No care from staff. Released myself from their care for my own safety, no crutches, no wheelchair, made to load my heavy bags on me as they dumped me outside. Not allowed to hire any equipment for ankle broken in 3 places. Family had to rescue me. I would not leave anyone I care about there, or any enemy for that matter.

Consciência Positiva (Zi)

Nurses mistreat patients. Facebook, newspapers and TV is what they know and do. As an example, Ajay reading the newspaper comfortably and Stephen watching TV.

Kim Carter

I was fitted with and trained for a prosthetic leg, above knee amputation at Royal Talbot Rehab Centre. I could not have received better care. Friendly, helpful and well trained staff. Great medical and support crew. In house physio is the best, as is the in house occupational therapy. They have it all in the one complex. Good place. Lucky if you get in there. Thank you Royal Talbot!