A ROBINA Hospital patient who had fought a 30-year battle with mental illness was discharged and left to walk 12km home, despite having attempted to jump off a bridge.

With no phone or wallet and having been refused a taxi voucher from hospital staff, the patient disconnected himself from medical equipment that was monitoring his vital signs, and walked towards the bridge.

The Bulletin understands he became caught on a fence and later returned to the hospital, where he was told by one staff member: “You stole our cords.”

He was released a short time later and walked home.

A complaint by the patient to the Health Ombudsman has been referred to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

On July 8 last year, the southern Gold Coast-based patient visited his GP after exp­eriencing chest pains and flu-like symptoms and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. He recalls being ­advised he was “OK” and told to go home, despite having no money, wallet or phone.

“I had no idea I would be admitted to hospital as I walked to my GP to get a script for painkillers,” he wrote to the ombudsman.

He said after being treated and told he could not get a cab voucher or ambulance to get home, “I pulled out the monitor cords and walked out in a state of panic”.

The patient recalled his foot being caught in a fence at Robina railway station, falling and walking back dazed to the ­hospital, where he was met by sec­urity guards.

“Being suicidal I panicked and ripped the canulaur (sic) in my arm with blood going on the floor,” the patient wrote.

“They took me to emergency again where I had another major panic attack. I was discharged and had to walk 12km home … I had no money, friends or family on the Gold Coast to assist me.”

A triage and assessment off­icer with the Health Ombudsman could not get a response from the hospital doctor named in the complaint.

In her decision, the omb­udsman said she was satisfied the health service provider had “acknowledged the complainant’s distress” and was developing “a new process” to prevent similar incidents.

But the ombudsman determined the issue was suitable to refer to AHPRA. A case manager is considering it.

A Gold Coast Health spokesman said: “We have previously acknowledged this ­patient’s distress and regret that we did not meet his needs by providing him with a taxi voucher.

“Our mental health staff were in contact with the pat­ient following his discharge to ensure he was not at risk and to organise a welfare check for him the next day.

“The management of such vouchers can be difficult and often results in significant abuse towards

our staff. To assist, we are developing a checklist to ensure vouchers can be provided to socially

vulnerable patients when they are genuinely needed.

“We understand the matter of the patient’s discharge has been referred to AHPRA and will support our staff should this proceed further.”

But the patient, who has asked not to named, after reading the response today by Gold Coast Health has disputed the claim the hospital had contacted him.

“I rang the mental health acute care team. I couldn’t get through to them for three days. They weren’t interested, (they were saying) it was my fault, it was all about why didn’t you have the money. I still haven’t got an apology,” the patient said.