Ramsay Clinic Thirroul - Thirroul, New South Wales

Finley Rolls

I’d like to add onto my review after reading some of the others. This clinic is not for patients who are in states of distress. It’s for non-acute patients. It’s also not somewhere where you will receive 1 on 1 psychological care. Therefore please expect that you will not be able to do in-depth therapy work for your own trauma as you will be in a group therapy scenario and could trigger other patients by openly talking about your own traumas. You will learn skills and practices to help you in your life. If you require psychological treatment you should see a psychologist outpatient. Now on to the rest of the awesome review!

I have not one bad thing to say about Ramsay Thirroul.
Dr Karen Williams is a wonderful psychiatrist and will undoubtedly support you and give you the confidence and motivation to further your healing journey.
The nurses are also so lovely and are always there when you need them and constantly check on you. The difference in nursing staff compared to other psychiatric facilities is that the nurses here don’t have god complexes and are extremely trauma informed and they genuinely care for you. It also helps that they seem to have such a great supportive environment to work in as well. A few note worthy nurses are Janelle, Thomas, Scott, Greg, Sarita, Jess, Lynelle, Cat, Carolina, Claudia (Agency) and Cherie.
The food is fantastic.
The rooms are calm, quiet and comfortable.
The group therapy (inpatient and outpatient) is amazing and has helped me thoroughly with learning skills to help me in my life.
The art room facility is beautiful and has everything you could ever need to be creative.
The gym and pool are state of the art and amazing along with the somatic therapist Jean who is incredibly empowering and could make any person smile even on their worst day. Jean provides group and individualised support in the gym and pool during group sessions depending on what your needs are and will happily organise a one on one session when she can to help meet your needs.
The reception staff are lovely and know almost all patients by first name.
The location is also incredibly beautiful. It’s a 15 minute walk to the beach and there’s a beautiful mountain to hike behind the hospital as well. There’s also ocean views from the balcony which is open all day to enjoy.
The clinic is also LGBTQIA+ inclusive and are very informed on gender and sexuality inclusive care.

The care that I received here was unlike anything else that I have ever experienced before.

Le Reese Diorr

I had the privilege of seeking solace and support at the remarkable Ramsay Clinic Thirroul Mental Health, and words cannot adequately express the profound impact it had on my life. From the moment I entered the doors, I was enveloped by an atmosphere of genuine compassion, understanding and unwavering dedication to healing. The staff at the clinic demonstrated an extraordinary level of professionalism and expertise. Their commitment to providing personalised care and ensuring the well being of each individual was evident in every interaction.The nurses, therapist's, and support staff worked together seamlessly, fostering an environment where one could truly feel seen, heard and validated. What sets this clinic apart is their holistic approach to mental health. Through a combination of evidence based therapies, they offered a comprehensive treatment plan.The integration of various therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, reprocessing, art therapy, and mindfulness techniques, provided me with a well rounded healing experience. Group therapy sessions allowed me to connect with individuals who had experienced similar traumas creating a powerful of understanding and encouragement. In conclusion Ramsay Clinic Thirroul Mental Health Trauma is a beacon of hope and healing. Their compassionate staff, holistic approach serene environment and unwavering commitment to lasting recovery make it the epitome of excellence in Mental Health Care. I am eternally grateful for the transformative experience I had at this centre. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking genuine healing and restoration.

Isabelle Ava

It has taken me many months to be able to write this review. My admission here left me retraumatised and I am still dealing with the aftermath. I could write an essay about my experiences but will try to keep it concise.

Admissions team were inept and just getting admitted was a debacle that left me emotionally drained.

The majority of the nursing staff were not mental health trained, let alone trauma informed in their practice. There were hardly any permanent nursing staff, which led to many shifts being run by casual and agency staff who had none or very little experience working there or in any mental health setting. Some shifts were also staffed with all males. It was very hard to develop rapport and safety with staff as a result. There were extensive waits for medications and errors were often made. Unless you sought out care, nursing staff only saw patients every few hours for category checks. Nursing staff mostly sat in the nurses station. The NUM was not trauma informed and would yell and debase staff and patients alike.

There were some fantastic facilitators but they were few and far between. Aside from a few clinical psychologists, the rest of the facilitators were counsellors or registered nurses. There was no one-to-one support organised (it was all group therapy), and although facilitators would at times spend time with people for one-on-ones, this was usually reserved for those who were visibly distressed or those who were the most vocal. The allied health manager was rarely seen, and if she was, it was usually to chat with the NUM or to see her private patients for ‘catch up’s’. It was a rule that whilst admitted, patients were not allowed to see their private psychologists. This made things very difficult as the subject matter was often triggering, but you were not allowed to discuss trauma details.

Psychiatrists and the CMO were often sick or away which resulted in short consults. At one stage there was one psychiatrist covering about 20 patients at once… we would receive a text informing us that it would be a 15min consult so the psychiatrist could get through everyone.

The somatic therapist (Jean) was fantastic and I and many others found her more supportive and helpful than any other staff. The catering staff were also lovely and very kind. They often cared more about the patients wellbeing than the rest of the staff. The facilities were modern and boutiquey and all rooms were single. The location was also idyllic.

I was really hopeful that RCT was going to help me process my trauma and move forward. On paper the facility looks fantastic. Unfortunately I have left RCT more traumatised, which sadly is the situation many women who have been there are now in.

I think this place has so much potential but currently, I would not recommend anyone go here- especially if you are vulnerable or struggling with your mental health. I hope things improve and the hospital is able to provide quality, trauma informed programs for women who desperately need them.

Mays Aljaberi

My experience with this hospital was extremely disappointing. Despite clearly stating my need for trauma processing on my submission form, the program offered only basic techniques like breathing exercises and meditation, which did not address my needs at all. There was a strict prohibition on discussing trauma, even within the group or with other patients.

The head psychologist, Meryan (if I recall her name correctly), seemed unaware of my diagnosis or different mental health conditions, which was concerning given her role. This lack of understanding made me feel unheard and unsupported. Overall, the program felt like a waste of time, and I left early feeling more distressed than when I arrived.

It's disheartening that the hospital seems unwilling to accept constructive feedback. They discouraged negative comments and encouraged only positive feedback, which is misleading to potential patients.

I regret not heeding the warnings from others about this place. I cannot recommend this hospital based on my experience. It's crucial for mental health facilities to prioritize patient needs and provide effective, respectful care. If you're seeking treatment for trauma, I would advise looking elsewhere for more appropriate support.

Smarty girls social club member

We all want perfect - but life doesn’t often come that way. This place is not perfect .. but it’s growing towards a better approach and there are so many people that really care.

I can honestly say that I leave this place a little better, a little less lonely and with a few new friends.

Sure I had a few tricky moments and I needed to be seen and heard. And I was. I had to be brave. I had to reach out. I had to find my voice.

No one can make us better. Sometimes we want that. It’s our life, with all those experiences we bring. No one here will fix those bits. No one can but us - individually and together.

So I am so pleased I came. I never imagined that I would say that. I think it’s the best fit for us, the ones who are a bit tired, a bit lonely a bit self / other love deprived. The ones that want to belong but for whatever reason - we got left behind.

I would suggest bringing a doona, an under blanket and some warm clothes. Perhaps an openness to something. The sunrise is great.
The relationships are healing. The property is comfortable (though the ac is a bit cold)

This is genuine. I’m glad I came

TAS

Telling patients they cannot talk about trauma or their trauma in a trauma centre is equivalent to telling an alcoholic at alcoholics anonymous NOT to talk about alcohol.

I am unable to find any evidence-based research that supports this harmful rule. In fact,the research I found says this kind of approach is an act of suppression reinforcing avoidance and shame.

To allow other patients the power and opportunity to shut down others' voices and thoughts IS toxic and does not make group therapy safe. I endured and witnessed it constantly being weaponised by entitled, attention- seeking women who by their own admissions of co-diagnosis of Adhd have attention seeking behaviors which are harmful to others. Research consistently says AdHd people are not suitable for group therapy for this reason as as well as people who are easily triggered and cannot self regulate and demand others to be suppressed instead. Either implement immediately the group rule that only the facilitator can ask/tell a patient to reign in their story or shut down groups before someone is physically attacked by another patient or self harms due to the daily trauma of being suppressed, dismissed and silenced by chaos-causing drama queens who thrive on hurting and controlling others.

Angelina Raappana

Unfortunately, I have witnessed the re-traumatization of my one of my closest friends at this terrible "trauma facility".
Ramsay Clinic Thirroul misdiagnosed her, overdosed her and isolated her.

Her limited psychiatric appointments were abrupt, belittling and unhelpful.

In art therapy she was asked not to share her artwork as it would be to traumatic for the other participants.

Patients were not allowed to share in group (what's the point of group?) because it could traumatise other participants. Nor were they able to discuss the reasons they were at the facility outside of group (for the same reason).

I have multiple text communications between myself and my friend from her time at this horrendous place. I have encouraged her to pursue this medical negligence further.
I am posting this now with her permission.

From all the accounts I have heard of from people that went into Ramsey Clinic Thirroul for treatment, most have come out worse than they went in.

It definitely needs an audit, an investigation and an overhaul.

I am just so grateful she was strong enough to survive the experience.

Tennille Gaffney

This place was amazing. The nurses, coordinators and doctors were all lovely, caring and helpful.

I was terrified going in and nearly didn’t go. I am so glad I went. I was given the confidence to reach out and ask for help. There was always someone available to listen.

I found myself again in there. I came out with so much knowledge and knowing who I am. I also met some lovely people in there. I have gained so much confidence that I have been able to take out from RCT.