"Compassionate staff in a difficult situation"

Due to social circumstances I ended up staying on Vickers 3 at The Northern General for over 8 months in total. I have complex mental health problems which can be difficult to manage and disruptive at times and qualified mental health professionals can struggle. An acute medical ward is not the right environment for me and negatively affects my mental health. The team on Vickers 3 never gave up on me, even when things got really tough, really hard for me and for the ward. They showed compassion, a willingness to understand me and get to know what helps and what doesn't. They saw me as a whole human being and not just a patient, they empowered me to have a better quality of life when I was more well, and supported me through the tough times. Although I didn't want to have to be in hospital this long, I am so grateful for the team for all they have done for me.