"Grateful for helpful and progressive mental health inpatient care"

I recently spent around 5 weeks in Rutherford Ward of Gartnaval Royal Hospital, where I experienced excellent, person-centred and progressive mental healthcare. Having been in many psychiatric hospitals in my lifetime, I expected that the patient/professional relationships would be hierarchical in nature, evidencing the unequal power dynamics that can be experienced in psychiatric services. However, I was delighted to witness and experience equal human-to-human interactions between staff and patients where I felt respected at all times and treated as the adult that I am.

This was a new experience for me in a psychiatric hospital, as historically (but also recently elsewhere), I have found the approach of many mental health services to be paternalistic, as if patients are children and subordinate to healthcare staff. 

It is relevant to mention my previous negative experience because this highlights the progressive stark contrast with my experience at Rutherford ward in Gartnaval. The approach of the nursing staff was professional, while also being equal and relational. Of course, this was a psychiatric hospital, which meant that at times, there were necessary restrictions and processes, but to me, the relaxed and human attitude of the nursing staff seemed to balance out any ideas of unequal power or unfair dominance.

This is the first time in countless hospital admissions that I could confidently say I do not have a single negative memory of the healthcare I received, and for that, I am truly grateful. This was not only helpful for my mental health during my admission, but I believe this experience was also quite reparative in terms of challenging my cynicism regarding mental health services. 

Another area that I feel is important to mention is how well this ward seemed to run. Being an observant person, I was astounded by how efficiently the ward operated. It seemed to run like clockwork, and any unexpected disruptions on the ward were responded to quickly and efficiently, with little to no lasting impact on the routine or others. I frequently found myself wondering what Rutherford Ward had that wards I have been in previously didn't have, for there to be such a stark contrast in approach and efficiency.  However, as I only have an outsider lens, I have no idea why there are such differences. 

This efficiency extended to the role of the domestics. Again, the diligence and due care and attention to the cleaning of patient rooms and ensuring lunches/dinners were on time, hot and what was ordered, took me by surprise. 

Lastly, it is also important to mention the medical staff. I was grateful that my preference for a female doctor was agreed to, as this can make it easier for me to communicate. I valued the direct and no-nonsense approach of my consultant, who, at the same time, seemed down-to-earth and open to me disagreeing with her. Such an approach means I am not left ruminating afterwards, as everything that needs to be said is said in the moment, and thus, I am not having to try to read between the lines and explore multiple guesses at what might have been implied but not directly said. In my experience, such a direct approach that allows both parties this transparency enables the development of trust, which is crucial in healthcare relations. I am grateful to have experienced this.

I am still in the process of building myself back up after this setback in my mental health, but I feel my experience in Rutherford Ward has given me a sound and hopeful grounding to progress from. I am grateful to the staff who helped in more ways than I am sure they know of. Thank you so much.