"I was at all times treated with care, compassion and courtesy"

Let’s face it, no one wants to end up in a psychiatric ward in a hospital because they have mental health problems. Whether or not we like it there is still a huge stigma associated with having a mental health illness, and with being a patient in a hospital where such illnesses are treated.

As a daughter of the north east of Scotland I grew up with the fear of the dreaded word Cornhill, often said in whispered tones, for example, a sentence said by one person to another - She’s been in Cornhill recently! The word hospital seemed to have been dropped from its title, as if it was some sort of asylum or strange institution that shouldn’t be spoken about in polite society. This kind of thinking is what I grew up with.

I am writing this account in the hope of dispelling some of the myths that exist about a hospital which, in my own recent experience, provided excellent professional care at a time when I was at my lowest and most ill. I am thankful that the Royal Cornhill Hospital and its caring, compassionate staff were there for me at my time of greatest need.

I suffer from Bipolar Affective Disorder, and this was the first time I have been in hospital because of my condition. After a year of doing failed medication changes in the community, I had reached total breakdown point. I couldn’t eat, sleep, was suffering from acute panic attacks (waves of dread hitting me regularly) and was deeply depressed. My husband was doing his best to support me, but it got to the stage he needed to be around for me all the time as I was scared to be left on my own – I was starting to fear I might harm myself due to the acute emotional pain I was experiencing. One morning I simply couldn’t carry on, and got my husband to phone our local GP Surgery and tell them I was having a breakdown: me, and my life, had ground to a halt.

The NHS is much vilified because of long waiting times for operations, appointments etc, but I have to say I saw the NHS at its best when I needed help. A next day emergency psychiatric appointment was arranged for me and I had an appointment with a very understanding and compassionate psychiatrist. He quickly saw how unwell I was, and that inpatient care to sort out my medication issues and acute stress and depression symptoms would be beneficial to me. At that time I knew I needed the help offered, and that hospital was the place I needed to be. I was admitted that same day as an informal patient.

The Royal Cornhill Hospital is built in beautiful surroundings and the hospital itself looks modern and well-kept. On entering the Fraser Ward I found the staff friendly and attentive to my needs – they made me feel welcome and introduced themselves to me. The patients too in the ward made me feel welcome. My childhood images of an unfriendly and austere institution were highly inaccurate.

In the first 2 days of my stay I was seen by 3 junior doctors who took lots of notes, asked lots of questions, while trying to accurately build up a picture of what had led me to being in hospital. At no point did I feel judged, and in fact I could see the care and concern in their eyes. They really did care about me and my health. Nurses (and student nurses) too spent time chatting with me, assuring me they would be there if I needed them, even just to chat. I felt valued at all times, and was treated with courtesy and respect.

An integral part of my treatment were regular appointments with the psychiatrist who had seen me that first day when I had an emergency appointment. During these appointments we discussed the way forward, how I would come off one medication and go onto another one, and that my response to the treatment would be monitored. I knew exactly what would be happening and was given plenty of opportunities to ask questions. The psychiatrist was caring and thoroughly professional.

I am fortunate, in that once off the old medication and onto a new one my health and mental well-being improved quickly, and within days I started to feel better. Within a week I was feeling healthier than I had felt in over a year, and after 11 nights in hospital I was discharged, feeling like I was a new woman.

Being in hospital in a psychiatric ward was an eye-opener at times, but I can only sing the praises of the staff of the Royal Cornhill Hospital. I was at all times treated with care, compassion and courtesy, and by a staff of very skilled professionals. I have returned to the people I love in a far healthier condition than when I entered hospital, and am looking forward to rebuilding my life doing the activities I love.

Thank you to all at Royal Cornhill Hospital for making this possible.