"Concerns re the stability of the Peaks Meaningful Activity Plan"

This is a letter written to a modern matron from a patient regarding the Peaks Meaningful Activity Plan:

I was not going to write as I was concerned I might come across as negative as I feel that we have little say in decision regarding future. However I feel the Meaningful Activity Plan (M. A. P. ) is worth fighting for and the potential loss of this concerns me. Patients and staff across the unit have been involved from the start and it was this collaborative approach that has made it the success it is, but rather than continuing to build on this I fear it will be pushed aside and the only thing on offer is being stuck in Chiltern.

I think that Chiltern sessions have terrible attendance % and it is hardly surprising as you are basically moving from one ward environment to another, then your stuck with the same bunch of people for 2-3 hours everyday 7 days a week!

Where as the M. A. P offers a range of activities across several locations with each session lasting an hour and as such we get a wider range of patients attending - last week we had 35 patient out of a potential 51, I think that is pretty fantastic and exactly what the M. A. P. was created for.

We have amazing facilities available up here and some incredible staff who go out of there ways to ensure sessions not only run but are enjoyable and feel welcoming.

I guess what I'm trying to say is finding this Chiltern business very disheartening and if the M. A. P. is to be phased out I'd sooner know so I can stop investing myself in it. If cancellations are the primary concern (of which there was only 1 day, sessions didn't run last month) then could we not make the M. A. P an ad-hoc timetable.

There is interest in attending Chiltern but I feel that no one wants to lose what we have all worked hard to build here - so would it be possible to enhance that?

At present the M. A. P. evening and weekend sessions work incredibly well and this is down to the collaborative working between staff and patients and the enhanced therapeutic relationships that have developed as a result.

It is felt that the need for change is Day Care Mon-Fri 9-4, as at present there is no structure (for example on my timetable I have a session Monday, and Thursday. The rest of the week I have nothing and I'm one of the lucky ones) so the best time for Peaks patients to access Chiltern would be Mon-Fri 9-4.

Ultimately I'm just a patient and have to accept my fate. Regardless what happens I don't want you to think I'm ungrateful for everything you've done for the Peaks as my life has been improved significantly and I'll be forever grateful.

Since your arrival you have promoted involvement in our treatment pathways and increased the sense of community across the Peaks. Staff and patients are united and the us and them approach resigned to history. At present the Peaks is a fantastic environment and the benefits of the M. A. P are clear to see.

Whatever the future, thank you for helping me feel normal.