"Mulberry Ward"

My 16 year old daughter was voluntarily admitted to the ward. The hospital is 115 miles away from our home and I knew nothing about it before she went so had an open mind. This is my first experience of an in patient unit and so have nothing to compare it to.

The ward's notice board with photos and names of staff was totally out of date so it was hard knowing who was who. Staff didn't introduce themselves. Whilst the unit was clean enough, the place felt shabby and in need of maintenance and decoration. I was surprised to find out that on arrival patients are not allowed any personal possessions, including basic toiletries and clothes in their room for the first few days whilst they are assessed. However there was no system for keeping a record or storing personal possessions and things went missing, although they were later found. To my surprise, neither is there a procedure for logging, signing for or giving receipts for patient valuables such as money. When I raised this, staff nodded in agreement but nothing changed.

I was surprised that the patients are given a treat 'sweets, biscuits or cakes' at 8pm when staff handover. I wasn't sure of the rational behind this as it is an odd time of day for sugary food.

It was difficult to know what treatment was being offered to my daughter. Staff gave general updates when I called, but could never answer specific questions about her activities, care or progress. They would say general things such as she is calm, having a good day, no issues. On one day there had been an incident which I had been part of and when I called the next day to find out how she was the staff member knew nothing about it which amazed and appalled me. We never met her named nurse as she was on holiday the whole time my daughter was there. I don't understand the rational for allocating a named nurse who is away at the time. Not a good start....or welcome...

After 3 days, my daughter was assessed as being allowed into the garden area for 10 minutes with 2 staff but this was never provided as there were never enough staff to do this. She discharged herself after 9 days and in this time lived on the locked ward and did not have any natural light or fresh air which couldn't have been good for her mental health .

The education staff were proactive in asking me about her education history and I was given feedback about what she was doing in class. I was surprised not to have been asked for similar information by health professionals. I did not see the information sent when the admission was arranged so I don't know what they were told about her, but the ward did not check out anything with us.

My daughter wasn't there long enough to see if things would have improved or whether despite the experiences described above she would have benefitted in some way from being a patient. I doubt they could have helped her. I could not and would not recommend this hospital.