"Mental Health Services."

In 2020 I was in an state. I had struggled with MH issues for all my adult life but had managed them well and was a functional adult with a good job, good family life etc. 

Having a baby exacerbated issues and created new ones. These coupled with the isolation and loss of support during lock down meant I had to seek help from MHservices. 

I was referred to nurse at Atherleigh who I felt tried to convince me that it would be better for me to go home. I know now that if I had gone home that night I would be dead. Thankfully though they really did take on board my feelings on the matter when I said for my own safety I need admitting. So I thank them. 

When I was admitted everyone was very kind and considerate. 

The only issue I has was on day 3 or 4.

For the first 2 days I had been made to isolate in my room due to covid guidelines. This was fine and helped me a lot. I was seen by a doctor who after being told about my issues prescribed me medications to help me sleep and to help my acute issue. On the 3rd day I was allowed out but hadn't been told what I was expected to do. I stayed in my room though because at the time I couldn't even face myself in a mirror. I didnt want to face other people. I wasn't told that I was expected to do anything so I really just slept and left myself with my feelings which really, was what I needed. A safe environment so when it got overwhelming I had someone there checking that I hadn't done anything irreversibly unsafe. 

One day I came out of my room in the morning to ask the nurse if I could have my PRN medication. My nurse shoved a cup into my hand with a leaflet on guidance regarding PRN medication. I was quite upset about this as they were insinuating I had an issue with asking for PRN medication. The medication I had actually asked for was analgesia that I have been prescribed for years prior to this admittance, that I was actually prescribed as a regular medication. I expressed my discomfort with this and said I know exactly why RN medication is given I am a registered nurse, and left to go to my room. 

This person later came to me and tried to admonish me stating I am not allowed to talk to them like that. I felt like I was being spoke to like a child in a school. I had not spoken to them badly. Not raised my voice, no bad language, nothing that could be considered rude (I actually pride myself on conflict resolution anyway and despite my situation I had not escalated things, I had simply answered to the shoving of a pamphlet in my hand but this nurse seemingly did not like being challenged. 

When I explained I understand PRN medications and having only asked them for once, the response didn't make sense. They then called me, and a drug seeker and that it was obvious because I had not engaged with services. I got upset at this and said I was amazed they were allowed to speak this way to a patient because. I tried to explain that my medication is a pain medication, and even if it wasn't, I had been told to ask for my new inpatient PRN as and when I needed it during the first days of being acutely in a mental health crisis.  I explained my 'lack of engagement with services' was because of me being in isolation and then not being told I was expected to go and do poetry and painting

This nurse didn't like my reply and got quite abrasive and I found their manner threatening. I have never cried during an encounter with a nurse but I did then. I now wish that I had asked for someone to be there as I felt from their demeanour as soon as they entered the room that they considered this a confrontation.  Honestly this encounter had me really worried and I did question that if I was a more vulnerable adult who didn't know the healthcare system well, how would it have gone? I spoke to the manager about it but I'm unsure if anything was reported. I expect that things can be documented quite well to turn the depressed and suicidal person into the person in the wrong. 

when I was able to leave my room, I got talking to a few of the patients, some of who had been there a while. I explained what had happened and before I could even say the nurses name they all looked at each other and said the right name. I didn't confirm, but these patients stated the nurse had form for being like this. 

 

I'm sad that this has taken up so much of my message to you because I cannot rate the healthcare assistants enough. The assistant who admitted (the admittance documents) me was extremely thorough and had a quiet but professionalism about her that I thought was brilliant. She later went on to comfort me after I was upset about missing my child which showed how capable she was at being professional but then at giving comfort. I always regret not getting her name.

One of the nurses who was my named nurse, was fantastic. I've since seen her in my own job and gave her my thanks; she is the epitome of a good nurse. Another also came to me after the discussion with the doctor to highlight something I'd said, telling me about research she'd been doing into the subject.  Things she mentioned were really important to my recovery (diet in relation to hormonal disorders) and again, I thank her so much