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I would conceal a crisis from my Care Coordinator to avoid r...

Posted By toocold

"I would conceal a crisis from my Care Coordinator to avoid returning"

About: Lakeside Unit / Finch Ward

(as the patient),

I was admitted to Finch Ward after a suicide attempt approximately 3 years ago. I was extremely depressed. I've suffered from Clinical depression for the last 30 years. This was my first suicide attempt.

When I got there the Ward was very cold. Winter had just kicked in and it seemed that they hadn't gotten around to getting the heating going. I was extremely cold in bed with not enough blankets to keep me warm. I requested some more blankets from the office but got nothing. When I went back to the office to request them again I was treated like I was a troublemaker. Finally, I had to get my sister to bring me in a duvet from home.

Another big problem was that there was no stimulation on the Ward, no television, no radio, no books, nothing. The only thing there seemed to be to do was to talk to other patients which wasn't altogether as therapuetic as you say you offer. The nurses didn't interact with the patients at all and just left them to their own devices. The nurses hung around the office all the time, just being among themselves.

Another thing I remember is that the whole place was painted white. Is this supposed to be therapeutic?

I would expect a psychiatric ward to be a place of refuge, a caring and warm environment. This wasn't my experience in Finch Ward.

The big problem for me is that if I'm suicidal again and I admit it to my Care-Coordinator, they will send me to a psychiatric ward such as yours to be on suicide watch etc.. But going to a place like Finch Ward is just going to a place of greater suffering than being at home. So I'm unwilling to be honest with them if that situation arises.

I don't understand why there aren't inspectors who can see all this, I feel that the staff are not caring for the patients.

Thank you for your time for reading this. I hope it can do some good.

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Responses

Response from Kiara Smith, Ward Manager, West London NHS Trust 7 years ago
Kiara Smith
Ward Manager,
West London NHS Trust

Submitted on 27/10/2016 at 12:23
Published on Care Opinion at 12:27

I am really sorry that you did not have a good experience when you were on the ward 3 years ago. I was not that manager at the time but have spoken to the service manager who assures me that Finch did have two TV’s on the ward. Unfortunately there were occasions when they were damaged by patients and there was a time delay in getting replacements. On the ward now we have encased the TV in a protective box which has reduced the chance of the TV being damaged and the ward has not been without a TV since I have been the ward manger the last 1 ½ years. The ward does have a good supply of books and also the Occupational Therapy department has a well-stocked library which is available for all patients. Currently the rooms on the ward are painted different colours and there are paintings and notice boards with on the walls. There are a range of activities offered by the occupational therapy department, music therapist, art therapy and nursing staff.

I apologise for the fact that you were cold when you were on the ward, sometimes the weather does catch us by surprise and there is a delay in the boilers being turned on as it required the maintenance staff to do this. However, we have adequate supplies of blankets available. I am really sorry that you had to get your own duvet and we will be mindful of these issues if they arise in the future.

We have daily meetings on the ward with patients and discuss the facilities available including activities both on the ward and in the OT department. Your feedback is very important and will take note of your experience and review our environment and facilities accordingly.

Over the last three years; services have changed dramatically. There are a range of optoins to support people experieincing mental helath crisis's both from community mental health services and inpatient services. These would be discussed with patients to ensure that they receive the most appropriate support at the time.

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