"I found the experience very mixed"

I was recently a patient in the Lomond Ward, in Stratheden, for the second time within a few months. Again, I found the experience very mixed.

The nurses are obviously too busy, with pretty much no spare time to chat, or change dressings etc. All nurses were very kind and caring, but spent all their time chatting between themselves, writing up notes, or giving out food at meal times.

Pretty much the only interaction with them, were if you got meds. There seems to be little acknowledge of anxiety issues, or eating habits, as it wasn't brought up if you didn't eat or attend meal times. If you require something, you have to approach a nurse, and this is sometimes extremely hard, especially when you've got to ask for something personal in front of four of them!

Even though I was hospitalised 'voluntarily', I had to wait a week just to see a doctor, even though I'd been asking to leave. Hard to tell the truth about how you're feeling in front of three individuals you don't know, and you just want to get home!