"harmful experience"

My child has left this hospital in a significantly worse condition than when she was admitted 4 weeks ago. My overall feeling of the time there was traumatic. My child was not sectioned and was therefore a voluntary inpatient. On a number of occasions she was physically restrained and injected with medication which resulted in her sleeping for a few hours. It was as a result of me calling to speak to my daughter several times and finding she was sleeping that I found this out. My child told me not the staff in all but one incident of medication given. On admission it was over 72 hours before she was assessed and almost a week before having an induction to education (a department which was superb). At no time in the first week was I briefed on procedures, visiting times, phone call policies, treatment etc. I was left in the dark. It was literally a week before I had the answers. I was permitted to speak/meet with the team on on only two occasions in the month. On the weekend she was discharged I received a call at 3.30pm on Thursday afternoon advising a decision had been made on the ward round an hour before that she could have home leave. I was asked to collect her immediately which was entirely impractical due to distance and other children. I advised I could come the following day which the nurse having consulted with her colleague advised it was acceptable however she would be discharged then. This is what happened, She was discharged from this hospital on Friday although she was still clearly very unwell and not stable in the community.

She was within 10 hours of discharge admitted to another hospital. I have contacted Godden Green hospital on 3 occasions, requesting they locate her belongings that were kept from her as a safety precaution whilst in their care. No response has been received .

Whilst there were a handful of supportive people there, which I sadly cannot give credit to on this site as it states it wont be published if names are used it is true to say that 80 per cent of my calls to the ward were met with no compassion, patience or detail of Charlotte's well being. Frequently the nurses were at best unhelpful, even arrogant, it felt like 'them an us'. Once again sadly I cannot give credit on here to the few that demonstrated kindness to myself and my child as it wont be published. The ones that brought my child to the car had been superb throughout. It is such a shame that we had such and awful experience at Cygnet at a time which is immensely difficult.

My child is now in a NHS hospital which is supportive of parents and patients in every way offering weekly parent support groups and ongoing daily updates on any incidents, treatment plans etc. I now trust this team and believe my child will benefit enormously.