"My stay on B2"

My opinion about my stay on B2 ward is that there is not enough done to understand the psychology of the patient.

It has taken until this year for my mind to clear enough to remember the delusions I had whilst on B2.

The medical report says very little about my mental condition, just external behaviour.

The delusions stayed with me even when I had left B2, but no real observations were made by people supposed to be trained in mental health.

Medication may play a part in mental health, but there should be more focus on psychology and counselling to understand the patient's story and help them find ways of coping better, perhaps we would see fewer suicides then, as people on medication often feel trapped and hopeless in their condition.

Whilst on B2 the staff disregarded my wife's input and would not communicate with her, they were rude and ignorant to her.

If they had communicated properly with her they would have gained insight into my mental health, this may have reduced the amount of time spent on the ward and freed up a bed, which are in such short supply.

I hold the nurse given responsibility for me wholly to blame.

If they had checked case history and communicated properly with my wife/carer they would have gained insight into how I present normally and have been more able to care for me appropriately.

Their disrespect for my wife and to her was uncalled for and they still owe her an apology for the disrespect. 

Presenting as over familiar is mentioned in the medical report, it is totally out of character for me, again this kind of thing really ought to be discussed with immediate family and carers, else you are treating someone whilst being blindfolded.

We (my wife and I ) had received testimony that B2 were bad for communicating with patient's family and carers, we now know for ourselves how that feels.

Also we had been advised not to use PALS by another friend but we tried, just to get fobbed off with excuses. Twice we have used PALS to no avail. We find the system inadequate to the real needs of the patient and the system for complaints to be a total disappointment for them too.

Our trust in the NHS is greatly diminished for my safety and welfare, which would take too long to go into now.

My wife and I have struggled through the last 2 and a half years not knowing who to trust anymore, because B2 and the rest of the system let us down.

I really do believe the methods for assessing mental health need to be examined and more thorough questions need to be asked of the patient to be able to discern or perceive properly the patient's state of mind.

Medication may calm them down, but doesn't get to the deeper rooted problems of thoughts and emotions which all contribute.

I hope to hear of changes within the mental health sector.