"Thank goodness for the mental health unit!"

Mymother was discharged from Kingswood ward, despite her family's concerns about her medical state which was disregarded by both medical and nursing staff.

I took her home reluctantly in the hope she would improve.

One week later her condition continued to deteriorate despite 2 G.P. visits that resulted in my mother being given an anti-depressant that will take 2 weeks to work.

Eventually my mother told the enablement carer she wanted to take her own life, and she called an ambulance.

After a 5 hour wait for an ambulance she arrived in A and E where the doctor was more concerned about her mental state than addressing her obvious medical needs of worsing heart failure.

Her blood pressure was very high and her legs and arms were so swollen she could hardly bend them, after being seen by the A and E doctor Mum was assessed by the mental health team and sent to the M.I. Unit at 1 am.

Later that morning her blood pressure was extremely high and the mental health team were so concerned that she went back to A and E, sat in the waiting room, only when I asked did she get moved to a trolley.

Eventually she was then sent to Lionel Cosin ward.

Thank goodness for the common sense of the mental health team, who were wonderful.

They treated my mother like the vulnerable human being she is, they actually spoke to her treated her with compassion and concern.

Since being admitted to Lionel Cosin ward the care has been disappointing.

On the first day the nurse was very good, communicated as to what was going on without having to ask and was genuinely caring.

Since then my mum, who was able to walk has deteriorated into a little old lady that is left to sit with her eyes shut most of the time, has a wash, given some medication, given some soup.

However someone put the radio on the t.v. next to her, without asking her, as my mum doesn't like music and the TV was too far away for her to turn it off.

Staff come and see what she had eaten and walk away without a word.

It's inhumane, unkind and very sad.

Perhaps they think she has dementia?

Mum is depressed!!

The staff either don't have the skills to notice or don't care.

I know what will happen now despite my visiting everyday and not being given any information at all unless I ask - suddenly I will get many phone calls, she is 'medically' discharged, what are the home circumstances etc.

I wonder how many patients are not treated as a whole person?

No rappor with the staff, made to feel like they don't really matter, put in a hideous pink polyester nightdress even though their own nightwear is there and could be worn, my mother is not incontinent.

I was a nurse for 35 years and cannot believe how the care has deteriorated so much.

There seem to be more ward staff than ever, of many disciplines but they all look so bored and fed up.

There's no enthusiasm, no laughter, it must be awful to work there.