"I didn't feel they considered my feelings on Iris Ward"

i spent several weeks on iris ward and to be honest i found the experience awful. i found many of the staff rude and abrupt and i didn't feel they considered my feelings as a patient. during my time there i felt i was spoken to like a child and patronised which frustrated me greatly. in my opinion i was treated like my views and opinions counted for nothing.

i found the consultations a daunting experience, and i often felt like the consultant would not take on board what i was saying and would not listen to how i was feeling.

whilst i was on one to one observations i felt the majority of the staff did not give me any dignity whilst i was tending to my personal care, i felt violated at being watched going to the toilet and showering - it felt like a form of abuse.

i was told that i could be sectioned in a way that i found threatening and told i would be locked in seclusion if i did not co operate which i found to be harsh. in general i felt like the staff i encountered abused their power over the patients and treated me very badly. i feel sorry for other patients who might feel too intimidated to share their experiences - i think something needs to be changed about this ward urgently.

also there was a lot of misscommunications between myself and the staff, as well as property going missing which frustrated me greatly.

in my opinion, any patient who manages to stay sane in this ward deserves a medal!

on a positive note not all staff were bad and i got on really well with some of them.