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Care Opinion

Drugs and alcohol

Posted By Rutzs7

"Drugs and alcohol"

About: Addiction services (community) / John Storer Clinic, Community Drug Team Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust / Addiction services (community) Nottinghamshire Probation Trust / Substance misuse services

(as a staff member posting for a patient/service user),

I have used drugs and alcohol problematically on and off for many years. I have had a drug worker at John Storer and at Castle Key Probation, but have struggled to get of drugs for any length of time. I am now almost at the end of my time at the Woodlands, where I have been detoxed from heroin and alcohol. I will be going to Rehab in a few days time. My experience at the Woodlands has been brilliant. The staff are all good and helpful. I think it really helps to have workers who are themselves ex-users. They understand more of what we are going through. I have had used some of the therapies and have found them very useful, the relax me and fill time.

I think that one of the main problems for patients is boredom. I have gone to the gym every day but even that is closed sometimes. There needs to be more groups that people can attend. Sometimes there are not enough staff to run the groups they have planned. I think it would also help if there were staff available to take patients out in the evening to do activities such as going bowling.

I now feel that with the help I have had from the Woodlands that I am now ready to go into rehab.

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Responses

Response from Kevin Howard, The Woodlands Deputy Manager, Substance Misuse Services, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 11 years ago
Kevin Howard
The Woodlands Deputy Manager, Substance Misuse Services,
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Submitted on 28/05/2012 at 15:23
Published on Care Opinion at 15:38

Thank you so much for giving us this feedback!!

We welcome any feedback, its how we continue to move forward as a service. Hearing your story and to know that The Woodlands played some positive part in your recovery is fantastic and I have made sure I've shared it with the rest of the staff team. We're particularly encouraged that you've engaged positivly with our peer support worker. We find the work she does invaluable so I'm glad you found the same!

Unfortunately boredom can become an issue during the detox period, particularly if (as you obviously were) you are ready to "move on". We try to offer as broad a recovery programme as possible at The Woodlands, trying to find something for everyone. This can be difficult and spread us a little thin at times! In addition to this we have sufferred from staff sickness in recent months. I can only apologise for this but please be reassured that our recovery programme is under constant review and your comments will be taken on board.

We all wish you every success in the future, particularly during this next phase of your recovery at residential rehab!

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Response from Paul Theed, Matron, Specialist services, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 11 years ago
We have made a change
Paul Theed
Matron, Specialist services,
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 30/05/2012 at 15:48
Published on Care Opinion at 16:04

Hello Rutz7,

Firstly please let me apologise for my late response to your opinion, I have had problems logging on! It is nice to hear that your stay in the woodlands was a good one. I note your view of and Kevin’s response to boredom. We do offer a full range of recovery orientated programmes and activities (I saw a group of service users out on bikes yesterday for example). I will ask the care and environment co-ordinator and our peer support worker to monitor this over the next few weeks at the client meetings.

I will post a further response on here with their views/outcomes and will let you know of any changes we do as a result.

I also see the manager of the unit on a regular basis, my next 1 - 1 is next week, so I will discuss this with him.

Once again thank you and good luck with your continued recovery.

Paul Theed - Matron Specialist Services Directorate.

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Response from Paul Theed, Matron, Specialist services, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 11 years ago
We have made a change
Paul Theed
Matron, Specialist services,
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 31/05/2012 at 12:07
Published on Care Opinion at 15:45

Hello Rutz7 again.

The staff team including the manager and the peer support worker have had a discussion about this issue this morning following my request for a review of peoples involvement/boredom issues to them yesterday as a direct response from your post.

they have noted that peoples lives on the woodlands are very different from those on the outside side so to speak. this can lead to people feel bored as they are not as busy as they are in the community. in many instances a persons activities are associated with their addiction.

This, they have reflected, is an integral part of treatment and they are going to run groups looking specifically at this issue. The team will design a specific group that tackles boredom. What boredom actually means, what it means to them and ways to fill time so as not to become bored. We have for sometime been addressing this issue by looking at ways to fill their time when they leave the unit, looking at motivation and hobbies and interests. We do this in one to one sessions and several of the recovery groups.

Your response has prompted us to look at things differently.

Thank you.

Paul

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