"Disappointed in the care my son received"

I am writing on behalf of my son who was admitted to the Caludon Centre under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act in 2011. This is our first experience of the new acute services for Rugby where according to earlier press releases we were promised much;-

• “The changes will mean better access for patients and carers to the right mental health services at the right time”.

• “Moving the in-patient facilities into the new purpose-built Caludon Centre is essential to ensure the right mental health services for the people of Warwickshire.”

• “Moving the in-patient facilities to the Caludon Centre will mean that patients can be treated in a new purpose-built unit that is more suitable for providing modern mental health care”.

• “We have listened carefully to what people have said about these proposals and we support the option which will provide better access to safer, high quality mental health services for local people.”

My son was initially admitted on a voluntary basis early in the year but was discharged 3 days later because of inappropriate behaviour, despite protests from the Community team that they had not been given time to put things in place for his return. He was admitted again to the Caludon Centre under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act 2 days later.

On one of my visits later in that month I arrived on the ward in the evening to find that in the words of the nurse he is off the ward. I was assured by the staff that he would only be away for 30 minutes. I waited almost 2 hours before leaving and asked the staff what would happen now, I was told that he had probably gone to the pub and that if he wasn’t back in the next hour he would be brought back by the police. Is this what is meant by Modern Mental Health care?

I subsequently understand from a member of staff that he was eventually returned to the ward around midnight brought back by the Police from his home.

The question needs to be asked how a patient under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act, who shortly before had to be escorted by 2 people within the hospital to the coffee shop, was suddenly allowed out of the hospital for free periods of 30 minutes?

I am so disappointed with the care received so far, this is not the service we were promised, I don’t feel that my son’s condition has been fully understood or has it been recognised how quickly his mental health can deteriorate if he does not receive the appropriate care. This should not happen as I understand that all of my son’s previous records can be accessed electronically.

I have just finished piecing together my Son’s movements during the week before being admitted to the Caludon Centre. It appears he was rampaging with a semi dangerous weapon before being picked up by the police; this could have ended so badly. He made unwise decisions with his money that week also, spending a lot of money. So far I don’t know where he got the money but I think it will turn out to be a bank loan which raises the question of how a bank can lend money to someone so clearly ill and also on benefits.

It was a great relief that he was finally detained so that he could receive the care he so desperately needs. However this was not before he had completely trashed his flat for the second time. The council flat is so bad this time that I am unable to put it right and if this is not done he is at risk of being evicted as it is clearly a Public health issue. Imagine my dismay when my son was discharged from Hospital two days after being admitted to go back to this horrendous mess which by the way is still in this condition.

This present acute episode has been developing since he voluntarily underwent an Alcohol detox in 2011 in order to get his life together. We had 2 fantastic months when he was without alcohol, was functioning well and really getting himself together. However after years of alcohol abuse I believe the abstinence has taken its toll of his mental health and he has found it increasingly difficult to cope and has finally resorted to other substances to replace the alcohol leading to his present condition. He was still not drinking when he was admitted to the centre and had been regularly attending AA meetings and was doing an adult learning class.

Since the last acute episode many years ago, the Community team have worked tirelessly to help maintain my son’s function in the community. It was only in the last weeks before he was admitted that the Crisis Team were involved in monitoring his care on a daily basis as he wasn’t taking his medication as prescribed.

I subsequently made a formal complaint to the hospital and the Care Quality Commission and received a letter of apology from the hospital about the lapses in the acute care given.