Voluntary admission to psychiatric hospital

[embleton]

Two weeks ago I was experiencing auditory hallucinations, thoughts edging on psychosis with war references, loud clicks and sensory circular-pressure in one inch circles around my skull; a most unpleasant experience, with that in mind I phoned a doctor, occupational therapist and home treatment in the space of two hours after taking PRN medication of haloperidol and diazepam, as the medication did not have the desired effect of reducing an almost switch into psychosis.

After speaking to the home treatment they advised I sign myself into the psychiatric hospital, which I did for I didn't wish a mental health section, and I thought it best to be in a relatively safe environment. Fortunately the voluntary admission allowed me freedom in the day to travel home with their permission during daylight hours, but the fact I was locked behind a door in the hospital isn't something I consider acceptable human rights wise; if you're physically ill then this treatment would not be acceptable but for those that are mentally ill it is the norm and unacceptable in my opinion.

My last admission was just over a year ago when I completely stopped the medication over a long period, and even though I didn't do that on this occasion the result was still the same a relapse after a relatively short period, but because I was voluntary the admission was shorter. But the experience none the less was just as bad in a psychiatric hospital and very little has changed in that environment for patients, we are still treated like trash and second-class citizens by staff.

The staff slept at night instead of being on duty, ignore patient requests even when such requests are infrequent. Move around and respond to requests counted in hours rather than ten minutes or so, have poorly trained staff on duty. For a hospital ward of twenty-four, there was never more than one fully qualified psychiatric nurse on duty and psychiatric doctors are only available during your admission and once a week during ward rounds, when you're in a hospital for physical illnesses ward rounds are once a day.

One could request a doctor, but then your stay is likely to be longer, in reality, the only thing that is safe to do is to request powerful psychotropic medications that have several side effects and those are mostly unpleasant. Do the medications have the desired effects; well they place one in a very sedated state with confusion and concentration issues keeping you quiet so the staff can sit around watching TV, watching doors, patients that they can jump on for the slightest excuse to inject them with strong tranquilliser, as was the case almost twenty years ago. I was even refused PRN medication by a nurse on one occasion because it was late at night, and I hadn't exceeded the dose I was permitted to take during a span; her excuse was it's not available all the time! It's a hospital medication must be available 24/7 to reduce suffering, nurse.

The activities available to participate in during the evening was appalling, TVs in two areas were not available at all. The only activity that was available was walking around the ward and to a small garden outside that was available for smokers and others wishing some fresh air, ha!

Never once was I approached by a staff member to ask whether they could do anything to make my visit more therapeutic or even enjoyable. I felt completely ignored, rejected and the only people you can really approach are the other patients for companionship. The majority of staff members are poorly trained being only care assistants, of which they do not achieve for they believe they're bloody gods and salivate at the opportunity to control the ward environment to their personal liking, one of the lady care assistants had pleasure in forcing patients out of an area with the only TV at 11pm, basically so the staff could have their own nattering session between themselves with zero interest in helping and supporting those in the psychiatric hospital after that time.

And this place is the Glenbourne unit in Plymouth, for those that wish to know!

[embleton]

I've learnt that prone restraints are to be phased out by the NHS, in a report on the government site, next year by all hospitals in the England, which is a nice and welcome surprise and long overdue. Both physical and rapid sedation restraint are inhuman and the quicker we see them abolished the sooner I'll be happy, as a recipient of this method done far too quickly by staff in previous times to myself. Being forced to the floor by five staff members when they could have quite easily talked me down, and secluded as a method of punishment when you're ill isn't acceptable in my opinion, it is degrading and dangerous to the psychological and physical wellness of the patient.

I've also seen first-hand prone restraint carried out by staff on other patients for no other reason than to administer drugs, they did not resist, but still, they were forced to the floor to inject drugs, it is a barbaric practice that I welcome the abolishment of soon.