Berrywood Hospital

Berrywood Hospital 2023-08-11 Person 4 5 0

Berrywood Hospital 2023-08-11 Person 5 5 0

Great nurse.

Nothing.

Berrywood Hospital 2023-08-11 Person 5 5 0

Great staff.

N/A.

Berrywood Hospital 2023-08-11 Person 4 5 0

Its good.

Its all good.

Berrywood Hospital 2023-08-11 Person 5 5 0

Berrywood Hospital 2023-08-11 Person 4 5 0

It's very good.

Berrywood Hospital 2023-08-11 Person 5 5 0

Consistantly very good.

Berrywood Hospital 2023-08-11 Person 5 5 0

Berrywood Hospital 2023-08-11 Person 5 5 0

Berrywood Hospital 2023-07-12 Person 1 5 0

Transferred to Bay Ward (acute) despite my S3 treatment plan being intensive therapy, not simply medication. NHFT knew Bay Ward could not provide the treatment and as a result discharged me after 1 week as the S3 was essentially void. No one should be discharged simply because of a technicality. I left with missing or incorrect dosages of medications, no care plan, and a copy of a letter to my GP with information about referrals that had never been made. Assumptions were made about my autism without anyone making the effort to even get to know me. The only saving grace of Bay Ward is Dr. [name removed], who thankfully is kind, understanding and genuinely cares about the well-being of his patients. It is unfortunate his hands are tied by the abhorrent practices of the NHFT. Bay Ward was extremely traumatising and I was made to feel ashamed, treated like a child, patronised and helpless. The NHFT throw S3 patients in there regardless of what their needs for treatment or level of support are and then wash their hands of responsibility if, god forbid, your treatment plan isn’t just medication. RUN.

Literally everything. The exceptions are [name removed] [name removed], the OT ([name removed]?), junior doctor [name removed], student nurse [name removed], and [name removed] (personality disorder link worker) who were incredibly kind and sympathetic to my situation, listened to me and advocated for me. Bay Ward is NOT autistic friendly, despite their “sensory room”. Lights are fluorescent and horrible. The nature of an acute ward, especially when you’re there as someone not in need of acute and rapid stabilisation, means the noises, behaviour and leaving your room is highly distressing. Absolutely no regard for comfort, rooms are like prison cells. I’ve been in other safe rooms in hospitals that at least provide adequate but safe bedding. Staff are not trained in dealing with autistic people. Assumptions are made purely if you have a diagnosis and you’re treated like you lack capacity. Referrals were denied on the basis of my autism despite no one ever talking to me about how I am affected by my condition. No regard or care for how distressing the unfamiliar environment is. The layout of the ward is confusing and scary. Day and night staff are kind and genuinely want to help but have their hands tied by utterly dreadful management. Laziness and negligence in terms of ward doctors not sourcing the correct medication (I arrived at 3pm, they knew I was arriving of course and yet my medications were not sourced, so I was left unwell all night). Higher level staff made me feel ashamed, the first thing the ward [name removed] said to me on arrival was “you do know you’ll never be able to go to America as you’re on a section 3”. I was inconsolably distressed from the transfer and hearing that made me feel like my mental health was my fault and I felt like the scum of the earth and like my life was over. What could be done better is as follows: 1. Proper training and support if autistic patients absolutely do need to be admitted, not just a superficial “sensory room”. That does not act as a plaster on the extremely non autistic friendly environment. No knowledge about autism, outdated terms such as “high functioning” are thrown around which is offensive and denies the varied experiences of autistic people. 2. Staff treating patients as adults who deserve respect and kindness. This does not go for all staff. Less patronising, shaming and blaming needs to be enacted. I was made to feel demanding simply for advocating for myself, and like it was my fault referrals were rejected. 3. Ward doctors need to ensure medication is sourced for incoming patients. There is no excuse if the arrival is expected, especially not if it’s before 5pm. It leaves the night staff to deal with the consequences and leaves patients without vital medication needed to maintain their physical and mental health. 4. More explanation about everything. I had no idea when I was seeing the consultant, no idea how or when meds were done, no idea where I was even going on the ward, where I could go or if it was even safe, because it did not feel that way. 5. Reassurance of safety around other patients. I was terrified the whole time. This was a failing of the NHFT by putting a non acute patient on an acute ward, but this should have been recognised and I should have been supported in terms of being in the wrong place and the terror that comes with that. 6. Person centred care is MAJORLY lacking. I was given no help completing a safety plan, my needs or possible treatment as an inpatient were never discussed (although, in hindsight, this was because the plan was likely to always discharge me as soon as possible), I was not involved in decisions regarding accepting or denying referrals, no one ever spoke to me about how my autism affects me and my mental health. It’s a one size fits all place, and that size is heavy duty medication intended for stabilisation of very very poorly patients. 7. Terrible management which causes a major lack of consistency between staff. You never knew who to go to or talk to, there are no psychologists or therapists, only OTs who are great but not effective in that environment. Attitudes of staff differed so much it was jarring, to the point it felt unsafe to approach certain staff members, meaning you had to wait until you could speak to someone you felt safe with. 8. Discharge. Utterly dreadful. They got me out as soon as possible (likely because the S3 was void as my treatment wasn’t available). Rushed discharge meant I had no 117 assessment, no care plan, no support ready for me in the community, no CTR. They knew I had autism and needed things written down or said clearly. This was not done, causing confusion and distress. Referrals they said had been made were never done until I myself chased them up with the council. Then magically a referral was made. They try and get away with the bare minimum, and they REALLY don’t like it if you advocate fiercely for yourself.