Cambridge Street Day Hospital

Cambridge Street Day Hospital 2023-06-16 Person 1 5 0

It is interesting to see that there are two named psychiatrists working at this establishment. I was unfortunate enough to see a different one and when i repeatedly asked to change to a different psychiatrist, i was informed that she is the only one in Edinburgh. Which i clearly knew to be a lie. And it is proven here, when 2 others are mentioned. Many MH staff make the mistake of thinking that patients are stupid as opposed to ill. This place is an utter disgrace where patients are treated no better than pieces of human washed up waste. I am angry that they provided no help and angry at being patronised and treated as if i'm stupid. I am not and they need to grasp this concept.I would have had more effective " treatment " in the hells of Bedlam with their spinning chairs, ice baths, etc. This place needs to grapple with the 21st century and implement the changes. Shrinks are not God, despite their personal perceptions and a large dose of humility would do them the power of therapeutic good..because they have lost all sense of humanity and have no grasp whatsoever of the real world. Or of their place in the reality of society.

Cambridge Street Day Hospital 2023-04-10 Person 1 5 0

This place is an utter disgrace and the staff are uncaring at best and negligent at worse. Empathy is an alien concept and patients / clients are talked down to and treated as if we are stupid as opposed to being ill. Of all places, you would expect a mental health establishment to understand the multi faceted nature of mental distress and have the ability to differentiate this from levels of intelligence and cognitive functioning. But they don't. Mentally ill equates with a lack of cognitive ability and that's how patients are treated. They have done far more damage with their inabilities, ignorance and lack of basic human interactive skills. Let alone a contradictory psychiatrist, who lacks basic communication skills and is threatened when questioned. I lost all the hope that i had when i entered their doors.

Cambridge Street Day Hospital 2022-06-19 Person 1 5 0

I have had many years dealing with this place and i cannot criticise it enough. Their negligence, lack of care, inability to empathise and a psychiatrist who refuses to prescribe, is beyond disgraceful. I have many more problems now because of my involvement with this establishment. The only thing they are successful at is calling the police. Which is the last thing a vulnerable person needs. I felt patronised, not listened to and trivialised. All in all, my involvement with this place has led to more trauma and made me so fearful of people that i barely leave the house now. Their neglect and lack of any constructive help should be investigated by the powers that be. Many of the staff need retrained and the dead wood cut back. I have no idea why many of the staff work there as they seriously lack any people skills, empathy or basic humanity. I will never forget the damage this place and it's staff have caused me and my anger at having no rights or recourse. When you are labelled mentally ill all your basic human rights evaporate and you are treated as a sub species.

Cambridge Street Day Hospital 2022-05-11 Person 1 5 0

Abandon hope when you enter this domain. I will never ever deal with this place again. I have felt patronised, not listened to and everything has been a battle especially with the psychiatrist. Who contradicts her previous judgements, refuses to engage in collaborative discussions and has no concept of compromise. One Friday pm i phoned feeling suicidal and the nurse i spoke to replied " well, what do you want me to do about it ?" The staff stick to an inflexible script, known as the decider skills...i would love to know how " helicopter out " is the answer to all that ails the human psyche ? The threat of being sectioned looms large, so inhibits genuine connection. When eventually i got to see a psychologist after a year of waiting, i was told that i am not a suitable candidate for any talking therapies.....wow, how i was filled with hope that day. If the establishment had helped me correctly over 20 years ago i would not have half the trust issues that i have now. The other issue that i take great umbrage with is the constant police involvement and intrusion. Again, another threat that looms large. I am neither a criminal, nor stupid.....i am just ill. To anyone, i would say, read all the books that you can, be your own saviour, because when you place that hope in somewhere like Cambridge Street, you will be painfully let down. You have all you need within you, you just need to find it....

Cambridge Street Day Hospital 2018-01-12 Person 1 5 0

My first visit here was GOOD... then after it has been TERRIBLE! ... a whole year of nothing. I have an anxiety disorder which has only became apparent when I hit around age 30, anyway looking back and looking at my behaviour now, it is very obvious - it causes me great discomfort, suffering and affects me physically. My GP referred me here to see a psychiatrist. My first appointment I seen a different doctor than the one that I had been assigned. That didn't bother me because I was treated very well. The doctor was excellent, we connected and he listened to me, and had excellent advice on medication and other therapies. Anyway, after that initial appointment 'upstairs'. My other appointments seems to always be 'downstairs'. Now there is a HUGE difference in upstairs and downstairs at Cambridge Street Mental Health Day Unit. Upstairs has a nice waiting area with a water machine, magazines and books. It is warm, bright and comfortable. Downstairs is the TOTAL opposite. It is 5 meters away from the front door, which continually opens and blows in cold air. The seating has four chairs, rammed tightly together a space where you could not swing a mouse! ...in front of you is a WALL ... that is your view. The four chairs are right next to each other, you are facing a wall and there is around a meter of space in front of you. Reception is just two meters away, so you can hear everyone's personal details as they speak to reception! There is no water, no magazines and it is dark and very uncomfortable! I am not sure why all my appointments are now downstairs or why each time I come, my appointment is with a DIFFERENT doctor! When I am prescribed a new medication, a letter or email should be sent to my GP. It never comes! ... I have always had to chase up the letter of medication recommendation. It is very annoying. My experience with reception of 2017 has been very bad! ...appointment letter date changes not sent to me, so I turn up and I am told my appointment was changed! In emergencies when I needed my psychiatrist to please hurry up and send my medication details to my details, messages left at reception were never passed on. My experience here has been terrible. I am very unhappy and I am compiling a report to hand in to Holyrood Parliament.