Share review of Warneford Hospital

Warneford Hospital 2020-03-03 Person 3 5 0

My experience was mixed. Many of the staff members were lovely and helpful. In particular the HCAs and Nursing Associates (I think that is what they were called). The qualified nurses would have been amazing, had they had time to actually spend time with patients - this is not their fault, but they always seemed tied up with administrative task, with little time for 1:1 time with patients. The nurses are the ones who have spent at least 3 years studying and are surely the people you want supporting the patients. For an eating disorder unit, where meals happen 6 times a day you would have thought the food would be good...wrong. It is pre cooked and heated up, the vegetables are like water and the rest of the main meals questionable. Not helpful when you are trying to encourage patients to build a healthier relationship with food. If the food were actually nice and similar to food you'd cook at it may have been more helpful. Access to the wider staff and support system was not good. It took 5 months of asking weekly, sometimes more to see someone who could help me get my finances on order. And even then it wasn't the person who actually knew how to apply for benefits. By this point I was a month into no pay at work and was still trying to work out how to pay rent on my room. If I'd been seen by a social worker, or someone who knew the system it would have helped me greatly - what actually happened is I ended up seriously cash strapped and missed out on months of benefits that would have lessen the financial burden - just because you are in hospital your bills don't stop. Access to psychological support was also poor-not great when you are locked in a psychiatric hospital! There are too few staff for the amount of patients. The psychology staff there were lovely, but overworked and time short. The same could be said for the group programme, the OT and OT Assistant were pretty much the best and most valuable staff members. They are pretty much the reason I made any progress. It would just be better if the team could be a bit bigger as the group programme gives you purpose to what can feel like a never ending week - the days are long when you are locked on a ward for 6 months. If more groups could be offered that would be amazing! I could go on forever, but I guess my main point is the staff work so so hard and they are incredible. The the obvious budget issues and lack of staff is all too apparent. I can't help but think if more money was spent of staffing and the group programme /quality of food it may mean patients wouldn't have to have 6 month + reoccurring admissions. For the staff reading this THANK YOU. This is not an insult to you, rather the obvious lack of resources.