Patient Reviews of Bosworth Ward at Bradgate Mental Health Unit

These are two recent reviews (July 2014) posted on the NHS Choices website regarding the ward where my partner is currently residing.
http://www.nhs.uk/Services/hospitals/ReviewsAndRatings/DefaultView.aspx?id=2900

No response from the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust at the time of posting.

1 out of 5 stars by Anonymous

Never allow anyone to be sent here!

What an amazingly disgusting place to be sent to. I am a health care professional and I work for the NHS. I am a nurse and I have had a crisis and was admitted to Bosworth ward for a stay. I arrived at 0130 in the morning unclean and very hungry after 2 hour drive to the ward. I asked for a shower and was declined saying policy was only between 0800 and 2000 every day the showers are open. ‘We do not have the staff to supervise you’ There are 4 members of staff sat at a table reading magazines and eating ice creams. Any chance of a tooth brush and tooth paste please? No you will have to get it in the morning was the reply.
My bed space was shocking. I have seen cleaner mud huts in Afghanistan. Draws missing broken wardrobe. The bed sheets were clean and the bed was made. There were empty cigarette packets fag buts and rubbish all over the bed space area. It had not been cleaned for a very long time. This was just the start of a very distressing time.
There were some nursing staff that were very pleasant I am very grateful to these staff, however there were a number about 4 who were shockingly rude and dismissive as well as outrightly rude to me. I also suffer from a very painful nerve injury and it had taken over 8 hours to get my pain killers prescribed let alone dispensed to me, despite having bought a great deal with me. So in addition to being in a very distressed manner, I was in great pain. When trying to get information there was no member of staff willing to talk to me in a professional manner. All equipment in the ward was dated and in poor condition. The building was in disrepair and close to not being habitable. The washing facilities were poor as well.
As for treatment I was seen by a doctor by 1000 in the morning a very decent man. I was under the impression that it was a place to get better a place ensure you can be safe. However this is just a holding cell. There are no activities there is no support from the ward staff. However 3 where very engaging and helpful this must make it very hard for these staff to work there knowing every other staff member is shockingly poor.
This is a place that just removes any sign of hope from a person. You can smoke and watch a TV that is covered with plexi glass. There is no stimulation there was no interaction and there was no encouragement either. You are locked up you are a patient and a hindrance to the staff.
There was no treatment there was no care planning and there was no progression but to be locked up. Unable to go anywhere without someone smoking. To eat dinner and have smoke wafting in, lovely.
Never allow someone to be placed here as there is very little hope for them. There is no simulation for a person here. You are locked up and left to wander around aimlessly and think of recovery. While watched by staff that feel you are a hindrance
For the staff that were caring and compassionate please do not pay any attention to this review you are a credit to the NHS.

Visited in July 2014. Posted on 26 July 2014

1 out of 5 stars by Relative In Despair

Appalling !!

My brother was admitted to the Bosworth ward , initially as a family we were reassured about my brothers treatment . However after the first week we became concerned that during our visits there was no improvement with my brother and regularly fed this back to the ward. It was very difficult to maintain any continuity and despite leaving several messages for my brothers assigned nurse to call us this never happened. My brother was only seen by a doctor once a week and the staff advised us as my brother was polite and compliant that they didn’t see him displaying his ” paranoid and agitated behaviour ” , and so after a couple of weeks he’s now been allowed to discharge himself …. Amazing as previous doctor had sectioned him !! My brother is now been discharged with a care package , if it’s as good as the care on the ward then once again it’s a waste of time .
If you have a friend or family member suffering with mental illness …. Don’t bother sending them to this unit as it’s useless !!

Visited in July 2014. Posted on 24 July 2014