Southgate Ward

No help whatsoever apart from high security levels.

I had a stay where I came out with a difficult diagnosis that did not reflect my issues and that was made without even talking to me- it is on my notes for life.

Very very poor care. Staff need to be trained to a competent level. They have no communication skills , life skills , lack of understanding in the broad spectrum of care for Mental health, they have no personality , no emotion or empathy my list is endless! I feel for ppl that are very unwell and don’t seem to have a voice to be heard and because ppl are diagnosed with mental heath it does not mean that it’s the state of mind making them see things negatively as the staff are assessing patients and watching patients can also see the staff behaviour for what it is. No person centred care plans in place this would help with helping ppl into the road to recovery not everyone has the same needs. The rooms that patients are put in are like prison cells ( they say for safety) I feel that patients can be kept safe without the harshness of these rooms even a wall painted mural painted on the walls in the bedroom would lighten them up and they could incorporate it into the art therapy. I had a very very bad experience from start of stay to the end when I discharged myself even that had a very stressful ending.

Had a mental breakdown and was placed on the ward, went in with no experience of the mental healthcare system and was failed. My mental state got worse and I was given far too much freedom, as a vulnerable and suicidal woman my needs were not adequately met. I was offered no therapy, no coping mechanisms, no counselling. They discharged me in tears to the point where I was told "come have something to eat." rather than asked if I was ok. If I could go back in time I would avoid even asking to go there.

The only positives that came out of my time on the ward were meeting (name removed) daughter (who was amazingly supportive, caring and talented), the purchasing of metal detectors for safety and security and the fact that they're now ensuring proper care plans are in place when they discharge a patient due to the fact I attempted suicide the day after being discharged.

No consistency in staff meaning you can't build trust as you don't know if you'll see them again.

Some of the staff are straight up combative when you engage with them. Ive seen staff members walk past a patient who was stood confused in the same place for hours. This patient ended up collapsing.

Staff usually too busy gossiping in the office to realise someone is screaming and hurting themselves in their room. Happened multiple times in the short time I was there.

Staff allowing other patients to knock on other patients doors at all hours because once again too busy sat in the office.

You can ask different members of staff a question regarding reviews and get a different answer from everyone of them.

A distinct lack of compassion from most of the staff.

One doctor is a dinosaur. Has no real interest in what you want to say. Just seems to want to tick boxes.

I will say that there are a few truly great members of staff. Unfortunately most other staff aren't.

Staff ignored patients, NO PSYCHOLOGIST!!! Ward review a joke, no one takes responsibility, not offered veg diet food, ignored signs of stress, ignored suicide risks, ignored advice of external health professionals, kept in for too long then randomly discharged with a miracle cure. No leadership, no effective ward management - ‘inadequate’ grossly over compliments this terrible place.

My daughter was on Southgate ward from April - May ( I have submitted feedback on the Wedgwood form as well) but there were other things that I thought of that I am really unimpressed with.

At a ward round where she was told that she could go on a weeks leave without discussion we were all very nervous and asked if the ward could make sure that the home treatment team made contact with us. This would give us all a little bit of security that we would have support. This didn't happen and during that week our daughter was returned to hospital in an ambulance after an episode of self harm. The following week in our ward round (in which they discharge her) we asked again if the ward would make contact with the home treatment team. This time we were told that since my daughter had already had a weeks leave the home treatment team would not be able to visit her.

I am so upset. She was sent back into the community with no support and because either the ward or the home treatment team didn't do the right thing at the right time my daughter is the one suffering and set a drift. This is so poor.

This service gave my husband back to me with compassion and understanding. His psychoic episode was brief but very intense and frightening for all the family. All the staff from the outreach team, reception staff to the care assistants, mental health nurses and doctors on the ward was were empathetic, understanding and giving to all the family. No question to to littly to be answered or any concerns to be to big to be tackled. Cannot fault this service and cannot understand why it is in special measures.

Staff and doctors have no idea of Aspergers and Autism whatsoever . Nothing was explained to me . No meal times were given to me. No one on time with a named nurse . There was a lovely student nurse but that is the only positive thing I can say about my experience there

I could never ever recommend this unit. On more than one occasion we were left waiting with euphemistic estimates (lies) about timescales while staff dealt with other matters. A 10am appointment finally finished at 5pm only after I threatened to leave with a 5-year-old child following a multi-hour wait. We were sent to the canteen which was filthy and had to use the loos which were partially closed and beyond description.... Never again - ever. I complained to our MP who showed not the slightest concern. Ignore the euphemistic notices posted all over the place - they are complete lies.