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Care Opinion

It feels so unwelcoming and claustrophobic

Posted By hsmith970

"It feels so unwelcoming and claustrophobic"

About: Craigavon Area Hospital / Bluestone Unit (In-patient wards for mental health)

(as a service user),

I have been attending Bluestone outpatients now for several years.  When Bluestone first opened it was fantastic.  A really pleasant and welcoming environment.  Fast forward several years and we had Covid and that moved outpatient appointments to the Ferns.  It was so frustrating to see the Ferns unit closed, along with all the brilliant work they were doing in providing so many courses to outpatients.  

Anyway, post Covid and outpatient appointments moved back to Bluestone.  They have decided to vastly shrink the waiting area and now it feels so unwelcoming and claustrophobic. Attending psychiatric outpatients is stressful enough without feeling like the waiting area is an after thought.  It used to be so bright and roomy.  

I think it is a real shame the Trust have taken this route given that the care I receive now is a million times better than 20 years ago.

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Responses

Response from Jennie Lee Simms, Lead Nurse Bluestone, MHD, Southern Health and Social Care Trust 2 months ago
Jennie Lee Simms
Lead Nurse Bluestone, MHD,
Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 20/02/2024 at 14:35
Published on Care Opinion at 14:35

Thank you for sharing this feedback, it is very important to us

We are sorry to hear of your recent experience when attending the Outpatient Clinic in Bluestone

During the period when Outpatient Clinics were relocated to the Ferns, Bluestone was required to make some changes due to COVID 19 guidelines on social distancing and the area previously used as an outpatients waiting area was designated as a staff rest area and office space which we have needed to retain due to our ever expanding Multi Disciplinary Team within Bluestone

The current waiting area is now, as you say, a smaller space but we have attempted to make the area as welcoming as possible with natural light, a new TV screen, patient information leaflets and motivational quotes on the walls

We do take on board your feedback and will strive to improve this space further as we do appreciate that attending for appointments can be a stressful time for many and we want to ensure that our service users feel as comfortable and as welcome as possible

Thank you again and we would like to take this opportunity to wish you well for your future

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