"Mixed Review"

I have quite a mixed review regarding the Alder acute ward. I was stripped of all medication upon arriving, which left me with horrendous withdrawal symptoms and given something to "calm my nerves" I do not have any recollection of the next four days. This was a regular occurrence of not been told what the tablet you were been made to take would actually do to you. The relief staff were terrible to put it bluntly. The regular staff were a mixed bunch, some generally cared, were easy to talk to and went out of their way to help you. Others were very abrupt, hard to talk to, treated you like a number and generally seemed like they were sick of their job and had heard it all before. The therapy groups were brilliant, I learnt a lot attending them. The activity groups were also very good and I loved that the younger staff ran them, a few more of these groups would be well appreciated by patients. The weekends were awful, there was nothing what so ever to do. The psychiatrist decided they needed to try and see me most days, but I only saw them three times in eight weeks. This was also a big issue with other patients, we'd wait all day for our 'appointment' with them and they just never turned up. It's a mixed gender ward and I got sucked into an overly friendly relationship which made my condition worsen. I felt emotionally abused. The same thing happened with another patient and another who got frauded out of over £1,000 by a former patient turned "boyfriend". I feel that the CCTV is useless, they don't pay attention to it. I self harmed three times outside and was only seen on one occasion when a member of staff came with patients who needed a lighter. They were lovely to me, cleaned me up, made me a cup of tea and called the on call doctor as it was late. I needed medication to calm me as I was very distressed which again made me lose all recollection of what was happening for four days. The procedure I endured of 1to1 / 2to1 in the bathroom was horrendous. I have body issues and refused to shower in front of anyone and was in pain with my bladder and bowels as I barely used the toilet as someone had to keep me in sight. The doctor agreed to let me use the bathroom with constant verbal communication, however the hospital said it wasn't their procedure to do that and they completely disregarded it. When rooms were searched you had to stand outside it like a prisnor having their cell searched. It felt very degrading and I didn't like male staff going through my personal belongings and underswear. The food was so repetitive and unhealthy. I didn't ever want to see another sandwich in my life. I put on so much weight during my stay there.