I was an inpatient in a Psychiatric Hospital. I was previously known to the services. I was taken in after a serious suicide attempt. During my stay I made further suicide attempts where I needed the staff to use an oxygen lead in the room. After 24 hrs another shift was on and realised the oxygen lead was missing. They calculated I had it on me. The staff nurse took me into a side room and asked for the lead. After I refused to return it, the staff nurse said it was serious for them and if I killed myself they would lose their jobs. I still refused to hand it over. They left me but after I settled for bed the staff woke me and restrained me so they could retrieve the oxygen lead.
Following the restraint I needed medication which I had in an injection. I later went to the bathroom where I had been injected and the needle was left in there and had been there several hours with the bathroom accessible to all patients. I later self harmed with the needle. I was discharged on the Monday as I was causing serious difficulties. I was discharged when I was still ill and went straight out and took an overdose. To my knowledge of the situation, the doctor had stated on file that I could not be re-sectioned so the police who wanted to put me on an emergency section were unable as I had been given permission to kill myself. Obiously for me this was a very concerning experience I was placed in hospital for my own safety but evidence shows I was not kept safe. I feel it was lucky I found the needle that had been used on me because it could have put a lot of patients at risk.
Regarding the oxygen lead, in my view staff only cared for their jobs and not to be found out to the point that they restrained me to protect themselves. To be released early not only put me at danger but my partner who also has mental health issues was powerless and he was very concerned. I believe these incidents are very serious and staff should be more alert with serious equipment. If you are place in a place of safety, you expect this sort of thing not to happen. I never complained as I felt I wouldn't be listened to.
"Taken to hospital after a suicide attempt"
About: Inpatient mental health care Inpatient mental health care TA6 4RN
Posted by Nifty222 (as ),
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