"Inappropriate care arrangements"

I am currently an inpatient on the Neely ward in the Ulster hospital. There has been a patient admitted onto this ward who has mental health issues and isn't a gynae patient. Due to the decision to have this lady on the ward the past two nights I have had no sleep as this lady sleeps during the day and then once night team start their shift she starts to become aggressive. I have seen her punch, push, kick, nip, scrab and attempt to bite staff. She has attempted to steal equipment and self harm so due to the nature of this the night team have had to have someone with her 24/7. She is attacking the staff, security cant do anything, the staff can't do anything and unfortunately myself and other patients have suffered because we can not receive the care and treatment due to staff being pulled away to deal with this one lady.

I appreciate that she has clear needs for help but this is not the ward in which she can receive that help and support - no-one has won in this situation. Staff can't do their jobs and are being attacked, patients don't feel safe, security have their hands tied. At one point all staff members on shift where all having to deal with this one lady. I was therefore left with no pain medication and I am in agony, but due to staff having to deal with her I had to just roll around the bed in agony until they where able to calm her enough to give out medication.

The ward seems completely understaffed to deal with this. I dread to think if I'm stuck here tonight again what it will be like. This is my second time on this ward and this time has been horrendous in terms of what the whole ward is having to endure due to one person. As I said she clearly needs help but in an appropriate setting with 1 to 1 where she can't run around the ward grabbing whatever she wants and charging towards other patients and staff.