"Eilean skiltern ward"

Dear poster Thank you for taking the time to feedback to us about your daughters experience and we're sorry you are unhappy. Without knowing your daughters case in detail I can only respond in a general way. In terms of your daughters legal status its often the case that people come into such services under section 136 which has a short duration and that this can be changed to a section 3 if its deemed that treatment is necessary. Whilst a section 3 may last for six moths that does not mean it will and its not the case that an inpatient stay on this ward will last for 6 months, it will normally be weeks not months. As far as the smoking issue is concerned as you and your daughter will have learned this Trust became a smokefree Trust on the 1st Oct this year. We took this decision to protect the health of people who use our services. The evidence is that quitting smoking will help to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing. It also helps to prevent early deaths. As a health Trust we believe we must do all we can to improve the health of all those who use our service. As far as a human rights issue I'm afraid we must disagree with, it is not a human right for us to facilitate smoking. We have an extensive support structure in place to help smokers minimise tabacco withdrawal symptoms and I'm sure your daughter will have been given access to them. As for the Policy at Kings College Hospital on smoking I'm afaid I'm unaware what that is. If you are not satisfied with my explanation I can arrange a meeting with myself and the ward manger to discuss this further and you can of course always make a formal complaint by calling our Complaints Department on 0203 2282444. Kind regards Bill Berry Patient Experience Manager Patient Public Involvement Team South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Maudsley Hospital Denmark Hill London SE5 8AZ Email: bill.berry@slam.nhs.uk Mobile: 07825180472