"3 week stay on Coral Ward (in past on Jade & Opal)"

Some of the staff are lovely who made time to see you and they really make the difference. I thought the ancillary staff were often friendly and helpful. Occasionally some staff (some of which may have been temporary??) were not as communicative and seemed preoccupied with office work and inevitably meds. Generally, it was apparent that the staff were almost always busy and I think that there were too few of them, especially when someone was on 1:1 obs or people needed to be escorted out for visits. On Coral there were a few occasions when one member of staff (although friendly) did shout down the corridors when it was mealtime and also called out loudly whilst we were eating to tell people to go for meds. This was unfortunate because it made the hospital feel more like a prison than a refuge to recover and get well. There was also an incidence when a person was asked to complete a review of the hospital using a e-book, but unfortunately the nursing assistant stayed and commented on the answers! So this was not private at all which I did not think was appropriate. The OT assistant on Coral was lovely and respectful - it would have been good if there was more OT. One problem I think there is with Langley Green generally is the level of sound coming from the television area. It echoes throughout the wards, especially in the evenings and this is something which can be difficult with certain diagnoses. Another issue is the absence of a vending machine for healthy snacks and drinks, especially as the opening hours of the coffee shop are so short at times. One comment I would like to make, which I said to a nurse whilst I was in, is that nurses and nursing assistants are trained to be able to relate to people with mental illness - but to anyone coming in as a patient - they are not usually trained or experienced in dealing with other people with mental health issues, and yet they will be left all together when they may be in a vulnerable or unstable state and may find things triggering. Perhaps as an option for OT or in a 1:1 with a nurse there could be a general educational or information session, with something maybe written for patient reference, just to outline some mental health issues - and mention charities who are able to offer support to patients and families and friends affected by it. So far as meeting the doctor went, this was fine this time but they seemed in a hurry to get my bed because I heard a support worker call out 'yes!' after I was leaving and had agreed to being discharged (after 3 weeks with only 3 walks in the hospital grounds so I didn't feel really prepared).