"I felt like I spent the whole week being ignored"

I have not been an in patient for some while and it took a lot to give in and return to an inpatient ward. My new year experience was of bad nursing care especially in relation to a physical illness which I have and which was dismissed as being in my head.

I was assigned a key nurse who spoke to me once on day 2 and I never saw or heard from her again although I was made aware she was on duty throughout my weeks stay.

The so called "protected time" which I remember being set up some years ago was then and remains today a total joke in my opinion. There are staff around but they failed to interact with me except at drug time and I am simply appalled that this practice is still happening.

I had hoped to be introduced to the unit manager to talk through the many issues and what I believe were the failings of the unit but his door remained firmly closed.

The domestic staff, who for me are the life blood of that ward, continue to work hard and under so many new pressures. I believe the ward could be better run if attention was spent looking at nursing staff.

It felt like I spent the whole week being ignored. I don’t feel like I received any quality time with anyone except a visit from my care coordinator. I am quite frankly disgusted, I believe I would have been better off at home in the care of the crisis team who offer so much time and help. It is the best service of this Trust.

I am an old hand at being an in patient so I was lucky. I know the "system" but I would guess that many fellow patients were left high and dry and did not receive enough help and support.

I don’t feel that the nurses that I came into contact with knew the true meaning of basic nursing care and listening. It is a great shame that the years may have passed and for me the ward has become an unfriendly, unhelpful place and in no way a refuge to seek help. In a nutshell it was a total nightmare for me and I will do all I can not to return there. I don’t think it is a good place to receive adequate care and attention.