"Mulberry and Rowan reviews"

I have been on both of the adolescent wards, Mulberry (open ward) and Rowan (High Dependency Unit). This is an honest review of each one.

Food:

You fill in a meal order form every night and morning for lunch and dinner. There is always a vegetarian option as well as a selection of salads, jacket potatoes and sandwiches if you don't like what is on the menu. Sometimes you don't get what you ask for. The portion sizes are generally quite big and on the meal order form, there is a choice of an even bigger portion. You also get to choose if you want a brown or white bread roll. The desserts are yummy but can be sickly. Overall the food is quite fancy and posh.

Rooms (Mulberry): You are furnished with a bed, a comfy chair, a desk chair, a desk, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. There is an ensuite with a shower. The windows slide open and has a grill for the fresh air to get through. The size of the rooms are average to big. Staff are allowed in your room, not patients, but they have to knock first, however, realistically this doesn't happen.

Rooms (Rowan): The rooms are very similar. In Rowan, you are equipped with a bed and wardrobe. The mattresses are rock hard because they don't have springs in for safety.

Therapy and Groups: There are two Occupational Therapists, one for Rowan and one for Mulberry. There is one psychologist for the whole hospital. The groups that happen on Mulberry are Drama, Body Image, Creative Expression, Psychology Group, DBT, Relaxation, Art Therapy, Exercise and Yoga. The groups that happen on Rowan are DBT, Exercise, Relaxation, Art Therapy and Yoga. There is a choice of EMDR if your doctor thinks that will meet your needs.

Staff (Mulberry): The staff try their best but they are very busy because there are up to 17 patients and you rarely get one to one time. Staff can be rude. Some staff are permanent, most are bank and agency.

Staff (Rowan): Staff are very caring and understanding. Most staff are permanent, some are bank and agency. You get more chances for one to one time.

Education: There are four teachers who teach Rowan and Mulberry. One teacher sits down with you and rings your school to get work in. You are encouraged to attend all Education sessions.

What it's like (Mulberry): There are two corridors and a Communal Area where you are encouraged to socialise. In one corridor, there is the Nurses' Office, Room 1, 2,3,4, 5,16 and 17, as well as the Education Room. There is a TV Lounge, a small Lounge, a kitchen and Dining Room in the Communal Area. The other corridor has the rest of the rooms 6-15.

Mulberry has their own garden on the grounds of the hospital. There is a laundry room.

What it's like (Rowan): This is one long corridor. There are rooms 1-6, Wii Lounge, Xbox Lounge, Education Room, Kitchen, Laundry Room and Clinic. Rowan Garden is attached. The Garden has a bench and a high fence. Rowan is a low stimulus environment, the TVs are locked away in cupboards for safety. This is more restrictive.