"Cavendish Unit at Leigh Infirmary/ Leigh Crisis Team"

In April of this year I was admitted voluntarily to the Cavendish Unit at Leigh Infirmary suffering from Depression and suicidal tendencies. Before this I was being helped by the Crisis Team who are also based at Leigh Infirmary.

I would like to thank all Doctors and Nurses involved with me at the Crisis Team. Their kindness and expertise was invaluable to me at a very difficult time and they are a credit to their profession. I would also like to thank all the Doctors and some but not all of the Nurses at the Cavendish Unit. Again their kindness and expertise was greatly appreciated.

However when I say some but not all of the Nurses at the Cavendish Unit I am referring to the few nurses who treated me at best indifferently and at worst in a less than a cavalier manner. I overheard numerous and for want of a better word “ Catty” comments about myself and on occasion other patients. A few were more than openly hostile towards myself which led me to feel about my hospital stay in a way no one should feel about hospital. I can only surmise the reason for this which is I could be difficult at times but never aggressive.

I was always led to believe that Nurses of all degree and qualification are trained to deal with all patients in a manner in which they do not display their personal opinions about individual patients to the patient. I am afraid I could not fail to acknowledge some nurses opinions/attitudes towards myself. To them I would like to say, “Shame on you!”

The above Nurses were but a small percentage and the remaining nurses were kind, cheery and helpful. I would like to thank them profusely but as is always the case “ it only takes a few bad apples to spoil the barrel”.

Although I feel this way about my time at hospital I would like to comment that not all individuals in every country has access to help with mental health issues and for this I am truly thankful for the NHS and most of its employees who show dedication and expertise in what must be a stressful and thankless job.