"Revolving door - Mental Health"

Anything else?

I am writing this because my son had severe dyslexia and so cannot write his onn review: He was admitted to Irwell Unit following an overdose, kept in for observation for 2 weeks. Told he had a personality disorder, and the proposed treatment was a depot injection of a nanti-psychotic drug.

The day before the injection was due he was granted overnight leave from the ward, as long as he returned the next day for the injection. He had a crisis on the Monday night while he was on leave, he was detained by the Police and was re admitted to the ward late Monday night.

Tuesday morning he was he was seen by a Consultant, discharged and told to go home you don't have a mental illness!! Later that day he was section by Police after having another crisis, he was returned by the Police for a full mental health assessment. He was seen by the same Consultant that discharged him, who it is alleged did not do a full assessment, but simply said I've seen you earlier today and you are not ill go home. My son was left confused crying and begging for help in the public foyer of the Irwell unit. (So much for patient dignity.)

I went to the unit and tried to see the Dr concerned, he refused to see me saying he would phone me - he still has not phoned me. On returning to where my son was I was met by a member of staff from the ward, who then proceeded to say that she could not comment on why my son had been discharged, and could not answer any of the questions I put to her. After 20 minutes I realised that discussing my sons confidential affairs in a public foyer was breach of his patient confidentiality (We were not offered any of t

Since then my son made another suicide attempt & been put on 28 day section. For his first 2 weeks my son had no named nurse and we as his carers were never involved in his diagnosis or treatment - or informed when someone at risk to himself was discharged into our care! (So much for the Triangle of Care)

We still have not been told why the diagnosis of Personality Disorder and depot of an anti psychotic drug was abandoned. The majority of the nursing staff are great, with one or two exceptions, but plainly understaffed (Lots of agency nurses.) Assaults are common place, indeed my wife was assaulted whilst visiting the ward.

I now know its because my son had been diagnosed with ADHD (when we was a child) and that Fairfield apparently does not have the expertise to treat him, so he was being discharged to the care of his GP, with a request that he was referred to an appropriate agency to help him. (Pity neither my son not we as his carers were not told of this)

I told the Dr that I believed that no such service exists in the Bury area, "I fear you are right" was his answer)

[PS I've had to answer 'don't know' with regard to the department visited, not because I'm stupid but because the Mental Health unit is not listed]