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Really cross that I can't find ward visiting times online

21 replies

Bloodybridget · 13/10/2018 15:14

I have an friend who is currently very unwell in a psychiatric hospital. I have searched for info on visiting hours several times, using as many forms of words that seem likely, no luck. She wouldn't be a reliable source of information atm, and of course I can phone the hospital but I know from experience that it will take a while to get through to the ward.

I'm seriously pissed off about this - why make it harder for friends and family to find out when they can visit? Last time friend was in there I didn't think to check before visiting and had to hang around.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 13/10/2018 15:28

Maybe because they don't want to be overrun with visitors. If it's a mental health unit it may be considered beneficial not to have too many people visiting.

oopslateagain · 13/10/2018 15:31

That is really odd. Most hospitals have the hours posted openly online. Is there a main reception number you can call who could give you the information, rather than going straight to the ward?

MissLingoss · 13/10/2018 15:37

Maybe because they don't want to be overrun with visitors. If it's a mental health unit it may be considered beneficial not to have too many people visiting.

Yes, if the hours aren't on the hospital's own website, I should think there's probably a reason.

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Bloodybridget · 13/10/2018 15:46

Yes Oops every other hospital I've visited, it's been easy to find the info. Toddlertea and MissLingoss - it hadn't occurred to me that they might actually be trying to deter visitors; certainly last time she was in (for several months in various places) I hardly saw any other visitors. But it was definitely beneficial for her to have me visiting, and her consultant asked me to sit in on team meetings a couple of times.

Anyway I think it's really sad for psychiatric patients to not see people from "outside" who care about them.

OP posts:
AamdC · 13/10/2018 15:47

When i worked in mental health we had very strict visiring on rhe acute wards less so on the dememria care wards there might be two numbers one for the main office one for the ward manager , try the latter if so .l

shakeyourcaboose · 13/10/2018 15:47

Bridget, you sat in team meetings?

AamdC · 13/10/2018 15:50

Fepends on the needs of the patient really some patients might not benefit at all from visitors if they are acutely psychotic for example .

AamdC · 13/10/2018 15:52

I expect op means she Sat in the ward reviews for her friend , often relative etc are. Invited to reviews

Bloodybridget · 13/10/2018 15:59

Yes that is what I meant, AamdC, I forgot the right words!

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JellieEllie · 13/10/2018 16:00

A psychiatric unit visiting is very different to a general hospital.
You have to bear in mind the other patients who all have very different types of needs.
I was on a unit for 6+months and in that time only ever had visitors once every couple of weeks. The times are very, very strict. Mealtimes are a complete no. You also have to work around the therapy sessions, the doctors meetings, the medication times etc.
They won't have them on the website as it's easier for just anyone to show up.
If I were you I would contact your friend and ask them to let the staff know you are wanting to visit. I would then ring the reception and ask for the visiting time you can visit that unit.
Then contact your friend again let her know exactly what time you will be arriving so she can let her staff know.
It can be a nightmare but there are reasons for it. Hope you get to see her soon 💐

Bloodybridget · 13/10/2018 16:03

Thanks Jellie.

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Becca19962014 · 13/10/2018 18:06

I was in one once where the only place you could visit someone was in the day room with tv where all the other patients had to be as well - no visiting allowed in rooms and no one allowed to stay in their room either. Others had visitors but due to my condition I really struggled when men came to visit (severe PTSD with psychotic features) with not being able to leave. The kitchen/dining room was out of bounds too so you had to ask for any water it wasn't given to you.

There was no set meal or med time food was whenever it turned up and meds after the only times they insisted on was no earlier than 8am up and optional bed at 10:30pm which was enforced at 11:30pm. There was no therapy or discussion with staff - I was given the number for Samaritans if I wanted to talk.

They vary hugely as other experiences have been very different.

Bloodybridget · 13/10/2018 20:32

God Becca that sounds awful. Hard to imagine how a regime like that is supposed to help people recover.

OP posts:
PaddyF0dder · 13/10/2018 20:34

It’s probably just poor organisation. They tend to be busy, stretched, understaffed places. Making a useful website is generally the smaller priority of all

Becca19962014 · 13/10/2018 21:55

It was, literally, to be stabilised on meds and out the door as soon as that happened. It's much the same in the community. Unfortunately I cannot have meds due to other conditions and for me, those two weeks were the longest of my life. I know someone who was there months.

Howmanysleepstilchristmas · 14/10/2018 09:02

If I had to guess I’d say 2-4 and 6-8 assuming it’s an acute ward. Mealtimes and medication times tend to be protected. Picu/ secure settings may be appointment only.

smurfy2015 · 14/10/2018 17:14

I know my local unit which has the same times as the general hospital its attached to is 3-4pm and 6.45-8.15pm but I know that doesnt help you.

If you have visitors that can't come any other time and need to bring u18s with them you can arrange to see them in the guest room. This has to be by prior arrangement in my local unit. Literally, a room with chairs and the staff will look in the door every 15 minutes minimum.

We cant see visitors in our rooms or anywhere beyond the nursing station, however there is a mens lounge, a womens lounge, the dining area, the quiet room, the courtyard with seating in various spots around it (its part of the unit but can't go anywhere from it), a small courtyard but need to be let out to it by staff and it has a garden bench, the main TV room which has sofas with enough seating for 20 (the ward capacity), the foyer area which has armchairs so we all have space to see people without being crowded into each other.

If visitors bring you in any stuff, it has to be checked by staff before you can take it back to your room to make sure its safe and not something which you shouldn't really have.

Last time I was in a friend send me a present via amazon prime to cheer me up, I was taken into the OT room on the ward to open it with the staff member as needed scissors and so they could check it was something safe for me to have. It was a teddy. They took the packaging away and left me it and the card.

Same as when on a leave pass, I had a list of stuff to get for other patients and their money and receipts all added into their various envelopes to return back to them. Other patients when going on passes did the same for me and we all helped each other.

Can I suggest if you would like to bring your friend something, that you take a Get Well Card along with you. They are a common sight on medical wards and a rare sight on MH wards. MH is just as valid as you will appreciate. I often bring/send to my friends on wards and they have said they get a lot of comments about them as they are the exception rather than the rule.

I've spent a lot of time on psych wards in my life, At one point I spent on average 6/8 months of each year inpatient over approx a 7 year period. That's a lot of time. I stopped counting how many admissions I had once the total reached 30 as it was bringing me down but there was quite a few more.

At one unit I was on there was open visiting from 2 pm each day till 8.30pm. It was absolutely exhausting as it was in bays of 4 at the time and there was a constant flow of people in and out and even if I had visitors, I often sat in silence with them or they held my hands and stroked my head quietly which often got looks from some visitors but it was what I needed and I had nowhere to shut down from constant stimulus which was hard. The unit is now all single rooms with ensuites and can go to the room at any time, however, the door has to be opened slightly so staff can see in without disturbing you as the doors constantly creak otherwise.

if you get thru to the main switchboard for the hosptial they should be able to tell you without having to go thru to wards etc

Becca19962014 · 14/10/2018 17:27

Yes a get well soon card can be welcome, even if the person doesn't realise they're ill when they get it (as happened when I was last in, and they were kept until the person was doing better) they will appreciate it as they improve, I tend to send a card and a book (appropriate obviously! )

mollibu · 14/10/2018 17:31

I work in a psychiatric hospital and we don't advertise visiting times as you have to be on a contact list to be able to see the patient - maybe it's the same for the hospital your friend is in too?

MrsMeow · 14/10/2018 18:09

I work in mental health in Wales. Our trust now has open visiting hours across the board - apart from protected mealtimes (12-1 and 5-6) and obviously within reason.

This may be why you can't find them online, if your local trust has the same policy.

Bloodybridget · 14/10/2018 22:00

Thanks so much for all the responses; sorry I haven't been online today, I wasn't expecting more posts. I was able to take various things that my friend asked for, last time she was in this ward. I will check what's allowed when I phone to get information on visiting.

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