To complain about this? (Sensitive)

[YellowLily]

So - first Off really don’t mean to offend anyone at all. I’m just really tired.

We live opposite a psychiatric inpatient facility.

Usually have no problems, however one of the patients currently is very loud and disruptive.

I’m struggling because i know he is clearly very unwell and can’t help his behaviour. Further he is not in prison, he is in hospital so obviously should be allowed to do as he pleases. However he is waking us up / keeping us awake at night. Over the last few days he has been howling, barking like a dog and generally just shouting and screaming. He’s out there now, until god knows what time and I’ve been waking at 6am when he comes out.

I don’t mean to sound ignorant at all, I’m so sympathetic to mental health issues. It’s just incredibly frustrating, I’m struggling with sleep and the nurses seem to be struggling to control him - one has been out at half past 11 and asked him to come in given the time but to no avail.

I’ve closed the window tonight because it’s a bit cooler but with the hot weather it’s usually not an option.

AIBU to expect that there would be some kind of restriction if someone is this unwell, that maybe they would say to the patient really you need to be inside after 10pm? And again before 8am in the morning. Just seems ridiculous he’s still outside at almost midnight (in heavy rain might I add so that can’t be doing him any good either!!!)

Complain really wrong word but AIBU to call them tomorrow / go in and just explain this is incredibly disruptive? and suggest whilst he is still so acutely unwell he isn’t outside so late at night? I don’t want to come across like a bitch or ignorant so please feel free to tell me if I am, and if would be wrong to do so, I’m just so tired

It's hard, they do have to allow a certain freedom of access to patients depending on their section category, and their level of observation. But they should be considerate of their neighbours and the disruption in antisocial hours.

If I were you I'd go in/call and explain the effect it's having and ask if they are able to keep the patient in during night hours. Like you said, don't approach it like a complaint, and stress your sympathy for both the patients and the staff's difficult position.

I would imagine their hands are tied with Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards under the Mental Capacity Act. If he really wants to be outside they wouldn't be allowed to just lock him in. Imagine the racket he's also making for all the other patients. If the staff had a choice of looking after sleeping or awake patents, which do you think they'd choose?

When I worked in forensic inpatients we had the doors locked after dark as it’s impossible to observe someone in the dark. If he is detained under the mental health Act this trumps the mental capacity act therefore you can be more restrictive although we try to avoid overly restrictive practices. It is likely the patients on the ward are being kept awake and he sounds challenging to manage.

It may be he’s on the wrong ward and is too unwell to be on an acute ward. I think phoning the ward is probably the best option so that his management plan can be reviewed.sadly he sounds very unwell which you kindly acknowledge

I am very sensitive to this subject at the moment so will keep it brief.

They will already know he is being disruptive, he will also be disrupting everyone else. If he isn't sectioned then they can't detain him indoors against his will and there is strong criteria to meet to be sectioned.

How do you know how unwell he is exactly? How do you know he doesn't have behavioural problems alongside mental health problems? Please don't make assumptions

Bam she didn't make any assumptions. He is clearly unwell as he is in a psychiatric unit.

She is being sensitive and kind about it so don't act like she shouted 'will someone shut that nutter up!' out of the window.

It must be incredibly frustrating and it seems she well understand the predicament the staff are in but I would also want a resolution.

It is not unreasonable to need a solution to a problem creating sleep deprivation, don’t feel bad about it.

They have an obligation/responsibility to ensure the way they run their operation isn’t overly disruptive to neighbours, if (as in this case) it is, then they need to find another location which is more suitable for that particular person.

I’d ring up in the morning and make an appointment to see the manager.

They will know the rules regarding this better than you do.

OP I think you've worded it sensitively as you can. And I've been an inpatient so I appreciate your words.
Perhaps your idea of a very gentle chat with the facility is good. They won't be able to discuss the patient with you but if you approach it in a kind way, they may be able to help the person, and inhibit the disturbance too.
Good luck.

I would start by speaking to the unit.

I totally get that he is unwell. My mother has been an inpatient and think the OP is very sensitive to the issue. That's said, it's not ok for the OP to not be able to get any sleep.

A balance needs to be struck. If no one tells the unit, they may just think that no one hears him and it makes life easier. It may be that they aren't caring for him properly and would prefer him to be outside and away from them. There could be lots if things they can put in place, but unless someone tells them, they won't do anything.

im not saying that this is to all ip.and nurses are fantastic but...if he is unwell and being disruptive and actively getting worse flagging this up might mean he can be better helped.some NOT ALL mental health facilities have been known to be very uncaring for those who act in this way especially if it is happening more on the night shift when some NOT ALL see It just to leave the disruptive bugger to it.not to bother and to sit back in their chairs and snooze.because some facilties aren't best caring for people and practises can become very lax.
if you give the unit it call it might alert them to stepping up.
it could be totally innocent of course and there is simply nothing more they can do for this gentleman at this time at which point im sorry neither can you.
and you are being really sensitive op.just remember when it gets tough as agonising as it is for you for him it will be just as hard living it I wreckon and he wouldn't ever do it on purpose.
really tough stuation for you op.

Noise before 11pm or after 7am is irrelevant so you can't ask for restrictions of 10pm and 8am. It's no difference from anyone else making a noise. Regularly occurring noise outside these hours can be reported to environmental health.
If you think he is not being cared for properly you should report it to the relevant authority.

Would this amount of disruption really be deemed 'irrelevant' out side those times when it's every day?

YANBU to write a factual letter saying the times and disturbance you are experiencing.

Laiste should people who make noises like that have different restrictions from others?

I don't know. I asked a question. Noises 'like' what? What 'people'?

I was responding to you saying noise outside 7am to 11pm is irrelevant.

I asked if noise which is that disruptive every single morning and evening is still regarded as ok as long as it's between those times.

Spikey the salient point there is that individuals that exhibit behaviour like this are often unable to control it and therefore can't be held accountable for it in the same way we are. Therefore environmental health regulations etc can't be applied as stringently.

Phone - they will have something like a service experience desk service
Give all the details you can
If it were my inpatient I would definitely want to know
Some psychotic people are able to hold it together for lengths of time but still v ill and if so need help and treatment as shown with this behaviour
His medical team may think he's doing well and working towards discharge which may be completely inappropriate given this info

I would contact them and explain, it dorsn’t Necessarily have to be a complaint. It will add to the evidence they need to get the appropriate support for the individual.