AIBU to draw attention to how mental health patients are being treated/things having to deal with through lockdown.

[UndertheCedartree]

It's not something that I've really seen spoken about but psychiatric wards are obviously in a difficult position right now but it seems they are more interested in covering themselves than thinking of the patients rights/needs.

One unit I know are not allowing any leave whatsoever. Not even for informal patients...not even just outside the front for a smoke. There is no outside space on the wards so literally no fresh air for any of them and as most MH use smoking as a coping strategy that important strategy has been removed. And surely it must be illegal to keep informal patients detained?

I am usualy on a mental health unit for EUPD during the week and home at weekends. Just before all leave was cancelled I got scared and went home. About 3/4. ward had Covid but many without symptoms. I presuably caught it from someone and have been ill for a couple of weeks. I think my DS may now have it. Obviously I couldn't go back to the ward after catching it. But it has been so difficut. I'm stuck at home with my anxiety through the roof, obsessing about my DCs education and feeling very down that I'm not coping well. I've been at home nearly 4 weeks now and I feel so anxious about going back and leaving my children - I don't know when I'll get leave again. The difficult thing is usualy on leave I have support from a volunteer, a charity helping sort my money and my DC SW plus meetings at school. Obviously not happening now. I also have support from my BF and the DC's dad. Don't get me wrong they've been great - the DC dad has been bringing food round and phones me everyday to see how I am. I've isolated upstairs and my BF has been in a couple of times to disinfect the downstairs, feed the kids and get things from the corner shop for us. Even my brother sent us a fruit and veg box which was lovely.

Sorry this is just a ramble/vent - this is so hard and I feel stuck in a world of anxiety, depression, paranoia, obsession and....far too many cigarettes 😷😞

@EL8888 - of course being nice doesn't involve letting people do exactly as they want! You're not deliberately rude or unpleasant - suggests you are! I'm a professional too (before becoming unwell) and I find being nice goes a long way and thank goodness so do most who work at the hospital I'm in. You had an issue with patients going on leave for some fresh air. There was no time for it because meds had to be done and meals - just like every hospital who does enable leave! Do you provide vapes - much better liked than inhalaters? I never said anything about left right and centre. But there is no 'once a week' rule. People go to the shop when they need to. And while there alongside essentials pick up wine, chocolate, cigarettes if they want. How do your patients get their shopping?

I firmly agree that everyone should have access to fresh air once a day (with the rare exception if those who are known contagious and must be completely isolated). A window that opens. A courtyard. Something.

I can’t believe that wards ever let patients come back inside smelling like smoke. People are held involuntarily. There is a duty of care to prevent exposure to even 3rd hand smoke.

Leave has been cancelled in all hospitals as far as lm aware and rightly so. I’m not rolling out of my house willy nilly. A point you won’t accept is patients have access to gardens and courtyards which will give fresh air. But you tell me this isn’t the case. 10 years in mental health work and various different hospitals. Yet you say most don’t have them, that just isn’t my experience. People shouldn’t be just going to the shop when they need to, l go to shops twice a week -once for food and once to the post office. I doubt very much people are going to shops multiple times a day for a can of coke, ice lolly etc.

Vapes / inhalators / lozenges it depends on the patients preferences

@Soontobe60 - it is an awful experience for anyone. But I think this poster was saying they would rather be ill at home (with a mild case) than in a psych ward. A psych ward is not a good place to be when you are physically unwell.

@UndertheCedartree fwiw I agree with you. I work in A&E but have managed inpatient wards before. The situation as you describe it sounds terrible.
I’ve been off work caring for family with Covid19, but I’m worried about what I’ll be able to offer people attending A&E on my return.

Oh and you asked about what l do about patients getting fresh air. Very little. There are 2 ward gardens for patients to pick from, it’s up to them which they use

@EL8888 - I didn't say most don't have them. I was refering to a particular ward in a basement with no outside space. There is also no outside space on my 1st floor ward. I was talking about some patients getting no fresh air. At my hospital we do as we are still allowed out the front. For god sake stop making up your own rules about going to the shop! The rules say you can go out when you need to. I never said anything about multiple trips and ice lollies! 😂 Let's stick to your mandated once a week - how are your patients getting their shopping?

I’m not making up my own rules but trips should be essential. Are you saying people are leaving the house whenever they want for random snacks e.g. woke up in the mood for monster munch. Sounds like it’s for the best you are isolating
Patients are going to the hospital shop like they always do. It’s purely a mental health hospital and it has a shop in one of the courtyards

@Purpleartichoke - well what could we do - spray them down? Those patients with leave have a right to smoke if they wish. I'm not sure what the answer is for the odd non-smoking patient that may dislike the smell - but probably just to avoid them as best they can til the smell has gone and make use of any outside area available to you. Unfortunately when you are detained things aren't always ideal. When I was sectioned I was so unwell the last thing I would have noticed was a smell of cigarettes. But I guess it is not the same for all. Maybe vapes should be allowed more?

@EL8888 - it is only you frothing about going to the shops and imagining all these monster munch and ice lolly scenarios!! Maybe the kind of thing you buy regularly - I don't know!! 😂 I was simply asking how your patients got their shopping which you have now answered! Do you check their bags in case they bought an ice lolly or some monster munch! 😂

I think you will find it’s you frothing at the mouth while fixating about smoking, shopping etc etc, l in contrast am not really fussed.

What you have said about lockdown and ‘essential items’ gives an interesting insight into you and the way you perceive things. It’s about ME, what l WANT. Stuff the rules or the staff. Even when asked about staff rights or the dangers of passive smoking you chose to not answer. This is why you are best not being in a hospital environment as it won’t be the UndertheCedarTree show. There will be other people to consider, rules etc which won’t be well received by you

Not all hospitals have gardens and shops so you should have a think that not all psych patients are having the same experience as at your hospital. Some have no access to these facilities. That was the point of this post but you couldn't see beyond the end of your nose.

@EL8888 - I simply asked you a question about shopping, you derailed the thread about your usual smoking policy - completely off topic. And yes clearly you are not fussed about your patients. I have said nothing about essential items - I just follow the rules set out by the government who make no mention of essential items either. This post was not about staff rights - start one about that if you like - it was you that could only think about yourself and your rights. Of course I care about staff rights - I was a member of staff - but this thread was not about that. I shouldn't be in a hospital environment! 😂 My psychiatrist begs to differ. I've been an inpatient for over 2 and a half years and I've got on just fine. Our staff care for us and are nice - don't think I'd last 5 min locked up with you, though. You sound a complete jobsworth and one of those people who phones the police if someone slips a bag of monster munch in their shopping or god forbid cigarettes! 😂

Well clearly you don't need to be in hospital if you just strolled out

OP in answer to your original AIBU, no yanbu to draw attention to the difficulties you are facing. These issues are important, will be having a devastating impact on people and rightly deserve attention. I say this as someone who worked in inpatient mental health for 13 years. It's a shame that so many have jumped in to give you a hard time instead of just listening to your experiences and offering sympathy. It sounds like you're in a really difficult position made worse by not having your usual support around you. It must be so hard but you've got through 4 weeks, take each day at a time. You're recovering from cv19 and have serious mental health difficulties, you need to rest, accept help wherever you can get it and don't put yourself under pressure. The way you've taken on people in this thread shows you must have great strength but they don't deserve any more of your precious energy.

Do they give nicotine patches to help with the cravings?

@Ghostoast - I went on leave. (Just strolled out! 😁) I think I'll leave my psychiatrist to decide if I need to be in hospital!

@SinnyLou - thank you so much! I'm just taking one day at a time. And yes I should ignore those that like to kick people when they are down.

It's so hard as I should really be in hospital but need to rexover from Covid. But as I said one step at a time.

Unfortunately when you are detained things aren't always ideal or when you are in any hospital? Is this thread really about your displeasure about not getting acccee smoking whenever/wherever you want? Your disdain for everyone else whether patient or health care professional is evident!

@DianaT1969 - it depends on the hospital - the one I was refering to gave patients inhalators - some get on with them - most find them disgusting. We have one use vapes at my hospital but are also allowed out to smoke but only within certain times.

@Ghostoast quite! For a diagnosis of EUPD then community treatment is more suitable anyway

Yabu. Presumably they are trying to protect patients from coming to harm, there may be some inconveniences but people are dieing from covid, cancer patients arent getting treated and will die, I dont think missing out on cigarettes compared to the suffering some are going through.

@EL8888 - your lack of experience and professionalism shows by thinking you can prescribe treatment for someone over the internet!! Why do you think EUPD units exist?

@TitianaTitsling - read the thread I have full on access to smokes! I am struggling on leave with no support, 2 children and I have Covid.