Child outside psychiatric hospital

[UndertheCedartree]

I was visiting my DBF at the psychiatric hospital he is in at the moment today. We sat out the front. There was a DC there the whole 2.5 hours I was there with his parents who were visiting another patient.

I thought it was a bit strange. The garden of the male acute ward borders this area and you sporadically hear a lot of swearing at people and shouting. The patients out the front can sometimes shout inappropriate things, there can be fights or aggressiveness as obviously some are very unwell. I personally don't think it's an appropriate environment for a child.

The thing is it's not like there is no where else to go. There is a family room (but would need to be booked) and a short walk away there is a park and a square with benches and cafes/shops. The area outside the hospital has a road for cars to access the reception and the car park too and the DC kept scootering into the road. I expect he was really bored.

What do you think? I can't think of any reason they stayed there.

Well, that's the case for most threads. Noone can do anything personally, but they can give advice.

I never said that! Read my OP.

It’s not ideal, but they maybe unaware of the family room and/or it may have been booked. The patient may have been detained under the MHA so may not have been able to leave the ward/unit.

if it was unavoidable, a shorter visit would probably have been more appropriate.

Well, they could have used the family room to be fair. The DC was only 3 and it wasn't their parent so I don't really agree. One parent could have taken the DC to the park for a bit. But maybe they didn't know about it. In all honesty I have never seen this situation before.

Did you say how old the child was?

I hoped they asked the child if they were comfortable about going. When my MIL was in hospital with cancer my DS said he didn't want to go as if frightened him. Luckily he got to see her at home before she died.

Everyone's situation is different though.

there is a big difference between a ward years ago, where a young person could help out with a weekend social, to an acute psychiatric ward in current times !!

OP - you and I are on the same wave length,
you sound lovely !!
wishing you and your loved one all the best -

I’m hiding the thread now, as the naivety is irritating me now, and I’ve got covid and I need to chill 😂 best wishes though x

I very much doubt the family room was solidly booked for 3 hours. It is only a small hospital and isn't used much. I didn't say the DC should go to the park on their own!! The child was only 3! The family could go there. There were both parents with the DC so childcare wasn't a problem.

Yes, I should have mentioned it to staff, but to be fair I didn't see anyone today. I will mention it later.

Have you ever done the family room OP? It sucks. I'd rather be outside visiting than have to take my kid through security into the damned place.

Mind your own.

One ward I worked on, to use the family room, the patient had to be escorted, regardless of their leave status. Because the family room is still part of the hospital and patient couldnt be unsupervised within the hospital.

but if they were to use their unescorted grounds leave to see family on the grounds then they didn't have to be escorted because they are using leave.
If that is the case I get understand why the child would be there outside, because they get more privacy as a family and maybe the visit could only be facilitated that day ecause no staff were needed to escort them.

Also in thelation to the park, if the patients only unescorted leave is grounds leave, that might be why that is appropriate, they may not have been granted community leave, or the community leave might be escorted. So really its the best way for privacy

The family room at my local place is hot and stuffy. It also gets used for outpatients daily visits and initial assessments.

I wasn’t allowed out of the grounds so unless the park was in the grounds we couldn’t use it, unless of course I had staff supervision which lets be honest, not enough staff.

Fights and choice language can happen anywhere. Mine still talk about the time goods went flying along with fists in the local Argos.

Much prefer the crisis house though as not only were children allowed to stay over, more
freedom for patients so I could go to the park across the road unsupervised.

I'm sorry I disagree. Yes, being round all kinds of people is great but not when they are ill. I would have hated kicking off due to being unwell and a DC got in the middle or got frightened.

Have you been on an acute ward with men? Lots are very aggressive. My DBF has been whacked on the face with a belt.

I've been there. I prioritised my DC. If I hadn't Children's services would have something to say for which I'm very grateful. Things have been tough enough on my DC as it is.

Honestly, why they had to be there? They didn't have to be there and for over 2.5 hours.

Oh and the family room although not through security wasn’t exactly a quite place to be as the noise from the wards travelled. Used to hate using it when discharged to community team.

I'm fully aware of that. I was in a women's hospital at one time and it was a completely different environment. I'm talking about a specific situation. Have you ever been on an acute ward with men?

Were you actually on the grounds? Did men being aggressive never frighten you? Because I can tell you it frightens adults. Just because it may have not scared you (and I'm clearly not talking about a woman saying she is pregnant with an alien!) not all DC are the same.

In your work now would you allow DC to be around violence and aggression?

From Mental Health Act 1983: Code of Practice (available from gov.uk)

Children and young people
11.19 All hospitals should have written policies and procedures regarding the
arrangements for children and young people who visit patients in hospital and for visits to patients who are children or young people. Policies should be drawn up in consultation with local authorities and local safeguarding children boards.

11.20 Local policies should ensure that the best interests and safety of the children and young people concerned are always considered and that visits by children and young people are not allowed if they are not in their best interests. Within that overarching framework, and subject to risk assessments, hospitals should do all they can to facilitate the maintenance of children and young people’s contact with friends and family and offer privacy within which that can happen.

11.21 Information about visiting should be explained to children and young people in a way that they are able to understand. Environments that are friendly to children and young people should be provided.

I am wondering whether the ward even knew this child was on the premises.

Yes, that is it. I'm not sure some people have spent much time on or around male acute wards.

Ita not just the men either who can be aggressive. I was involved in some serious fights which was one of the reasons I was there. Those early days when I was too aggressive my children didn’t come.

When they did there was always two adults, one in case I kicked off and they could be quickly gotten out of the way whilst the other person either tried getting me back inside or raises the alarm. It was part of my plan and accepted by children services who understood the importance of the children maintaining contact with their only parent.

None of us where able to keep belts as they would have been used as a weapon on others/ourselves. Even those strings in hoodies weren’t allowed.

That sounds fun. Doesn't happen nowadays. Tbf, it was different then. People are only in hospitals now if they are extremely unwell. And those ones wouldn't be going to a social. I wonder if you'd been in the middle of a fight or shouted at aggressively if you would still be ok with it.

Did you ever get hit by another patient or screamed abuse at you?

They frighten some adults!

This was off the ward so they had leave. I think most likely the parents weren't aware of the family room or park etc. I have spoken to the war and they thanked me for letting them know. Apparently they have a policy that DC shouldn't be out there but they weren't aware. They will make sure the family are aware of their options.

For all the people saying it didn't harm them and in fact made them stronger, have a greater understanding etc, I imagine there are swathes more who wish someone had considered whether it was appropriate to be exposed to what could be quite frightening behaviour from adults.
That they were confused, it kept them awake at night, it scared them.

I think it's absolutely correct that there are safeguarding guidelines in place.
The people who are caring for someone with an acute psychiatric condition are best placed to manage how best a child can maintain a relationship with that person.