AIBU to ask to stay in London for treatment?

[Rebecca496]

Hi all,

I am currently at the A and E department in the Crisis Assessment Unit at a London hospital due to why mental health. I have been feeling a little overwhelmed over the last few days.

The plan is to keep me here over the weekend until a bed in an in-patient ward becomes available in my home county in the midlands, where I would be admitted as an informal (voluntary) patient.

I would be transferred back to my local NHS Trust by paramedics and accompanied for the journey from this London hospital back to the midlands in-patient hospital - possibly on Monday.

The doctor in charge here said that it is not possible to be admitted in London as my GP Surgery and Postcode is not from here, and there is certain politics about NHS Trusts and hospital admissions being expensive and things like that.

I am a little worried about being admitted in my local county, as worried that the treatment would not be good there and that I would be going back to the situation that I was getting away from.

Is there any way that I could be admitted in London to an in-patient mental health ward? Can I plead with the doctors to keep me here?

I was thinking of asking my MP to get in touch with Rishi Sunak to ask if he could allow me to be admitted here in London, as the facilities are better here and I feel safer in London.

Huw Edwards was recently admitted to an in-patient psychiatric hospital in London and I would feel safer being treated in an environment where Huw was treated.

Is there any way that I can be treated here in London, as I would feel safer here. I do not want to be transferred back to the midlands with paramedics, and would prefer to be treated in London as this is where Huw Edwards was treated.

The doctor did say that the wards would be louder here in London which may not be good for me (as I am a very quiet person) but I don't mind this as I would rather be treated in London.

I am being observed here at all times. There are more facilities here than there would be in my local hospital, such as shops that the nurse could accompany me to.

Please can you ask me how I can plea to ask to be treated in London? I DO NOT want to be transferred back to the midlands for an in-patient mental health bed, I would like to remain as a voluntary (informal) patient in London.

AIBU to ask to stay in London, and can a bed be found for me here and how can I get one? I do not fee safe returning to the midlands at the moment. I do not live in London normally though.

In order to get a bed in the mental health place, which we were campaigning for, it seemed that the only way she'd get in was with a police referral as they couldn't keep her safe in the station. We weren't there every day, and didn't know this but were trying to get her help and one day she lost it and it happened just like that . Trust me, you don't want that.

Hi OP, well done for seeking treatment and taking care of yourself.

There is no harm in asking, but if you do need to move, don't worry. I'm sure there will be just as good if not better treatment in the midlands. You'll be able to talk to the treatment team about why you felt the need to move away from the midlands and they'll help you with it.

It can feel very overwhelming when you're in it. Take care of yourself and stay safe.

How does treatment work for mental health? I have never been treated before for this? I take the Venlafaxine (375mg per day), but never treated in hospital.

I want to be near the Prime Minister, the King and the main infrastructure of the Country - especially the BBC in case I would like an interview with them.

The BBC can send a reporter to you in the Midlands. They’ve got local reporters all over the place.

And King Charles and Huw Edwards are a bit indisposed themselves at the mo. Best not to try and make decisions based on their whereabouts. 🙂

I think you need to get well first and then plan a return visit to London. Nobody in a position of authority will consider it right to speak to someone currently in an acute MH crisis anyway.

Get better and then revisit your plans. London will always be here!

Out of curiosity are you from the UK?

How does being treated on an in patient mental health ward work? I don't understand what will happen.

How will I be transferred from here to the midlands?

There are lots of treatments available. Medication and psychology, with input from occupational therapy etc. Only your treating team will know what will help you. Good luck.

Wherever you go, I doubt the nurses would be going out to get you a McDonald's. It's not allowed!

Yes, I just have never needed in-patient treatment in a hospital for MH before. There are some little rooms here and I am in one and there is a nurse by the door at a desk. Most other patients are quite quiet like me - one is a little loud occasionally.

That's a good question for your treatment team. Have you told them you feel apprehensive about moving? Perhaps they could talk you through it and explain how it will work.

OP, you sound quite unwell. Please accept whatever help
Is offered. Wherever it is.

Why not? Would I be allowed to go myself and get one (or order it on delivery)? I am here as a voluntary patient. I am just craving some hot food right now.

They sort of explained and said I will have to move as I won't get a bed in London. I don't understand how it works though? Funding? Politics? Please can someone explain?

Because all the beds are full.

Yes, I think this is why they keep me here. I was having an assessment from the Crisis Team in the midlands yesterday then was waiting outside their office for 10 mins whilst they made arrangements. I sort of just impulsively boarded the train to London as I like London and have been happy here before. I came straight to the hospital here to the A and E.

But I am in a bed now? (I am still in the A and E I think though)?

I don't want to go to a Crisis House.

That's a different unit. The mental health beds in London will be full.

I think it's a matter of funding and resources being allocated to various regions, and that means there isn't a lot of flexibility to shift between them.

The good thing to remember is that the UK has a very high standard of care no matter where you are. You're able to access world class healthcare from all over the country.

The staff are there to help you. You've done the right thing seeking treatment, and asking questions and sharing your concerns.

I'm sure you'll be feeling a lot better soon.

There are lots of Londoners who need the beds, of which there aren't enough. I wish you recovery, but you need to go home.

Ah, I see.

Could someone (with a much better understanding than me) explain how the NHS works, what is a mental health bed, what happens when I go in etc.

I am from the UK but just have not experienced this before so have no idea.

Is that the stuff why they mean about politics?

Will people in London be treated better than those in the midlands?

I think because people like Boris Johnson, the King and Huw Edwards would use the hospitals here then they have better outcomes, and are less likely to have poor treatment than at a smaller hospital in a more regional setting.

Are hospitals in the cities better resourced than those in more rural areas in the NHS?

I don't think you will get a bed in a specialist in patient unit unless you are a clear risk to yourself or others. I could be wrong though.

I don't think they will let me get the train back home on my own. The doctor said something about being taken in something like (but not) an ambulance with paramedics to the midlands. What is this - I have never heard of this? How does this work?