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.

London treatment won't be better than anywhere else. There will be protocols that all areas use, so please don't think that London is somehow better.

Is that in either London or the Midlands? They said I would get one in the Midlands when one becomes free there - most likely on Monday. For now I will stay here.

Do smaller hospitals have access to the same facilities and professionals as larger hospitals within the NHS?

Monday sounds good. You will be looked after on the journey and admission so please don't worry about it being in the Midlands. Others will have more experience than I do.

All of those people will use private facilities, OP. Not the NHS. The NHS is very stretched everywhere, so there are limits to the numbers of places (beds) which they have staff to service. It’s not about having a physical bed, but a place and sufficient staff in an appropriate location to give you the treatment and support you need. People are given in-patient treatment when they are too unwell to be treated in the community. This will be the same wherever in the country you are. London has a much bigger population than anywhere else in the country, so there will be more demand there, and more pressure for places.

How long will I need to stay in the hospital in the midlands? What is an "informal admission"? Does this mean I will be sectioned? I DO NOT WANT THIS!

They will use hospital transport - the ones I see here are like a little minibus, with paramedics accompanying you. They are used for people who aren’t well enough to travel alone.

OP, you need to ask the hospital staff these questions. I don't think this thread is helping you.

What is the treatment within the NHS like? Is it to a similar level within the private, although does being private give you a quieter room and things like that?

I will but there are no doctors here at the moment and I am worried so it is helping me in the very much here and now.

I have no first hand experience of mental health treatment, but in general, private settings will offer more comfortable surroundings, but give the same treatment. The staff at your hospital have decided how best you need to be treated, so please be guided by them. You don’t have to worry about taking these decisions for yourself.

What is an NHS treatment for mental health like? Are the rooms quiet?

Do you know how an "informal admission" works? What does this mean?

No, as I say I have no first hand experience, but I believe informal admission means you are there voluntarily. Which you are, because you very sensibly recognised you needed help, and went to A & E.

How much does NHS Mental Health treatment (either in the midlands or London) cost as an in-patient and how much does private treatment cost? I was just wondering if I could fund the difference?

It's the same as any other kind of medical treatment in as much as you go back to where you're registered with the NHS. Once London have a spot for you that's where you'll go. Obviously if you're in need it shouldn't really matter.

I am in London at the moment in the A and E department, I am from the midlands so will go there it seems.

Are the London wards safer than the wards in the midlands as there are more staff here?

No, there are appropriate staff to patient ratios throughout the NHS.

OP I don’t think it’s helpful for us to try and answer all your specific questions whilst you are in this state.

The MIND website has some info. Have a read through this and it might help.
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/crisis-services/treatment-in-hospital/

• I see that as an "informal"/"voulnatry" patient the Mind website says that "you should have the right to come and go from the hospital (within reason)"

Does this mean I can ask the staff here now to go to one of the fast-food restaurants over the road (e.g. McDonalds) as I am craving some hot food right now.

www.priorygroup.com/locations/priory-hospital-north-london

You can pay to go private if you want but it'll cost you several thousands of pounds.

Rich people dont use the NHS.

Why did you run away from home?

If you are at risk of abuse violence back home you could make a long term plan to move but just jumping on a train when you're in the middle of seeking crisis MH treatment is a sign that atm you a very vulnerable and should listen to the staff/carers atm.

I don't think you can ask the staff to leave their job. I'd imagine you'd get some hot food for at least one meal but only if on a ward. If you are in a and e are you able to access a cafe?

So is the NHS just for second class citizens in the UK then? I want to maybe get a graduate job soon which has private medical insurance like Bupa or AXA so that I can get this coverage in the future.

In 1905, Helen Bosenquet stated that there was a "deserving poor" and an "undeserving poor". Nowadays we have social classes A, B, C1, C2, D and E in the UK.

Is the NHS just for classes C1, C2, D and E and do A and B use private care? I would like to get a job that gets me BUPA or AXA insurance one day.

No, can I leave the hospital myself and go to the fast food place an d then come back?