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My experience at Woodstock Lodge

Posted By nuthatchcp77

"My experience at Woodstock Lodge"

About: Acute Mental Health Services / Acute mental health inpatient services

(as a service user),

I’ve been linked in with Woodstock Lodge for roughly 10 years on and off. Mainly due to my travels outside of the country. 

Being linked in with them has had limited benefits each time and it causes dread in my stomach each time I return. I’m not sure if it comes down to staff turnover, being over-prescribed or simply inadequate staff or an unclear overlap who manages which services.

Firstly, I have just been released from hospital after being detained in the AMHIC unit for 2 months which resulted in a diagnosis of bipolar. This shouldn’t have shocked me as I have all the symptoms and go between mania and depression regularly, however I use drugs to crash which could confuse things. I don’t accept this as the only reason staff at Woodstock lodge repeatedly advised me I was definitely not bipolar as I’m too insightful into my own life. I’m truly furious and disgusted with this.

Part of me is grieving the person I could have been if only I’d seen a psychiatrist earlier rather than being brought up in meetings and them not diagnosing me from afar. This is extra hard to swallow as I paid for a private assessment where my ADHD was diagnosed and I was put on the treatment for bipolar however the NHS didn’t recognise this and had to do their own assessment which thankfully sped up things, however still wasted money. This is something that has to be fixed and I’m aware without an executive in NI this won’t change so I don’t know exactly how long that’ll take.

Secondly, staff turnover is shockingly high. I’m sure being paid better would help with this situation, but again another government issue. Repeating myself and describing my situation is very monotonous. At this point I almost feel like recording myself and playing it for new staff. Limit the amount of hoops there are to getting help. 

Thirdly I think it’s important that appointments and timings are being adhered to. Routine is very important for not just me but I’m sure many others so figuring out timings would be brilliant as I’ve been waiting 30 minutes after I was due to be seen and as I work that’s not appreciated by my employer. 

Lastly, phones being answered or voicemail being fixed would help things too. There are many numbers for Woodstock Lodge. I was sectioned in London, and they were shocked by Woodstock lodge and how impossible they found it to get in contact for my discharge plan. That speaks volumes that they were trying for 5 days to get in touch and only made ground on the last day. This was 2 years ago so that may have improved, I’ve got numerous numbers now so I can usually get through to someone or leave a voicemail now but I still think that needs checked.

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Responses

Response from Bronwen O'Neill, Interim Assistant Service Manager, Community Mental Health, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust 13 months ago
Bronwen O'Neill
Interim Assistant Service Manager, Community Mental Health,
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 24/03/2024 at 18:07
Published on Care Opinion at 18:07

Dear nuthatchcp77,

My name is Bronwen O’Neill and I oversee the Community Mental Health teams in South and East Belfast, including Woodstock Lodge.

Firstly, I want to thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us, all feedback is welcomed.

I was saddened to hear that you felt dread during you attendances, this is very much not the experience we would wish for a service user.

I fully appreciate how frustrating it can be to repeat your story because of staff turnover, and as you have correctly reflected some of that is not within the control of the Trust. Within Mental Health Services we know that continuity of care is a key aspect of treatment & care and I can advise that the trust is committed to supporting staff to stay within the organisation. I note that you reflected on the challenges of diagnosis being delayed or difficult to access and again, and regrettably this is an issue, which is solely due to funding.

I am disappointed to hear your experiences around your appointment, and I appreciate that it’s very inconvenient to be kept waiting outside of the expected time and although sometimes matters arise that we can’t control, we should at least have a plan to communicate why there are delays. I have reflected this back through my line management so we can explore what would be helpful in that scenario.

We are aware that there is work to be done in streamlining the phone system although you did reflect that things may have improved, it would still be helpful to hear about what it’s like from your side. I will give a commitment to ensure that all phone numbers have working voicemails and that we can minimise people having to ring lots of numbers.

I would really like to have a conversation or meet with you to look at this further, and to ensure that we are addressing the issues you have raised. Can I invite you to contact me on Bronwen.oneill@belfasttrust.hscni.net so that we can arrange to look through some of this in greater detail?

As I said, thank you for this. Taking the time to tell us this not only allows us to improve, but hopefully will make the journey through our service easier for you and other clients.

My very best wishes,

Bronwen

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