"Lack of care and support"

The Decisions Unit is daunting. On arrival you just get vaguely shown around (including to your chair/bed) and then left. This is the opposite of a helpful environment for recovering your mental health. I met other patients who just looked in shock and no staff were engaging with them. I was up in the middle of the night crying in the kitchen and no staff member came to talk to me. One staff member walked in to help themselves to a packet of biscuits and walked out again.

I am really disappointed to find out this was a purpose-built area (at great cost) when it is so inappropriately designed. Given patients are routinely expected to spend at least one night please offer the dignity of providing:

* A proper bed to get some serious rest on. The recliner chair works neither as a comfortable chair nor a bed. Rest is critical for recovery. Why this disparity between how you are treated for physical and mental health? I felt like I was being punished for my distress.

* A staff member to greet you properly and give you a proper and welcoming induction rather than just leaving you and returning to their office. A cup of tea and a chat works wonders.

* Please consider creating a specific TV room rather than having it in where people are trying to sleep. Place the TV in the kitchen area if nowhere else.

* I arrived at about 5pm and was told I didn't need an assessment because I'd been referred by Urgent and Crisis. Yet the next day I was told I did need one but that could not be given until the next day because of a severe staff shortage.

* The staff all contain themselves in their office and the patients are just left to look after each other. No-one came to explain about the staff shortage. No-one explained what the alarms are that go off all the time. No-one explained what was happening or what to expect. No-one said whether or not you could leave the unit for a walk for a bit.

* Food is available (but you are expected to get it yourself - even when in a state and not able to think properly or look after yourself. I was surviving on fruit and weetabix - again not ideal for recovery). 

* No support was offered in setting my chair-bed up for the night. I didn't even know I could request a duvet.

* There is a severe lack of things to do to relieve distress. It would be good if a worker could support something around this - even something like origami for a bit and a general chat.

* At the point where I was almost offered an assessment it was already 11pm. It does not seem appropriate to ask someone about their childhood trauma at 11pm (if at all). I came for support not further triggering. I would have done it though if the staff member hadn't then decided not to.

* I left because I couldn't stand another night of sleep deprivation on the chair/bed. I could have done with an  assessment as that seems the only way to gain further support. I have returned home and do not consider myself to be safe yet. There has been no follow-up.

Many of your patients will be survivors of abuse - please treat them with more dignity and care. We are not monsters. Please talk to us as real human beings.