"Birch Ward"

In 2016 I was an inpatient in Birch Ward, eating disorders.

Individually the consultant, psychologists, dietician, OT and nursing staff were excellent and a credit to the hospital.

However, the ward often didn't feel like a place of safety. I was admitted due to low weight and other problems including low mood and was surprised that from day one I was left on my own for hours at a time with no regular checks by staff (unlike on every other unit I have been on).

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of mental health problems due to complications from low body weight and suicide. From a patients perspective it didn't seem like risk was taken seriously enough. Even when thoughts and expressions of self harm were disclosed by patients regular checks were not introduced.

I fear that life's will be put at risk unless safety is reviewed, something I noted on an inpatient questionnaire.

As expressed in another patient's review, alcohol was a recurring problem on the ward and seemed to be managed by discharging those who came in drunk and allowing those who were frightened to discharge themselves.

Alcohol and other mental health problems including OCD were not properly treated. Staff would openly say it's an eating disorder ward and they weren't there to tackle the other problems (despite what I was told pre admission). Surely unless the person is treated as whole and their other serious problems addressed they will struggle to maintain their weight post discharge?

Its not unusual for eating disorder patients to be readmitted but I have been shocked by how many patients have been readmitted either to Birch or other eating disorder units since my admission. I trust this is something the ward and commissioners regularly monitor.

Birch is a vital resource in the region and has a lot of excellent staff. In my opinion there needs to be more nursing staff so they can spend more one on one time with patients to help them feel listened to, safe and to try and reduce re-admission rates.

I note other reviews have been responded to with apologies. I'm not looking for an apology, it's assurances that procedures have/will change to ensure the safety of patients and a commitment to treat more than just the eating disorder.