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Highgate Mental Health Centre

Posted By lyradd73

"Highgate Mental Health Centre"

About: Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust / Inpatient mental health care

(as a service user),

Being sectioned is in itself a terrifying ordeal. I found Highgate mental health centre unruly and unsafe. The room I was placed in had the remnants of body tissue hair skin and blood in the grating that covers the window. Someone had clearly smashed their head into it. It had not been properly cleaned.

I was put on a lot of medication and was never told what I was taking. I witnessed theft, aggression and was left so intimidated by one of the staff members. I felt like there was no therapeutic culture or system at highgate.

Coral ward felt extremely volatile and dangerous when I was unfortunate enough to be put there.  God bless all who rest there tonight.

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Responses

Response from Emma Francis, Complaints and Incidents Manager, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust 3 years ago
Emma Francis
Complaints and Incidents Manager,
Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 19/07/2021 at 09:33
Published on Care Opinion at 10:27

We are very sorry to hear of your negative experience. C&I is aware how distressing admission to hospital can be when someone is in mental health crisis and we aim to always provide a safe and therapeutic space that supports recovery. Specifically, Coral ward, our Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, has a specialist, committed team of mental health professionals working with those with the highest level of need, with safety and care our utmost priority. We would welcome further conversation to learn from any experience that has not met our expected standards.

To take this forward please contact us via feedback@candi.nhs.uk.

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by lyradd73 (a service user)

Thankyou for your reply,

I felt that The "dedicated" team, depended solely on drugs and intimidation as a means to control.

Although enthusiastic and caring, the system and culture are purely based around pharmaceuticals.

Comments like-saying they will depot you if necessary and a constant level of condescension, meant that if you did see a doctor, they would speak to you with an opinion that drugs were the only treatment.

It's easy to become close to staff if you have the interpersonal skills, but some who don't slip further into the system for a longer time.

My ethos was to fight against the regime and although I was constantly bombarded with threats if I didn't take the medicine, I did my best not to take it by hiding it.

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