Danger of Psychiatric abuse in Bristol

by Alan Wed Jan 18, 2012 13:57

If you get your Bristol based service which treats you with dignity and respect, are you then ok with being jailed indefinitely on the whim of a psychiatrist and being forcibly injected with brain damaging drugs to keep you compliant? Your complaints and perceptions of abuse do tend to reveal your lack of insight into your illness - with treatment you will come to understand that you are receiving the best care in the world and will be grateful to the trust and its hard working caring staff.

by anonymous Wed Jan 18, 2012 13:59

I posted the anonymously because I don’t want my name known to the mental health services as they could victimise me in future. One in four people will suffer some kind of mental health problem in their life and it is very hurtful when we are characterised as nutjobs, etc as we we often have to suffer this social stigma on a daily basis. I know nothing about clifton brides.

by Concerned Wed Jan 18, 2012 19:57

Not for the first, and probably not the last, the thread has been corrupted by the troll. Thankfully they have shown themselves-up and I will not have to comment on their bizarre thoughts.

The real issue is that of over-powerful professionals wanting to take a vital service out of the NHS. Ending any hopes of a notion of democratic control, instead leaving the provision of mental health services to the market, reducing the position of workers in the service and ultimately leading to a poorer service for all of us. Mental Health, like physical health, is not guaranteed.

by old skool Thu Jan 19, 2012 01:23

I've been to one of those outsourced mental health things, it was shit. First they humiliated me by forcing me to lie (they said that they "couldn't provide help" if I was or had recently been suicidal) then they stuffed me in a claustrophobic, windowless room full of other poor sods while they gibbered on at length about some NLP nonsense and other patronising quack rubbish, endlessly repeating the disclaimer that this "isn't therapy" (yeah 'cause therapy is supposed to make you feel better!).

Nice to see someone's standing up to them. Not so happy about the prejudice on display here though. How would you like to spend three months of the year feeling like everything had turned to shit and your life was hopeless, and the rest of the time feelling jittery, anxioius and paranoid? How would you like to have such problems with insomnia that it is impossible to even imagine a regular 9-5 job? How would you like to live in fear, real fear that you will end up on the street, homeless or dead because you don't fit into this crummy society? And that's just mild stuff compared to what some people have to contend with.

Pooh to you, "J" - you're right not to give a proper name as I don't really want to know who has such nasty opinions. And for the record, I think the Clifton Brides attack was stupid and wrong. They should have hit Poundland instead, for their use of Workfare slaves.

by anonymous Thu Jan 19, 2012 09:38

Thankyou for the two above for being the only ones to take this important issue seriously. If these reforms go ahead and Mumford and his rich mates in government succeed in taking our mental health services out side the NHS they will end up privatised and fragmented. My experience under the care of Mumford taught me that he is only interested in his power and status. All the other workers who looked after me were hard working, caring and committed. Users and workers must get together and unite to stop this dangerous proposal

by J Thu Jan 19, 2012 15:40

Severe mod issue.

They've taken my apology off but left the responses.

I wish they would think before taking off any view which doesn't agree with their own.

It's all a bit sinister on here, any viewpoint as long as it coincides with ours...

by Nice one Thu Jan 19, 2012 18:15

Or sp-indymedia for those with an agenda. Certainly what gets removed or hidden only makes sense when you look at it if there is "an agenda"

As for our wonderful NHS - I have not a great deal of experience with mental health treatment for the "young", but sadly due to elderly family members suffering dementia I have some appalling experience of what can happen to the elderly whilst in the "care" of the NHS.

Thankfully a recent report has highlighted the issue - but I do not hold my breath for it getting any better.

I know it is fashionable to praise the NHS because some on here think anything that is not publically owned is capitalist XXXX. - But from my experience - having a loved one ignorred abused, left sitting in her own shit for hours if not days, not fed because the food was left out of reach is unbelievably frustrating because trying to complain is like wading through treacle.

Those that say the NHS is caring and wonderful blah blah blah - just wait until one of your elderly relatives needs care.

From what I have seen - I would say we should listen to those who have experience we do not. I would also suggest that a Private Company with proper reporting requirements can not be any worse, for certainly the elderly, than the shockingly bad service the NHS routinely dishes out to the vulnerable elderly.

by Che Thu Jan 19, 2012 21:12

Mumford is not a caring person, and now he is 'in it' for what ever he can get, even at the expense of the mentally ill, he is a typical selfish greedy uncaring capitalist.

by Ches Fri Jan 20, 2012 09:13

Some of the comments in the report on care of the elderly by the NHS - a report where the BRI and the Great Western are identified as falling short on acceptable standards

"The patient constantly called out for help and rattled the bedrail as staff passed by... 25 minutes passed before this patient received attention."
"We saw a staff member taking a female patient to the toilet. The patient's clothing was above their knees and exposed their underwear."
"Nobody was routinely offered hand-washing before or after their meals and hand gel was not within easy reach."
"Two members of staff who were assisting people with their meals at the time were having a conversation between themselves."
"The person did not have any assistance and the food was left on their table for over half an hour before they were assisted to eat."

BUT - this is all ok because not a capitalist in sight in our NHS! So no problem here - nothing to see - move along please!

by disco driver Fri Jan 20, 2012 10:25

yes ches, you astute observer you - yes capitalism exploits pollutes and corrupts absolutely everything and almost everybody - thats what it does - nothing is safe from greedy selfish capitalist ecociders - not even the NHS!!!!

by A different J Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:03

Seriously?? You want to slam the whole NHS because there are serious issues in elderly care? FFS!

For your information, cancer screening services in the Bristol region have reduced cervical screening turnaround times from 6-8 weeks to 2. That's right!! 2 weeks. They've had a massive efficiency drive recently and are doing really well.

There are bad points, but the NHS desereves to be protected!! overall they do a great job with the funding they get and people should be proud of our NHS workers. I'm fed up of it being slated like this.

by Labtech Fri Jan 20, 2012 14:40

The NHS is not what some would have you believe - yes some bits are good - but a lot of it is appalling with poor management and no concept of value for money.

I too have seen how elderly patients are neglected in the NHS via my role within the NHS and it sickens me. "Difficult patients" being given a chemical cosh to keep them quiet when what they really are asking for is proper care!

To say that because A is good it exonarates what happens at B - is typical socialist shite.

It is like saying the good news is that we can treat your broken leg but because we do not value what you do with your arm we fucked up its treatment and so you are going to lose it.

Some on here need to stop the name calling at anyone that dares to criticise the "group think" and start lookng at reality.

by Worker Fri Jan 20, 2012 16:15

It was arch-tory Margaret Thatchers privatisation policies that fukked up the NHS.

NHS staff and users are still labouring and suffering today from the effects of what she and her capitalist masters did last time the 'conservatives' got into power.

by A different J Fri Jan 20, 2012 16:38

Was I saying that it exonerates it? No. I am fully behind improving elderly care, and mental health teams. But some people are ignoring some of the brilliant work the NHS does, especially for less than fortunate people, and are using it as an excuse to get rid of the whole system.

There is a very good graph whoch shows 'spending vs efficiency' in US healthcare, Swedish healthcare and our own. The US spends loads, with crap efficiency, the Swedes spend minimal for maximum efficiency whereas we are in the middle.

Is that so bad? There is room for improvement, sure, but don't tar the whole lot with the same brush becasue you are WRONG.

Another NHS Lab worker!

by and by the way.... Fri Jan 20, 2012 16:42

do you really think that maltreatment of the elderly is limited to NHS only? Because I know you're wrong again!

Now lets stay on topic, yeah? Mental health services, let's sort em out.

by and another thing!! Fri Jan 20, 2012 16:45

my personal experience is that my grandad with dementia had excellent NHS care, he loved his nursing team. For the record.

by anonymous Fri Jan 20, 2012 17:37

If you want to get an idea of what happens when the care of vulnerable people is handed over to the private sector then see what happened to the care of people with learning difficulties in Bristol. In the case of winterbourne view, the private company employed untrained and underpaid staff which is what you do if you want to make a profit.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jun/20/winterbou...abuse

by Labtech Fri Jan 20, 2012 17:57

Talk about rose tinted glasses!

READ THE REPORT!

It was so bad that some hospitals were threatened with criminal procedings!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/feb/15/nhs-repor...derly

Half of hospitals failing in this regard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/oct/13/nhs-hospi...derly

But no doubt these two Guardian reports are a filthy capitalist running dog lie!

Non so blind eh?

by Labtech Fri Jan 20, 2012 19:26

And the big but is that those guilty of the abuse have lost their jobs the centre has lost its license and individuals hauled up to answer for the abuse. They will never work with vulnerable people again.

That is the sort of responcibility and "the buck stops here" regulation TOTALLY FUCKING LACKING IN THE NHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Those guilty of the DOCUMENTED abuse in the care of the elderly in the NHS will simply get a slap on the wrist - if that!! - then the whole thing will be re-wrapped, "lessons will have been learned" and the Carry on Nurse/Doctor/Administrator/Manager carries on regardless. After years of the same "Lesson being Learned" it makes you feel rather sick.

And as I say - dementia care IS under the mental health care service within the NHS - so we are on topic!

Typical of some that they want to marginalise the discussion such that topics they do not want out in the open get supressed - sadly after many years in the NHS - I have to say this is absolutely sodding typical.

by temp Sat Jan 21, 2012 15:06

Having worked at a solicitors which handled many cases of abuse and neglect within the care profession (both NHS and private), I can confirm that most of these evil fucks do indeed get away with a slap on the wrist. Usually they claim unfair dismissal and the company settles out of court to avoid publicity, giving them a reference and a couple of year's salary to keep their gobs shut.

by J Bard Mon Jan 23, 2012 06:41

My mother works in a private home, for (I think) the largest company in the market.

They have had multiple problems with borderline abusive staff, staff being abusive to each other, incompetant carers, incompetant managers, understaffing, institutional back scratching and ass covering, people with dimentia being in the home when they clearly need to be in a specialist unit... it's a disaster waiting to happen. You have staff that don't know anything about manual handling, what to do in the event of a fire, drugs going missing... the internal investigations go nowhere. They have a file as thick as a small book on complaints about one rather nasty member of staff, yet she still works there in a position of authority.

by lab Tech Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:57

http://www.cqc.org.uk/public#carehomes

http://www.cqc.org.uk/public#hospitals

The Care Qulaity Commission - authors of the report that identified how the elderly suffered in a lot of NHS hospitals also check Private Hospitals and Care Homes.

They have a leaflet that should help if you have concerns about any organisation that is not up to standard.

http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/documen...l.pdf