By Ursula Duddy
Reporter
A Derry woman has claimed that she witnessed an assault by a member of staff on a
vulnerable patient at a local mental health facility.
She also claimed that suicidal patients are being discharged from the unit against their will.
The woman spoke to the Derry News, but said she wishes to remain anonymous as she ‘remains reliant’ on the mental health system.
She said she has been using mental health services for decades and has experienced a number of incidents at Derry’s mental health unit, Grangewood.
The woman began by referring to an article that had appeared in the Derry News on April 2, telling the story of a concerned mother whose son had also received treatment at Grangewood.
She said that she could confirm that she had similar experiences in Grangewood.
“Grangewood staff are contacting the PSNI to escort patients, not criminals – very vulnerable human beings suffering serious mental health difficulties, from this hospital facility,” she said.
“Why are the PSNI being allowed to escort vulnerable human beings who, unfortunately, have mental health issues, off the premises?
“I believe the police service are there to protect people from criminality, these people are not criminals.”
The woman said that, while she had never actually been escorted off the premises by police, the threat of the PSNI had been used against her on two occasions.
“In one incident, dressed in my pyjamas during lunchtime, I was told if I didn’t get dressed they would inform the PSNI. This is one of the ongoing threats by nursing staff that patients are subjected to continuously and it is carried out.”
The second occasion she was ‘threatened’ with the PSNI was following an attempt to take her life.
“Prior to my second discharge, I informed my psychiatrist that I was suicidal and her response was that she did not believe I was a risk to myself or anyone else,” she said.
Despite repeatedly voicing her feelings that she still felt suicidal and not ready to go back into the community, the woman was discharged. She then made an attempt to take her life.
“I was rushed to Altnagelvin and, through the care and attention I received, my life was saved and I was readmitted to Grangewood.
“A few weeks later, preceding my discharge, I was also threatened with the PSNI and told that if I did not vacate the building, the PSNI would escort me out.
“My family came and picked me up on each occasion. I left in fear and very unwell as I had no alternative.”
The woman said that she had witnessed patients who had attempted to take their lives being discharged
shortly afterwards. She said that one such person was a ‘dear friend’ and despite protesting that she was not mentally well enough to cope with leaving the facility, she was discharged.
She said the woman later took her own life.
“It’s obvious to family, friends and the public that these people are seriously unwell and require longer hospitalisation,” the woman added.
Juggling beds
“In my opinion, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Grangewood is no longer about patient care, it’s about juggling beds.”
Grangewood has a total of 30 beds.
The woman said that there is a shortage of beds for the ‘catchment area’ of Derry, Strabane and Limavady.
She said resident patients, if let out on day release, can return to find their bed had been reallocated. They must then go to Omagh or Belfast for residential mental health treatment.
The woman described a month-long wait to be seen by a community psychiatrist as
an outpatient. She said that she believed she received ‘superior care’ in the 80s and 90s and that bed provision was better. She also said that, in the past, she had never been ‘threatened with the PSNI’.She said she believes the ‘care in the community’ model is the reason that there are fewer beds, but that the care and support packages for people with mental health difficulties are not always easily
available.The woman also alleged that she witnessed an assault on a patient at the hands of
a member of staff within the first year of Grangewood opening in 2012.She said that she spoke to another member of staff to tell them what she had witnessed and was shocked when the complaint was dismissed.
“I witnessed a physical and verbal assault on a vulnerable patient within the first year
after Grangewood opened,” she said.“When I voiced my concern at such an unnecessary assault, I was told by a member of staff, ‘Us nurses are a team and we stick together.’
“Nothing was ever done about it.”
Amid other concerns, the woman said that she felt that adolescent mental health service provision was inadequate.
“For adolescents, there are no adequate mental health services for adolescents,” she said.
“I don’t believe that Grangewood is the answer to their problems and I don’t think that it is the right environment for young people aged 16 and 17 to be put with adults. There is no transition.”
She also said that patients were not allowed to make tea or coffee for visitors despite facilities being available, and that visitors are not permitted to accompany patients in the smoking area.
She also alleged that gym facilities that are supposed to be for the use of the patients
are being used by nursing staff only and patients are ‘unaware’ and not informed about the gym.Complain
The woman said that, while she appreciates the difficulties the NHS faces, patients should not have to tolerate a lower standard of care.
“Patients and their families should stand up and be counted and have a voice because, I feel when they are ill, they don’t have a voice – their families and friends should complain.”
The Derry News contacted the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) for a response to the claims and allegations made by the woman.
A Spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust said: “Respecting confidentially the Western Trust does not comment on the individual treatment and care of our patients.
“The Trust promotes a culture of openness and learning and is willing to meet with individuals
who are not happy with their treatment/care.
“Should a patient or relative have a complaint or comment regarding a Trust service we would encourage them to raise it with our Patients Advocates office.”
The spokesperson continued: “Mental health services deliver treatment and care in hospital, based on individual assessed needs.
“Our services engage with people through a model of recovery oriented interventions working collaboratively promoting hope, opportunity, and personal control. When necessary the Trust works
in collaboration and partnership with other statutory agencies.”
They added: “The Western Trust operates a smoke free policy and therefore no one is permitted to smoke anywhere on Trust sites.”
The Western Trust advises complaints to be made ‘as soon as possible, usually within six months of you becoming aware that you have a cause for complaint and normally no longer than 12 months after the event’.
They advise: “If you are unhappy with something, you can speak to any of the staff
who are dealing with your treatment or care and they will try to resolve your concerns straight away.
“If they can’t, they will tell you what to do next. If you don’t want to do that, or if you have done it and you are still unhappy, you should contact the Complaints Manager at: Complaints Department, Trust Headquarters, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry or telephone 028 7134 5171 - extension: 214142 or
Direct Dial No. 028 7161 1226 or send a text to 07780949796. You can also send an email to complaints.department@ westerntrust.hscni.net.
Alternatively, the Patient and Client Council can provide free and confidential advice, information and help to make a complaint. This might include help with writing letters, making telephone calls and supporting you at any meetings you might need to attend.
You can get more information on the services provided by the Patient and Client Council or by phoning freephone 0800 917 0222.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact the Derry branch of The Samaritans for support on 028 71265511 (local call charges apply) or Freephone by calling 116 123.
You can also email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org or visit the Derry branch at 16 Clarendon Street.
Usual hours open to receive callers at the door are between 10am and 10pm and there are facilities for visitors with disabilities with wheelchair access and an adapted toilet.
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email editor@derrynews.net at any time.