Hartington Unit - Chesterfield

Linda B.

Most of the staff are rude, incompetent and know nothing about mental health and have a awful attitude towards patients. Lots of conflicting information and advice given. Staff are very good at lying and throwing everything on to someone else. Food is cold and undercooked. Toilets and showers are dirty. Not the place to be if you want someone to listen or understand you. Avoid the place.

Rachel J.

During my stay at the 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁, I encountered a spectrum of experiences, some enlightening and others deeply troubling.

My first experience was between 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟳ᵗʰ 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 and 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟳ᵗʰ 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮, during the apex of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was housed on the 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱, one of three wards of the 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁. Although I was provided with a private room and en suite, I experienced an unsettling incident. I was asked to swap rooms with a COVID-positive patient, which I agreed to in the spirit of cooperation. To my dismay, I found that the room switch had been done in my absence, with my belongings thrown onto the floor. Furthermore, assurances of a thorough sanitization of the new room were unfortunately not met, a fact which jeopardized my health. While I raised these concerns, they were regrettably dismissed. (I've attached corroborative photos to this review).

However, a later stay in 𝗠𝗮𝘆 / 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 on the 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱 painted a different picture. I was treated with respect and my stay brief.

Between 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟲ᵗʰ 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 and 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟯ʳᵈ 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯, (after waiting 22 days for a bed) I found myself back at the 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁, under a Section 2 and later a Section 3 of the Mental Health Act. During this period I was on the 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱, the staff showed immense support, offering solace and therapeutic activities such as drawing, especially during my most severe battles with depression. (𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱).

Nevertheless, a significant challenge came during a ward round two days after my placement under a Section 3. During this interaction, the Pschatrist from 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱, ironically named 𝗗𝗿. 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲 (if you know you know 😂), accompanied by 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲 (Clinical Lead of 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁) and 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 (Manager of the 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 — High Peak), was deeply disconcerting. I was not only labeled a "𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳" by 𝗗𝗿. 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲 but also accused of embellishing my mental health issues, even in the face of substantial evidence to the contrary. They told me that the best place for me was the community. And discharged me with immediate effect (after only being there for a week). I had to be escorted of site by 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘆𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 as I initially refused to leave. Even the Police thought I was not ready to leave, I could hear them arguing with 𝗗𝗿. 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲 down the hall way. The moment I left and the moment I was on the public footpath, 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘆𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 put me on a Section 136, and took me all the way to 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, to get reassessed.

Tragically, after my discharge in 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯, my mental health trajectory took a dire turn. I grappled with recurrent suicidal ideation, and my physical health too has been compromised. I firmly believe that 𝗗𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲, 𝗠𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲 and 𝗠𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 should be held accountability for their actions. I did not get better in the community, I got worse. And it has become apparent that inpatient stays on acute mental health wards are not about recovery but about how much money can be saved.

If you can help it, avoid, AVOID, AVOID.

Susan B.

Our first visit yesterday evening to see our cousin, after a 50 mile round trip was told that we should have booked a room for visit ( although no one told us this the previous day when we rang to enquire about visiting times) also there’s nothing on the website to say this just visiting times!! We were only allowed about 15mins with her which was quite distressing for all concerned. I can’t really comment on the care because she’s only been there a couple of days but it would help families who are already under stress to have clearer rules around visiting.
Maybe the website could be updated just a thought.

Georgina S.

Rush to get patients out to get the bed back and leave them worse than how they came in. some neglectful, abusive staff who speak to the patients like children and ignore them. They’ve absolutely ruined my loved ones chance at long-term effective treatment now and our relationship. This is not a place to ‘heal’ and get better (Tansley ward)

L J.

Staff at pleasely ward like to abuse their patients. The nurses allowed certain elderly patients to walk around naked while their smearing deification all over walls but then refusing to clean it up because “it is the cleaners job” which then helped spread an active Covid around on the ward. There was clear favouritism amongst the patients.
The nurses then Allowed another patient to make threats to kill and then tell the police none of it happened when they were phoned. They did not pay attention and ignorantly Allowed a 60+ adult male patient who should have been isolated due to Covid, enter the women’s only section and kiss a 23 year old girl while she were asleep and only mentioned it once she had been discharged. Don’t worry, it has all been reported to PALS. This women wrote a very long letter to show to the psychiatrist and he refused to read it as he was “tired and busy”
They do not protect their patients at all. Wouldn’t allow a certain young woman to grieve for her recently passed mother or therapeutically talk to her because they “didn’t have the staff to talk to her one to one” and accused her of being an allegation risk just because she spoke up and then she was discharged her the DAY AFTER two serious suicide attempts. There is so much more I could say.

Sarah W.

My mother was here a few years ago, and was treated very badly, myself also was treated badly by Josie. Josie was just awful in every way, very manipulating, there were a few nice staff but most of them were awful. One called my mother poison and also turned up the radio so they couldn't hear my mother crying as they locked her in a padded room all alone for an hour as she had just found out her mother had died, I would suggest to not let any one suffering from mental health stay here. I managed to help my mum and get her out of that place.

Michelle B.

I have spent 3 months on the Morton ward, went in extremely unwell, but staff were incredible and helped nurse me back to health, they were very sympathetic and even at my most unwell they showed patience and compassion, can’t thank them enough for everything they have done for m. Usually mental health units are poorly equipped to deal with a person with my conditions but not only did they help with my depression, they also helped me in my recovery of an eating disorder, thank you all for everything you have done, I will never forget what you have all done for me. Thank you so much. Michelle boot

Kris

‘Dr’ Simon Taylor is a danger to every patient in the hospital. He is responsible for the self harm and deterioration of my mother’s mental health. He discharged her when we begged him to keep her in, and then she came out and hurt herself and is still in danger. He clearly only cares about his payslip and sees patients as numbers and names on paper. This unit needs complete reform and new doctors leading it.