Sharon S.
1/5
My names mark ,I’m 56 been self employed all my life ,never taken recreational drugs, don’t smoke and only drink socially.
I experienced a sustained traumatic episode 8 years ago because my gp refused to believe I had tumours growing on the main nerve in the bottom of my feet , pain and subsequent events led to a breakdown that I survived by accident.
I got through somehow but suffered a relapse 15 months ago and was being readied for Ect ( electric convulsion therapy) under instruction of dr Anosike At eureka park mental health, ashford .Dr Anosike decided to section me and send me to littlebrook hospital against my wishes , I was willing to go to canterbury or Maidstone. I absconded from home , had 15 policemen, dogs , helicopter searching for me , total waste of money if any of the egomaniacs had listened and placed me near my family instead of littlebrook, I was on amberward . bearing in mind they had 24 extra hours before my arrival , the first round of medication at 8.30 pm was wrong , the staff were totally unprofessional at such a major mistake, wouldn’t listen, Tim was in charge that night and for the most part ignored me , shutting the office door , after constant badgering I eventually got 2 of the 3 tablets I should take at 12.30am . it took 2 days of constant pressure to get my medication right . Sleep is very important but impossible, mattress , pillow duvet ,covered in plastic , meaning if you manage to get to sleep you sweat profusely. Some patients are up all night shouting and screaming, the staff largely ignore them . The doors have self closers that shut with such force it’s like a gun going off. Staff are constantly opening and letting them bang all night , I asked for the closers to be adjusted but was ignored as nothing happened whilst I was there . The shower in my room only dribbled down the wall , again told staff and again ignored, I spent all my time in the small courtyard to avoid the really ill patients , with only the sky as a view with walls covered in graffiti . on one occasion a patient came out and urinated up the wall , two staff watched and walked away. I went and told two more staff who ignored me , I had to empty a waste bin, fill it with water and wash it down myself. The same thing happened again but this time a staff member tipped a cup of water over it , thinking that was adequate, no disinfectant. On another occasion a patient soiled himself , absolutely stank , he asked the staff for help , they left him sitting in his own fesses whilst giving us lunch , I estimate it was about 5 hours before he was cleaned up , no wonder myself and a couple of fellow patients I spoke with had diarrhoea the entire time I was there .
I saw the ward psychiatrist, dr baa for approximately 45 minutes trying to explain that I was told by dr Anosike that I would receive the Ect treatment quicker as an impatient . No additional treatment, psychology , cbt, or help was provided during my stay .
After 5 days I was called to dr baa office to be told I would not be receiving Ect as promised, dr baa said she had spoken to dr Anosike and because I sat in the courtyard I didn’t qualify for Ect . Completely dumbfounded.
Subsequently I was discharged the next day . I have been constantly lied to , treated as sub human, witnessed very sick patients being treated without humanity by the majority of staff who would be prosecuted for cruelty if they were looking after animals. I spent 6 days in littlebrook , hardly slept , was Ill the entire time I was there , discharged in a much worse mental state. Hospital isn’t a word to be associated with littlebrook, asylum would be better. If you have a family member who is suffering depression/ anxiety and they are told there going to littlebrook asylum, please don’t let them go there , anywhere else .it’s an experience that has destroyed my faith in humanity and which I doubt I’ll ever get over . Whoever runs the place should be ashamed .the ward manager Susan tried her best , the lady doctor on admission and a young nurse where an example to the rest .
