Poplar Adolescent Unit - Rochford

Ayden

I was transferred to Poplar in Jul 22 and discharged in Oct 23. My review is more in-between three and four stars. It was also six times as long, so is absolutely nowhere near detailed, please bear in mind that google has a character limit…

The ward was scary at first. As a trans male, I was placed in a neutral room and later moved to the female corridor due to failed extended leave, which was unsettling. This was fixed. My other ward did let me stay in the male corridor straight away with no questions asked. Certain staff often used incorrect pronouns and my dead name, causing distress. After being corrected, nothing changed. One staff member asked *very* inappropriate questions, my key nurse escalated immediately, but management handled the complaint poorly, leaving my parents and I concerned. AFAIK, nothing came from the investigation. Staff would also fall asleep on 1:1 observations, and one time, in a visit. When reported by parents, again, AFAIK, nothing resulted.

The atmosphere was often toxic with frequent arguments and occasional physical aggression, but staff intervened quickly. I made some good healthy friendships, despite the noise and alarms, for which I advise ear defenders/NC wireless headphones.

There was a sensory room and chill-out room, but no secure garden access for about half my stay. The garden was nice but often inaccessible due to staff shortages. Staff usually tried their best to accommodate. The rooms were decent but lacked chairs until later in my stay, and the food was poor, especially for my sensory and dietary needs. I often resorted to my own snacks. Some had to be care planned. When my lack of eating got worrying, med staff dismissed it. I ended up in A&E for severe dehydration and malnutrition, not by the ward docs, but by the duty doctor. Twice.

Doctors were generally okay but slow to adjust my initial care plan. Therapy was hard to get, when I did get some she was beyond excellent. I experienced frequent restraints and forced injections due to severe self-injury, which was traumatic but staff usually made many efforts to de escalate. Besides, I am seeking help because of a head injury causing seizures.

I had a high heart rate, but doctors dismissed it. I am now seeking treatment for a cardiovascular autonomic disorder, I was told it was ‘nothing to worry about.’ I would have appreciated more recognition so I could’ve received help sooner. I am also experiencing other permanent physical conditions because I was not warned about some medication side effects.

My phone was taken for a month. I did what was asked and then requested it back, but it took a month for them to agree. The ward phone was often broken, so I could not contact my parents as frequently as I would have liked.

Despite the criticism, my key nurse provided outstanding care, made me feel safe, and advocated for me. I wish I could write more, but there’s a character limit. My key nurse often updated care plans and read me my rights. She always went above and beyond. Several other compassionate staff members also helped manage my distress and kept me safe. I wouldn’t be here without them!

I would’ve gone into so much detail if I was allowed to write more. From my knowledge, this is a decent adolescent ward, compared to adults, but some improvements would benefit future patients.

Kallie H.

terrible ward!! i was admitted here twice, the first admission i found staff caring towards me, but when it came to my discharge i had stated “i do not feel ready to be discharged” yet got discharged 4 days later.. a month after my discharge i ended up back at poplar this admission was awful, i transferred wards because the ward was so bad,two patients also transferred at the same time as me, because the staff was treating us horribly.. during my two admissions i gathered a lot more trauma and came out worse then before.
staff lie about their patients and gaslight them.
put the on phone bans any where from 24hrs to a month or more!! leaving them with no contact with friends or family. they say u can use the ward phone, but barely support you with using it or the phone is broken.
i found it very neglectful! me and other patients were once left with no checks or no support for 2 hours, when 3 of us was on 5 checks an hour.. they didn't carry out searches properly meaning loads of people including myself was able to bring contraband in putting us at risk.
if we were to report a staff member to management nothing was ever done. making the ward a horrible place to be.
most of the staff was absolutely horrible, to the point patients wouldn’t leave their bed spaces in the morning because we dreaded to see those members of staff that done nothing but be horrible to us.
on a thew occasions i actually feared for my life there, i would text people saying “i don’t think i’ll come out of here alive”, “im going to die here”.
overall the 2nd admission here was absolutely awful, but there was a thew lovely staff members, who always made time for me and made sure i was alright, in all honesty i don’t think i would of got out alive without them. so thankyou to them.
the rest of them on the other hand was absolutely appalling how they got a job here i don’t know.

Ash

Female staff member named bobby literally told me and a boy here to go ahead and kill ourselves. Was more like a prison then a unit. Like more of a punishment then to seek support. If you didn't eat your dinner, you wasnt allowed snacks OR drink after, and most people didn't eat the dinner because other people there made it. Most of the people here are autistic. We won't eat food that other kids have had their hands on.

Lily R.

i have mixed feelings regarding this ward. it was my third inpatient facility and found it a breath of fresh air, in the beginning. however, as i came out of the crisis state i was in, i noticed how biased the staff were. i understand that it was all based on individual risk assessment but it did feel as if certain patients (if they weren’t as sociable/reluctant to talk to staff) were getting more blunt responses when asking questions, or a more “fed up” response to casual interactions: i did not receive this personally but easily noticed it. also, my discharge was completely spontaneous, with my community team having little-to-no understanding of safety plans, support or why the decided to discharge me. i did find this quite abrupt and confusing, although i am coping better now off ward.
if you’re heading to this ward soon, i know it’s scary going to inpatient services, but looking at reviews to base your opinion on somewhere you have never been isn’t a good thing to do. everybody has their own individual experiences and, i can’t lie , it’s not too bad on poplar. just have hope and you will move forward.

Alice S.

Was a patient here recently. Just got discharged with no treatment or care plans in place. While being in the ward my community therapist was allowed to visit but not have any sessions with me. The ward stopped all forms of treatment i had or was about to start and didnt replace them. I spent 28 days with no support. Many of the nurses invalidated my feelings and called me “irrational” as i was speaking about how i felt. When i asked for time alone and spoke about why i needed it i was told that i was emotionally blackmailing one of the staff members.
Im now out of the ward and suffering with flashbacks from being in there and seeing traumatic events. They left we feeling more alone than ever and made me lose trust in the mental health system as a whole. No child should ever have to feel invalidated and ashamed and especially not when youre in a mental health establishment. It is not good enough and nothing was done to help. The system needs to change.

Talitha M.

Every staff we met - the nurses, support workers, carers, doctors and therapist were professional, empathetic and knowledgeable.

We are really grateful for the support at Poplar, and our son will also remember it as a safe and helpful place.

Maisie O.

Was disgusting the thing they did and do to us it wasn't help it was abuse and it was just easier for them to just inject us and lock in a room so if that what you call help then them people need a brain check myself and other that suffer with severe mental health probably came out with more problems and issue we went in with and from my experience it was like being tortured and like being guinea pig experimented on with all different medications I do have alot more to say but I could be here for ages .....

Hannah R.

I was a patient a few years ago. Was a terrible place. No stimulation at all. Staff were clueless and had no clue what they were doing. Other patients managed to sneak in contraband that could’ve been fatal and I bought this up but nothing was done. Despite this there were very few good staff that did help me.