The Lakes Mental Health Hospital

I've done several stints of rehab here and whilst the later hospital is more locked down, clinical treatment is good and if you are scared, violent and have to be restrained, this is done with the minimum force, no deliberate brutality.

It's cheaper than The Priory, so if you've gone on a trip you can't get yourself down from, ring their number and ask to speak with a crisis team or ask your GP to refer you.

It can be very scary due to the nature of patients being emotionally disturbed.

My only gripe is there is understaffing and presumably the pay isn't great for the staff so they need longer hours, which doesn't help this most highly stressed situation.

Another problem I've encountered is issues surrounding section paperwork. You are entitled to legal representation and advocacy if you are to be held in a rehab facility against your will, this is not always forthcoming.

Worst still patients under section have been asked to sign other paperwork, including adoption forms, immigration, criminal confession and other life changing issues when they are legally not in the capability to sign them. Essex Social Services are the most regular breakers of that law and this needs to be exposed.

That said, there's a good community spirit among the patients/inmates (if it's got locks it's by definition a prison) , and great chances to learn from each other as well as the excellent staff and community volunteers of all grades. You can learn a lot there, it would be a good place to learn about mental health and Anglia Ruskin University has used the facility in in-work training schemes for nurses and doctors.

Thank you for the care given by all staff to assist the recovery of our son. The staff are very understanding and sensitive to the needs of demanding patients and of visitors. There is a community feel about the ward, I understand that the food is good too! More nurses and doctors are needed in Mental Health this area of expertise is very important to society. Thank you. It would have been a 5 star if resourced more 😊

Illegally injected me with chemicals while I was detained under section 136. Despite section 136 not giving them the power to force someone who has the mental capacity of refusing treatment into it. I will have justice for this one day, whether through the courts or otherwise. Trish was the nurse that assaulted me. There were several other problems, such as the person who was meant to explain my rights to me was functionally illiterate and unable to properly read the paperwork they had given him.

Where shall I start
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Staff do not do much for you other than medicate you and expect you to jump as and when

You knock on the office for further chats. and they blàrnk you or pass the buck onto others which never actually goes to an end.

I had appointment's not kept I been threatened by staff and residents .nothing happens on time so u are just left wondering

Why am I here
I have a severe disability and I'm healthy enough to be released

The food is nice but the duty of care takes all day for a 3 minute moment

The mess work but no one has directon so it's simply like being on a roundabout
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This is ruining my mental heath daily.

Please sort it out or if will ring the police soon
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Mr hammondw

A lot of the staff here either need more mental health training,more empathy or to be fired all together, a lot of staff act VERY cold here, snappy too!
They need to teach these "staff members" to be EMPATHETIC or replace them with people WHO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND DISABILITIES!

In principle the potential is there to help people, however only a few of the home treatment team have actually listened and shown knowledge and understanding, the assessment team and doctor need more training as they are insensitive. Things have not been relayed as requested, phone calls don't come when expected and they are too busy to see you on the day you call them, plus they twist your words and write inaccurate information about you. Cam honestly say I'm done with them as no further forward.

The psychiatrists are aweful here the nursing staff in general.are nice though but unfortunately just follow order's from the non empathetic and somewhat ignorant and narcissistic psychiatrists. This place seriously needs investigating and serious changes need to be made they are well aware of there unacceptable behaviour towards patients but still go unnoticed I hope I never have to spend time here again

What a joke I have really bad depression and very bad mood swings and all they did was nowt did sod all to help me even after trying to kill my self they still did sod all what a joke