Not the least bit surprised. I worked at mental health hospital for sectioned teenage girls about 4 years ago. Admittedly only for a few months because the management were horrific, but what I saw was as enlightening as it was sad.
Food was definitely a huge part of the issue and since they were sectioned for various reasons some were not on solids. They wouldnt get special food in liquid form, they get the horrible food put in a blender until it resembled some horrifc bland mush.
I had experience within kitchens (I went straight from a kitchen to there) so I went into the kitchen to “help” a few times. Lordie lord what a mess it was. No gloves, no hairnets, no labels, food being served in the danger zone. Awful.
I would have complained if I didnt get a nice little pay out so thank you Priory Group.
Edit: Not sure how many will read this or care, but the reason I left was because when I joined we did training at a different centre over 2 days (had a 4 letter abreviation although I cannot remember). I later found out that this training was supposed to last a week and they’d condensed it to the point that my group knew absolutely nothing of any value. After I complained they did say they were run the training again, but by that point it was too late for me. I was then attacked on the ward by a patient. Which would usually be fine because “it happens” but I wasnt trained on how to deal with it nor was I given a walkie talkie because I wasnt meant to be on the wards alone. Unfortunately the duty manager at the weekends was different to the weekday and they didnt care that I wasnt trained.
mental health services in York more generally are a bit of a joke, but I have to say I’m particularly shocked and saddened by this… it seems like such a fundamental lack of care I honestly can’t quite believe it
I do know York University was in the press a fair bit for an unusually high suicide rate as well, although I think it’s been better in recent years… obviously a very different issue but I’m just wondering if there’s a common thread here, namely underfunded and under-resourced mental illness services
at the very least I hope this press coverage will push improvements in the area, but it’s obviously come at a human cost :/
2 comments
Not the least bit surprised. I worked at mental health hospital for sectioned teenage girls about 4 years ago. Admittedly only for a few months because the management were horrific, but what I saw was as enlightening as it was sad.
Food was definitely a huge part of the issue and since they were sectioned for various reasons some were not on solids. They wouldnt get special food in liquid form, they get the horrible food put in a blender until it resembled some horrifc bland mush.
I had experience within kitchens (I went straight from a kitchen to there) so I went into the kitchen to “help” a few times. Lordie lord what a mess it was. No gloves, no hairnets, no labels, food being served in the danger zone. Awful.
I would have complained if I didnt get a nice little pay out so thank you Priory Group.
Edit: Not sure how many will read this or care, but the reason I left was because when I joined we did training at a different centre over 2 days (had a 4 letter abreviation although I cannot remember). I later found out that this training was supposed to last a week and they’d condensed it to the point that my group knew absolutely nothing of any value. After I complained they did say they were run the training again, but by that point it was too late for me. I was then attacked on the ward by a patient. Which would usually be fine because “it happens” but I wasnt trained on how to deal with it nor was I given a walkie talkie because I wasnt meant to be on the wards alone. Unfortunately the duty manager at the weekends was different to the weekday and they didnt care that I wasnt trained.
mental health services in York more generally are a bit of a joke, but I have to say I’m particularly shocked and saddened by this… it seems like such a fundamental lack of care I honestly can’t quite believe it
I do know York University was in the press a fair bit for an unusually high suicide rate as well, although I think it’s been better in recent years… obviously a very different issue but I’m just wondering if there’s a common thread here, namely underfunded and under-resourced mental illness services
at the very least I hope this press coverage will push improvements in the area, but it’s obviously come at a human cost :/