Failed by St Andrews

11/07/2022

Prior to St Andrews I had been on a medical ward for 6 months so was stable on transfer. I deteriorated in StAndrews and between moving and being removed following calls to the CQC and safegaurding, the time I had been there left me week and traumatised. I still struggle now to process the things I saw and went through. Even in just a few months id lost a significant amount of weight undoing the work of the 6 months of stabilisation id done. I knew I wasnt well and staff hadnt taken my bloods in the last part of my admission saying to get the GP to do them as id soon be home. I went straight to get bloods and a EGC, before long I was being moved to critical care as I was so unwell. To go from stable, to critical while in a unit which is meant to help you, its just not right.

The day I left StAndrews a number of comments from staff. "You can stop calling CQC now then as you got what you wanted and are going home". I replied this wasn't the end of me fighting for change as I didnt want others to go through what I had. It was then added that I should be careful as by namimg the hospital people would know its a mental health unit and that could impact my future if employers saw it for example. I knew they cpuldnt and responded mental illness isn't something people should be ashamed of, poor care and unproffessional behaviour is.

The final words were predicting id end up back in a medical ward and sectioned, how medical wards will be worse as staff arent trained in mental health, whereas their ward offers a real opportunity. i disagreed, medical wards arent ideal and that we can agree on, but an inadequate and unsafe mental health unit is even worse

Leaving StAndrews I mentally and physically weak. I needed medical care and people who had last seen me just prior to moving to StAndrews couldnt believe how much id deteriorated mentall and physically.

The two years since leaving havent been easy, my mum passed away, friends id made in StAndrews past away. It was a lot to deal with, but I was surrounded by familys and friends, my Church and medics continued to help stabilise me.

I feared id die in tbe hospital, or due to being unable to cope with the trauma of the admission. I still have trauma, i still struggle to accept some of those Ive met lost their lives. But ive got stronger.

Last year I started working with the BBC to expose failings. Two days later I had an interview for a job in mental health. In my interview I shared how the things I went through in StAndrews is what prompted me to apply so I can use my experiences to create positive change in the future. They tried to make me believe sharing my journey would negatively impact my future, but its helped me heal and channel my pain into something constructive.

The medical staff that said wouldnt manage me, and were not trained in mental health have shown me more understanding than the majority of StAndres staff. In St Andrews their answer was restraints and medications. They knew I had trauma so if distressed would say "if you dont calm down we will have to get men to help restrain" which was never going to help calm me. Since leaving StAndrews ive had a number of admissions to medical, not once have I needed restraining and instead theyve helped me talk through issues and process things in a way that doesn't harm me.

I have come sooooo far! My family, friends, church, medics may not have specific training, but through showing me they are people who I can trust, and holding hope for my future things no longer seem so bleak.

Getting back into work after many years out, creating a therapeutic relationship and trust with medical team meaning I now work with staff to fight my illness, and now can accept help without the need for restraints and sections. Ive been on holidays abroad, something I hadnt been well enough to do for years.

I was given a bleak prognosis, made to think no one outside of StAndrews would be able to help me, but they were wrong. Seeing the photo which was taken on the last day of my time in StAndrews I can see a broken girl. Now I see a girl whos getting her life back step by step. I think neither me, nor my dad and sister knew what the future would turn out like post StAndrews, but looking at the photo of us on holiday last week compared to the one within StAndrews its clear we made the right choice fighting to get me out.

For those struggle... fight for what you believe in, dont allow others to silence you, and dont lose hope. Life can get better

18/01/2022

Ive been working with the BBC on a number of projects since summer last year.

Today is the start with the release of the article below.

Andrews once took myself, Sophie and Sarah into a room one by one to warn us if we spoke negatively about st andrews we could impact our futures. They went on to say by soeakimg out people would know we were in hospital and that its a mental health hospital. That if people know we are in a mental health hospital then future employers for example may not feel comfortable employing us.

This is untrue! Employers are not allowed to discriminate (as long as you are safe to do the job). Sadly neither Sophie nor Sarah are here today, but I will continue to speak out so no one suffers what I did and in their memory

Patients say they’ve been placed in unsafe environments, often far from home.

07/12/2021

Something that has commonly come up when speaking to people within st andrews or their families is the use of Clozapine and how its changed them as a person and left them unable to function. As those taking it are on section they have no choice.

I am not a doctor and cant give medical advice, but i have been made aware of the following document while discussing the unit with others.

This is a document published in 2020 so is based on recent research by the RCPsych.

Anyone who has issues in regards to the use of Clozapine and is on it for a PD (as this is what we are currently hearing from the messages to this page) this maybe useful to read.

Drugs can be helpful for some even when its not actually made to treat their specific condition, so its not always a case of only using what is known to work as drugs can be used in a number of ways. But this is being shared for those who have been messaging and are unhappy with the way they are (or their loved one) is being made to take drugs.

RCPsych - Royal college of psychiatry
NICE - National institute of clinical excellence
CQC - Care quality commission
WHO - World health organisation

All the above are organisations which publish information on issues relating to health and social care and can be good places to start when searching to see if the care being given is best practice and evidence based

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/better-mh-policy/position-statements/ps01_20.pdf?sfvrsn=85af7fbc_2

06/12/2021

I was told in St Andrews i shouldnt share things online as people will know I have mental health problems and it could impact future oppertuntues with jobs, children etc.

Nice try to silence me! However, I know better and thats discrimination. There is no reason to be ashamed of your struggles. If you reach the stage of being well you can work, or even before that, if you can manage the illness worh support you can work, have children.

I wont be shamed into keeping quiet. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but poor and at times abusive care is!

20/11/2021

Things maybe quiet on here at times, but there have been some exciting things happening in the lives of us who survived St Andrews.

We are still working with an investigative journalist team who have covered another big hospital in the past (that closed as a result). I have always felt naming staff or sharing videos people have taken that include staff or (their voices) is not something that can happen on here. Firstly due to the law, but also as it wouldnt change much or at least maybe not enough that it would be worth the risk of staff coming to harm, whether emotionally or physically. We do not want to cause people harm, thats the opposite of why this page was created. However, now we are working with a team who have their own legal team and who have previously taken or shared footage from other hospitals those who have taken the footage have been signposted and thats somwthing we will continue to do while this project is underway. We do not want people to collect footage for this purpose so please do not see this as a reason to video people without their consent, as this is only for those who have footage already. If you are a current patient remember filming staff may mean staff remove your phone.

In recent months a number of people who survived StAndrews have reached big milestones, some coming off the high doses of medications they were forced to take, others reaching milestones with their eating, some going back to work. So of improvements for many.

On the flip side St Andrews Northampton has been warned that they could be closed if they do not make significant improvement in 6 months.

Many of us have achieved so much more than the ward deemed us capable of. We are grateful to the staff who were supportive and hope that those who failed us and doubted us will one day learn that recovery is possible for everyone. The hospital came close to breaking us, but we are still fighting.

We would love to see the hospital make improvements, but as no progress has been made from what we can see from the cqc report, or what we hear from this page and personal measages, we know that closure maybe the only way to keep people safe.

10/11/2021

Its scary that someone who was acting deputy CEO, who has been running it while it deteriorates further, now has had her nursing registration. In the complaint response we have seen her attempts to cover up mistakes (but all have come out in the new cqc report thats led to more wards being closed) and now she is back working with a nursing registration.

10/11/2021

The unit tried stating they had adressed the issues we complained about. Clearly more lies as theyve now been shown to still be inadequate. This place needs shutting before more people die.

Care watchdog makes raft of further conditions to tackle understaffing, lack of training and more

05/11/2021

This page is quite inactive as currently allowing others to persue complaints on my behalf and bring the case forward to public attention (early 2022 we invisage).

But today ive been going through Amazon orders to find details needed to contest some of the responses given by StAndrews. One of which claim I was supplied with pillows by staff on the 12th, which have been said to be from stock they have as they had no issues with supplying. Coincidence that Amazon happened to have delivered the ones id ordered . Thankfully my record keeping is pretty good (unlike the records of the ward which were deemed inaccurate when looked at by the CQC).

So many times i was made to feel i was incapable of knowing what had happened. But now its slowly but surely being pieced together by a team looking at my case and that of others who have been failed by this unit. Mental illness doesn't mean you are less able to understand or tell the truth.

Il continue to work to show thw reality of the abuse and failings that happen in these places

08/10/2021

This page has been quiet but behinds the scenes things are moving. Ive now done all the consent and discussions to check I understand the impact of speaking out, and have agreed to work with the BBC.

While in St Andrews a girl made a post about her poor care. This girl, plus a number of us were all taken aside by staff and told that we needed to know that if people saw it, then it may impact out ability to get jobs, be around children, as people would know we have been in a mental health ward.

Well, I strongly dispute that! Being mentally unwell doesnt make you a a risk to children or unfit as an employee. Around 1 in 4 struggle with mental illness, and that doesnt have to deefine your future. Doctors, fathers, mothers, teachers, they are people who also struggle.

Never let a unit shame you into silence. I have no shame in the fact ive battled an illness, but I would be ashamed if I was one of those staff who failed us, and in some cases were abusive.

The girl who was taken aside and told she could ruin her future sadly is no longer with us. The fb post didnt ruin her future, but poor care did.

St Andrews wanted to silence me, but I wont be silenced. Thankful for the people giving us a chance to share our experience, and fight with the system on our behalf

03/08/2021

Post by Emma...

After a safeguarding meeting, my home team, family and everyone external of St Andrews in agreement i was set to leave on the 10th August 2020. They wahted to ensure if was planned and that medication and evryone was sotted, the plan being called a safety by the Consultant at St Andrews.

However, 3rd August 2020 my home team called, the consultant had discharged me. I had been told the official discharge was the 3rd. Now discharge was certainly what I wanted.

But lets add context...

- I had been sent on leave without enough meds, id been chasing this up and a student was the one to return calls (i made many calls, sometimes having to call patients phones who would pass me to staff as no one answered) and it was suggested I try and buy the meds. One of which you cannot legally buy without prescription. A issue ive had is previously choosing to avoid doctors and buy medications online, so not something that is a good idea to suggest to a struggling Emma.

- Its widely documented I struggle with things being planned and in order. A number of my diagnosed conditions would explain why thats the case, and something everyone from home team, to solicitor and family and explained. So a very sudden change.

- No one spoke to me before the discharge, and it had been said my bloods needed to be safe before discharge, had they spoken to me theyd have known id been told by medics I was at risk of my heart stopping. To clarify medics wouldnt have wanted me sent back to StAndrews and I wouldnt have either, as medics noted how on transfer to st andrews my bloods were in range and it was actually during my time there that my weight and bloods had dropped. So i was better under medics who had previously stabilised me weight and blood wise. So St Andrews not checkering bloods worked out in my favour as meant medics could do it and I was soon on the road to improvement.

- The ward hadnt spoken to me, or made the effort to find out anything about what had gone off since we last spoke. Had they thwyd have known a lot had....

My mum had been rushed into hospital, for what was to be the last time!

So after refusing to let me leave or go home for a number of months, they suddenly go against the plan that was made from the safeguarding meeting by discharging me by just calling my team, a process that happened while my mum was being taken into hospital for what was the final time.

St Andrews had taken my phone based on "its a ward rule" in the may meaning I couldnt tk to my terminally ill mum.

A senior support worker told me if I cared for my mum I wouldnt be wasting time talking to the cqc (who were on ward) about past issues and instead be focused on the future.

July, and certain staff said they were recommending I didn't see my mum as she was unwell ans it could upset me or make her unwell (thankfully my family, solictor and cqc were on my side). One told me it wasnt worth debating and i needed to eat and thats the way home. They wanted me to sign up to stay 12-18 months, and then id be able to "enjoy time with mum". I explained mum didnt neccessarily have 12-18 months and knew from others that the ward wasnt good at managing patients who lose parents.

August, they change plans and just move the discharge without telling me, without even having given me the medication i need and with no letter so no one knew what was going off.

I see it as a blessing that I was discharged sooner and had the support of the local medical hospital (who DrB deemed less able to manage me than StAndrews 🙄 his ward didnt manage me, or even the basics, DrB and his ward) have been a huge support and gave my mum a dignified death while support myself and my sister. Yes they maybe dont have all the answers to eating disorders, but they had a whole lot more insight than most staff in StAndrews.

A year later and despite losing my mum, losing a number of friends who i made in St Andrews, speaking up about past situations with the police, seeing my dad and sister unwell, Ive survived. Im not better, im still battling the trauma of StAndrews whicj doesn't help, but Im in a better place than I was there.

A year on im alive, and as my dad and medics have said just this week, I wouldnt have lived much longer had I been left in St Andrews!

01/08/2021

I was told constantly by staff that I shouldnt tell my family if things go wrong and to tell them. I was told if I spoke to the media or cqc my access to my phone could be stopped. But I knew if I didnt record and photograph things then what chance would I have of having the truth heard.

Ive refrained from posting videos containg staff and will not post these via social media as I know that doing that could create issues. However, I have given permission for certain investigative journalists to have them if they can offer reassurance about certain things. (The ones ive agreed with being journalists who have done undercover recording in other units, and done so with no legal repercussions). Things will change.

I know those in St Andrews risk repercussions should they take photos and videos. Yet I knew that, and did it. I recall a past documentary where a nurse lost her registration for videoing failings (confidentiality being the rational) but had the decision overturned when she went to court to state it was done due to feeling it was the only way to save people from harm.

Never before have I had to go to these extremes, but I know its the only way. Whirlton hall was expossed via filming and it had a huge impact and finally got change to happen. I am no journalist, just a girl with her iphone who has a passion for injustice, but if evidence collected by myself and other ex patients can be shown in the right way (ie, without us who have hold of them facing trouble) to the public then maybe people will see the issues.

If anyone current (do not place yourself at risk to collect evidence, only it is something you have previously recorded) or in the last two years has any evidence which they believe shows failings and would want them shown please feel free to message. Do NOT send the evidence to this page, only a deacription of what it is, and that you would like someone (not us, but directly from the investigative journalism team) to contact you.

On this page we are happy to share photos of things which do NOT include other patents or staff, or your stories. However, anything which does contain other people we cannot share on your behalf. If photos or records have already been taken which do contain others, then we advise they are NOT put on social media and if you do want them exposing go via a investigative journalist as they than can help in terms of the right way to go about it without repercussions. If in the near future we can get one we are working with to get in touch.

Again be aware of the law, if you want to expose do it without creating issues for yourself. Your own recovery comes first and thats why its taken some if us a year, and others a little longer before we have felt string enough to commit to this next stage of creating change

01/08/2021

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000mkd

The father of a girl called Bethany has spoken with the BBC about failings in care. Jeremy is a true inspiration .

Jeremy took on the St Andrews and the followimg was published...

On 21 February 2019 proceedings were issued by Jeremy, the father and litigation friend of Bethany, challenging her prolonged detention at St Andrew’s Healthcare in Northampton from December 2016 to February 2019. This claim was supported by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

At mediation on 25 September 2019, agreement was reached which has resolved matters, including the claim for damages, without the need for further litigation. St Andrew’s Healthcare and NHS England have accepted that the care provided to Bethany did not always comply with the Mental Health Act Code of Practice and the NICE Guidelines on managing violence and aggression. This affected her wellbeing and made it harder for her to return to live in the community.

Sadly despite promises by St Andrews things in 2020 were still far from safe and again the guidelines not adhered to.

Alongside the piece in the link, which talks about failings within the system, more is to come in the near future about StAndrews.

Lucy Adams investigates care for the learning disabled seven years after Winterbourne View

30/07/2021

Havnt been on this page for sometime. The grief of losing freibds from St Andrews and the physical health issues I have been the main reason. I know many have messaged trying to get support for themselves/ooved ones, and I will reply. Just keep fighting, and dont give up! I will try and respond as soon as I can to all measages.

In other news, I am pursuing complaints. I have been in contact again with the MP and NHS to discuss the unit and the topic of sending people from our area to the hospital and how we can encourage other CCGs to halt admissions to unsafe units.

But the BIG news! This is now on the medias radar and myself and others are being interviewed for a feature length documentry about the impact of inadequate care and abuse suffered in private care. Ive agreed for all photos and videos I have to be used in the hopes we can get more awareness of the failings I experienced.

Pain is now being used for good, and im finding ways to let my negative experiences create positive change.

03/03/2021

This week is eating disorder awareness week. The theme this year is binge eating disorder (BED), a commonly misunderstood illness, even in services. Many areas refuse people care if they do not meet a low body weight, meaning those with BED can struggle to access services. Sadly even within services claiming to treat EDs if can be misunderstood.
Change is needed!

If anyone if struggling please reach out, there are charities who support anyone regardless of diagnosis should you be unfortunate and live in an area which has a criteria you dont meet. They are free to access. (Link below is the main charity and they can also signpost to more local services).

I hope one day everyone can access support. Sadly even hospitals claiming to understand EDs can fail people. St Andrews being one.

We have to speak out so no one else suffers. All EDs are serious and valid! Everyone deserves help!

We will keep fighting while ever we can in the memory of those who lost the battle, and for those going through it. Letting people deteriorate to the point of being critical is not okay!

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/support-services

26/02/2021

A few weeks ago I shared how we intended to get back onto this campaign. Sadly life got a little more difficult. Right now we are grieving for two girls who sadly lost their lives last week. Its not appropriate to over share right now, but please know, we will be back fighting. Both girls encouraged us to persue this campaign, one of whom was an admin on this page, and the girl who fought so so hard to help others. Sophie will be missed so so much and we will keep her memory alive and continue the work she started.

This fight will continue in their memory.

06/02/2021

Ive been really absent on here, and I apogise for updating and returning messages. Currently life is pretty testing, as if is for many in this Pandemic. Surgerys, sepsis, hospitals on top of the pandemic having added.

I will try and get messages replied to soon.

22/11/2020

Three years ago.

This perfectly explains why i created and contribute to this page.

Its not because i want to speak bad of all services, as the post below shows i have been open about sharing the good as much as the bad.

Some girls I share about who passed were under the ‘care’ of the same consultant who now runs spencer south in northampton. My good care i was speaking of was Naomi unit in York.

We honestly do not share on this page as we hate services and all who run them, we post as we believe that everyone deserves a chance and to have good care.

Thanking staff is something i feel is as important as criticising.

This month the local hospital trust circulated an email sharing the compliments i had made about the good care. I previously nominated a GP who was awarded a nhs hero award as i felt she had gone the extra mile in helping me. A ED nurse was awarded the unsung hero award when i wrote to the trust to praise her work. In york the client group (myself included) nominated the consultant for a ‘pride of britain’ for the work she had done to improve the ED services. We even had ITV contact us following our praise of Yorks unit and the consultant leading it.

This page really isnt a group of angry people who want to blame others and avoid recovery. 99% seem to understand why we are doing this, but there have been a few claims we are being unfair and negative. These claims come via a few fake accounts (newly made no photos) and also from those who actually post from an account that has lapse enough security we can see they have listed StAndrews as their place of work. This page is to raise awareness of unacceptable ‘care’ in the hopes we can make a difference and get all units at a level where compliments outway the complaints. We certainly do value the health system as a whole and we only have resorted to this as we have no other way to get the issues at StAndrews heard.

15/11/2020

A big concern we have about StAndrews Northampton is that they do not seem to learn from mistakes and they repeat time and time again.

One concern being raised by Emmas family is the delay in calling an ambulance when emma became unwell with chest pain. Having had many admissions to hospital via resus for heart problems the delay calling for help was a big concern. If someone with chest pain whos had more than 20 admissions to critical care for heart problems isnt a concern for the ward then what would be? The team with the ambulance team agreed this was an inappropriate delay (a number of hours), but sadly the request for the notes from that time have yet to be released from the hospital (its been requested via the appropriate procedure yet no reply months later).

Hearing from others who have been in the hospital, their familes and those who still figgt for justice we have been made aware of many cases where staff have not called for emergency services soon enough. Sadly some of these with a tragic outcome.

The photo is taken from a copy of a report published following the death of a patient who sadly passed away.

If deaths do not prompt staff to change the way they work, what will.

We wont stop fighting to get things improved, but we do fear that regardless of our fight the hospital will never change