In my post ‘hospital kept me safe but it didn’t help me get better’ I speak about the reality of being admitted to a psychiatric unit in the UK. I completely stand by my opinions on this – the NHS need to look at what is actually being done for people in these units. There are constant talks of how over stretched the NHS are and the amount of money spent by the UK Government but the money is being spent on all the wrong things in all the wrong places.
Re-admittance to psychiatric unit are more common than not. Often patients leave these units with the same problems they arrived with just slightly more stable. I have spoken at length about the lack of treatment whilst being an in-patient. Front-line staff are the ones who deal with the consequences of these services not being what they should be. However, the blame falls not with them but with the people much higher up with the six-figure salaries. The change needs to come from the top, these changes wouldn’t just benefit patients, they would benefit the NHS and the UK Government as a whole.
We live in a society that treatment for mental health is reactive instead of proactive. I did not receive the treatment I needed until it was almost too late. This is far too common. I have lived with mental illness for over half of my life. Up until last year I had never received any form of treatment other than medication. Waiting lists are too long, some people genuinely do not have that time – drastic and life-threatening actions are made before they reach the top.
The system needs to be completely restructured. Proper treatment should be given to inpatients to actually set them in good stead on the road to recovery before being discharged. This treatment should be followed up in the community to ensure that these people are still supported until they are able to stand on their own two feet. This honestly does not seem like rocket science, however, it seems as though no one with the power is ready to make that change.
Although more money may be spent to begin with the money saved in the long run would be substantial. And even more important people’s lives could take a completely different path.
No one should leave hospital knowing that in days, weeks or months they will end up back exactly where they started.
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