I would like to highlight the recent experience I had with SHSCT. My brother became very unwell due to extreme mental health & psychotic behaviours which presented as hallucinations, delusions & disordered thinking with added thoughts of life not living. I contacted 999 & was supported by an exceptional Ambulance team who offered advice & support until they were able to arrive x6.5hrs later. My brother was admitted to ED DHH & I was so happy he was being assessed & looked after as he was extremely unwell.
On day 2 my brother was moved to Male Medical Level 5 & he continued to be assessed. I had some feedback from these assessments that were carried out by ILS team but historical information provided by me on my brother's poor mental health for many years appeared to be dismissed. My father, his protective factor, had also died 4 days previous. My brother had a CT Scan & MRI Brain Scan but no one provided me with results or outcomes of same.
On Day 3 I received a phone call from my brother on the ward phone. He still presented as mentally ill, hard to make out on phone, slurred speech & not talking much sense. He said he was allowed to go home & I should come and get him. I was very concerned & asked him to pass the phone to nurse/medical team but no one was available. At this stage I was extremely concerned as I had not received any discharge plan for my brother. I contacted ILS Team to see if I could speak to someone about findings of assessment & discharge plan. After numerous phone calls I eventually got speaking to a gentleman in ILS team who listened to my concerns but said my brother was being discharged as he was assessed and was a big 62 yr old man who had alcohol dependency. I tried to explain that my brother had underlying, undiagnosed poor mental health that was not all related to alcohol. He was very vulnerable & extremely underweight & unable to function or care for himself. I asked for advice about taking my brother home & who I should contact if there was recurrence of the psychotic behaviours prior to being admitted. The staff member in ILS advised that I contact the Police.
For a family who have not had to access crisis intervention before, I am extremely disappointed with the current service available in SHSCT & the lack of empathy & support offered by the ILS Team.
"Assessment & Hospital Discharge"
About: Daisy Hill Hospital / Emergency Department Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department BT35 8DR Daisy Hill Hospital / Male Medical Daisy Hill Hospital Male Medical Newry BT35 8DR Mental health unscheduled care services / Mental Health Liaison Mental health unscheduled care services Mental Health Liaison Portadown BT63 5QQ Northern Ireland Ambulance Service / Emergency ambulance response Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Emergency ambulance response Belfast BT8 8SG Radiography services / CT Scans Radiography services CT Scans Newry BT35 8DR Radiography services / MRI Services Radiography services MRI Services Newry BT35 8DR
Posted by Armagh service user (as ),
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