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Dear Miriam,
I am concerned about my sister whom I visited in a mental health unit in this country. She is on a mixed ward, each patient having their own room, but no lock on her door at night and patients free to roam the corridor. She said male patients used to open her door at night, and men hang around in groups. I am concerned about female patients in these wards as they are so heavily medicated with impaired reactions and impaired ability to say no/consent.
I am also concerned about female patients who share female-only wards in other hospitals, as many suffer from serious issues and, again, have impaired reactions and are heavily medicated. I have been worried about her since I visited her.
Concerned Midlands Brother
Dear Concerned Midlands Brother,
Thank you for your letter and for your concern for your sister. I’m sure you want her to have the best care possible.
You express your concerns on a number of issues (the effect of medication on reaction, consent, etc), though there does not seem to have been a particular incident with your relative. Obviously, she expressed to you that she was very uncomfortable with the fact that male patients had come into her room at night, which must have been distressing for her. I would imagine the absence of a lock is so staff have access to patients at all times, but that should not mean other people can just wander in.
She expressed to you that she was very uncomfortable with the fact that male patients had come into her room at night, which must have been distressing for her
I’m not sure if you are in a position to speak on behalf of your relative as her next of kin, or if you can support her to voice her own concerns. With COVID-19 restrictions, I imagine that you can’t visit right now, but hopefully you are in touch by phone.
A first step might be to speak with the ward manager about your worries and see what steps have been taken/can be taken to ensure the safety of all patients.
If that is not satisfactory, I’ve looked up www.healthcomplaints.ie/mental-health-services on making a complaint. According to these guidelines, most hospitals/services have a complaints officer, who could take your sister’s concerns over the phone or in writing. The HSE also has a complaints procedure called Your Service Your Say. The site advises that you can expect an update on your complaint within 30 days.
Talk to your sister and discuss what steps she would like to take for peace of mind and security
It also mentions a “Confidential Recipient for Vulnerable Persons”, independent of the HSE. According to the site, anyone can make a complaint or raise concerns about the treatment of any vulnerable person receiving residential care in a HSE or HSE-funded facility. Advice for patients in a private facility is available on www.healthcomplaints.ie.
I know that you have many concerns, but maybe talk to your sister and discuss what steps she would like to take for peace of mind and security. I hope that this is helpful and wish you both the best.
Dear Miriam,
I read the recent letter regarding the young lady who obviously has concerns about moving location and leaving friends and family behind to start a new life with her boyfriend on his farm.
Here is my opinion. Who says she has to move to the farm on a full-time basis? In this day and age, why should anybody have to give up their own life to start a new one just because the partner has a farm? Why should she lose out on her support network and the life she has built up for herself over the years, and face missing family and friends she obviously loves very much?
A compromise is the answer. Why not split the week between both locations? Three or four days with him and the rest in her home place.
An arrangement like that would benefit both people. He has time to spend with his family while she is back home. Time where he can enjoy his hobbies and catch up on farm work while she has quality time with her family and friends.
Life is too short to make such big sacrifices. Why do people think everything has to be a certain way? All that matters is that both people are happy and that can be achieved by understanding on both sides. My advice to her is think outside the box - it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Wishing that couple all the best,
Maura
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