We had visitors from Norbury PICU at Stafford this morning, to see how we’ve implemented Safewards, and we had a long chat about the challenges and benefits. They spoke to staff and patients, and were impressed by what one of our patients was saying about the changes on the ward. I asked the patient if he’d be happy to share his views on the Safewards website forum, and he agreed.

I’m amazed at how much Taliesin Ward has changed over the years, in the beginning when I came here it just used to be like being with a load of zombies, and the staff didn’t talk to you, they just shut themselves in the glass bubble.
Now it’s the complete opposite, because they’ve finally clicked that talking and activities is the key, and not just medication. For example, we have cooking, playing pool, we’ve got 5 a side goals in the garden, and generally the staff have a lot more time than they used to have - as they’ve worked out a better system.
I can’t remember the last time I saw somebody restrained or in seclusion on Taliesin, but there is always room for improvement.

Mutual Help Meeting – I was the patient’s champion for MHM at the very beginning, on my last admission to Taliesin. Before MHM you’d be left to your own devices, and nobody would know what was going on between patients and staff, basically lack of communication. Now communication is the key, which has made a big difference because any requests and complaints are followed up by the staff. Conflicts between patients are managed better – I don’t know how, but it just is. It feels that the staff have been retrained somehow.

When I was on another ward, I noticed that patients are restrained backwards now, which is better.

If somebody lies on the floor and refuses to get up, the best course of action is to ignore them and they’ll get up themselves.

Know Each Other – that’s good – gives you a better relationship with staff – you can associate yourself with people, and you can relate to people by the things they say.

Discharge Messages – good idea in one respect, I wrote a message when I was here last time, and it’s sad to see the tree with no messages at the moment,

Patient feedback form – only positives coming from Taliesin, no negatives

I think to be fair to us Sian perfection takes time. What you have achieved on Taliesin Ward in this short space of time, even though it appears longer, is amazing. The whole ward including our work has changed for the better. The way we are dealing with conflict at present is, well no words for it really because we are dealing with it without seclusion or RPI. There have been those on the edge moments where I've thought, this is it, seclusion any minute now, its going to kick off in here. Old skills coming back to haunt some of us. We have progressed at such a rapid speed I often wait and wonder if this isn't a dream that things are going too well. Recently the negative publicity surrounding mental health is horrendous, staff from other trust complaining we are merely firefighters now, not enough time spent with patients. Well for a busy PICU that we are we doing daily sessions with patients, we are doing activities and implementing safewards. I personally cannot understand this but I am not working for them so it would be unfair to comment. However all I know is that Taliesin under your leadership has moved forward and faster than the titanic but the only difference is, we are not about to sink

I like that a lot, especially it feeling like the staff have been retrained. That's a great accolade. Congratulations to you all.

Len