I have had this thought probably since the second month I work there - are we helping them? are they progressing? should they be here or in the community? You wouldn't believe it until you actually work there, that how much money NHS is spending on them, and what is actually coming in returns.
Well, I'm not a qualified nurse, neither am I a clinical psychologist (yet), I might not give the most accurate fact that reflects the truth, but the patients, they are the central of the whole system (the hospital, the treatments, the multidisciplinary team, the nhs), shouldn't their thought count and be deeply considered? I know, some of them are really not that well, what they say might not be beneficial to themselves, and they might be saying all these simply because they want to get themselves out of the hospital. But this particular patient, he just spoke out what I think, that there is no point of keeping them there, for years and years, doing nothing every day, not knowing when they will be discharged, not being involved in the outside world etc etc. If we want to give them treatment and make them better, we should do it every day, every single day, not like once a week. If we were to organize courses, make it a daily one, not like once a week. The thought of not knowing when they can leave is simply depressing - and I strongly agree with this. They all know they are wasting their time, their lives, missing many important parts of lives, losing contacts with theirs loved ones. I actually feel sad when I heard these, because I know he is right.
Unlike yesterday when another patient told me that he has wasted too much time in the hospital, he wants to get out and carry on with his life, I was still aware that this patient will still have to stay for longer, as I know his condition isn't really good, especially when he first came, he was so unsettled. But patient that I took out today, I deeply hope that he would get himself out asap and never come back.
You know, I don't mean that all the patients should be discharged in 2-3 months.. There are always cases taking few years until they really recover. The thing is, when we keep them in there, why are we keeping them in there? And are they progressing? Are we helping them? I mean if we were to keep them for 10 years, make sure they are getting better in these 10 years, but not getting depressed not knowing when the stay would come to an end. Like what the patient said, they would have to be very strong, very tough, to be able to stay there for that long without any suicidal thought. I could imagine that, it's not easy, at all.
And guess what, I will listen to him - the day and the time when I become a clinical psychologist, I would do my best to make sure myself, also including the system are helping these people (just that, by the time I wouldn't be in the UK anymore). I know how advance this country is, but it doesn't mean their methods are always right and good, and sometimes, things keep on developing, and it could simply and blindly not developing to a right direction.
4 comments:
actually how they know they r realli fully recovered?
You did psychology degree too, how would you define fully recovered??
I dont think there's such thing "fully recovered", as long as they're are fit enough to function in the community, no self harming or posing threats to others, they should be let go, even still with medications. Because staying in the hospitals clearly bring far more side effects and disadvantages.
Even the best consultant will not be able to tell whether a particular patient is "fully recovered", they can only try their best to assess and outline the nearest truth. Those so-called normal ppl in the society, like you and me, we also surely have problems with us, some deviances. So i wrote this lor.. ha ha
i know r...jz wondering...they long term stay in hospital...in that condition...let say they r stable edy la...but only in that condition wor...once go out...then will "again" lo...they will b discriminated and all...=( or maybe we should well educate US then onli let them go le?? hahaha
That would be considered already, that's why we do leaves - Ground Leave and Community Leave. In the beginning it would be escorted leaves, i.e. one of the nurses go out with the patient, and when things seem alright, the consultant would apply for unescorted from the home office, then the patient starts to go out on his own.. Sometimes even got overnight leave. The system is quite good in ensuring they are kind of stable before letting them go.. just that sometimes it seems too much for some patients who progress faster.
Ya lor, sad for them, their routes would be difficult, thinking about all these discriminations and stereotypes =(
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