Former inpatients slam 'frightening' Redditch mental health ward

The patients who wish to remain anonymous, have claimed Hill Crest ward was ‘disgusting’ and ‘filthy’ and some staff ‘had no empathy towards patients’ and ‘would treat them like a nuisance’.

Hill Crest, which is based at the Alexandra Hospital and is run by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health Care Trust, is a mixed-gender 18-bed ward which supports adults who experience acute mental health difficulties.

Its failings were revealed in a shocking report published by the Care Quality Commission earlier this month which stated that areas of the ward were dirty, electrical wires were exposed, people’s bedrooms had no wardrobes and ‘sexual safety incidents’ had occurred.

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Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust say ‘immediately following the inspection’ they addressed ‘the urgent issues which were identified during the visit’.

The ward is temporarily closed to new admissions and the number of beds has been reduced from 18 to 10 to improve the quality of care.

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However, a former patient who has had several admissions over the years says the ward ‘needs to be closed’ and ‘it won’t get better unless they get rid of unprofessional staff’.

It is claimed that staff were dismissive and condescending and inappropriately talked about their private lives.

Relatives of patients would drop off bags of food such as chocolate and crisps and these would be checked over in the staff office.

According to the patient, they witnessed staff helping themselves to these items.

“Dirty linen was dumped on the floor and not put into a linen bag straight away,” claimed the patient.

“You can clearly see its covered in urine or faeces. Some patients were incontinent but there didn't seem to be adequate supplies of incontinence pads available.”

It is also claimed that the kitchen including the fridge was dirty and had ‘mould growing inside it'.

The patient says some of the staff were ‘lovely’ but there ‘are some serious rotten apples’.

Hill Crest ward. (Image: Google.)

Another former patient who was admitted in April 2021 after planning to take their own life said they ‘still have nightmares about being in there’.

The patient claims they were never searched when they were admitted and had items that could have been used to harm themselves if they wished.

The patient also witnessed a man ‘physically attacking several of the staff’.

“It took six members of staff to restrain the man who was clearly extremely distressed,” it is claimed.

“It was a very frightening thing to witness, and I became scared to leave my room."

The patient said they only left their room once during their four-day stay.

“When one of the nurses visited, I asked if I could have some water to drink and a towel so I could wash in the basin," claimed the patient.

“She did not bring them, so I was forced to use toilet roll to dry myself.”

The patient had a medical condition and even after requesting their medication, it was never given to them.

There was also not a supply of female sanitary products for patients.

“It had been sold to me that it would be a safe relaxing place, but it was anything but. I felt that being there was making me feel worse,” said a former patient.

“If it is left to continue the way it is there will be a serious incident before long and I fear for the safety of the vulnerable people who are taken there.”

Sarah Dugan, chief executive of the trust said they ‘recognise the standards of care and professionalism at Hill Crest at the time of the inspection last July were not good enough’.

She said: “We are confident that the temporary reduction in beds that we agreed will help alleviate the pressures on the Hill Crest team.

“It will also help us focus on continuing to implement our improvement plan and sustain the changes that we are making.”