do you think I should complain?

[frenchhorn]

I'll give you a bit of background about what has happened for me to think I should complain.
Basically back at the end of August last year I was taken to AandE by my counsellor, I was assessed by a psych and it was decided I should be kept in hospital in a psych ward. Eventually I was taken to a psych hospital in Darlington (which is over 2 hours away from manchester which is where i live)
I was firstly a voluntary patient, I was on one-one obs and I tried to escape many times, but staff would stop me as they knew the reason i wanted to escape was to kill myself, after 3 days of me constantly kicking off and trying to escape I was sectioned by my named nurse on a section 5(2) I was then put on a section 2 and then a section 3.
I am a female to male transsexual, which all the staff in Darlington knew as they were all told in hand over. There was one other patient who would question my gender asking me why I had a female high voice, when I'm a guy and he asked me if I was a girl, we were stood right by the door and there were no staff around so I ran away, only for another patient to tell staff so I was brought back kicking and screaming.
There were often times when staff would call me she (even when I look like a guy and have a guys name) and they would do it infront of other patients so effectively outing me. At one time I was trying to escape and my named nurse said they would put me on a womens secure unit if I didn't stop, this again was said in front of other patients. When I spoke to the psych about this she would say well the staff know you are trans so they are bound to make mistakes, but the staff never knew me as female so I was just like any other male patient they should just have seen me as male, but they didn't. I was called she many times and this made me more distressed and would cause me to self harm or run away. So they were making me iller by doing what they were doing. They also wanted me to sign a piece of paper which said I was the only female on the ward (it was a mixed ward, but there were only males on it at one point) It was all individual rooms, but I was put down a seperate corridor and was made to use the toilet which said female on the door.
I mentioned this to my psychologist today as I was talking about the fact I was having flashbacks to when I was sectioned and I was telling him about them calling me she and a woman and he was really shocked as he didn't know any of that had happened. He asked me if I had complained about it and I said no and he said you probably should because the way I was treated had an effect on my mental health.
I was transferred from the hospital in darlington in october and moved to a hospital in manchester then discharged in early november.
So do you think I should complain about what happened, even though I was out of that hospital from october.

[Steel Maiden]

You should complain, that was a violation of your Human Rights; you were discriminated against badly.

Did you mean a section 5(4)? Because 5(4) is the six-hour holding section that can be applied by a nurse.

[Tig]

I think it's worth putting in a complaint or at least a letter expressing your concerns.

What happened was wrong and understandably affected your mental health adversely. Whilst making a complaint or writing a letter of concern can't change what happened for you, it might mean the staff receive more training surrounding transgender issues and how to handle this so that in the future life for another patient might be easier.

Would you be able to access an advocate who might be able to help you with all of this?

I'm sorry this happened to you Oliver, I can only imagine how upsetting and frustrating it must have been.

[frenchhorn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steel Maiden

You should complain, that was a violation of your Human Rights; you were discriminated against badly.

Did you mean a section 5(4)? Because 5(4) is the six-hour holding section that can be applied by a nurse.

No I did mean 5(2), but forgot to say that although the nurse said they were going to section me they called the on call psych to actually section me, so I think that is right for the 72 hour section.

thanks both, I will definetely start writing a letter to the private hospital (NHS funded me) and shall contact PALS about the NHS hospital.
I can ask my mum to look at the letter and could show it to my therapist, but I don't really have anyone I can get to help me write it accept my mum.

[Scaredy-cat]

I think you definitely ought to complain, that was appalling, and obviously they need to know not to do it again. If you want any input on your letter, Im quite good at complaining, even if i do say so myself.

[frenchhorn]

what I might do is when I've written the letter I may post it on here if no one had any objections, because writing isn't really my thing.

[talaiporia]

Good luck with the letter. I've go to be honest; if the staff knew your name (Oliver) then calling you 'she' repeatedly sounds deliberate. And this

Quote:

At one time I was trying to escape and my named nurse said they would put me on a womens secure unit if I didn't stop

sounds like it was only said because it would keep you 'under control' which really isn't fair.

[frenchhorn]

I've told my mum and sister that I want to complain and they thought it was a good idea. I'm going to chat to them on sunday about it as my mum said she may remember some things I didn't as I was pretty ill. Then they will help me write a letter to the various people.

[Snow White.]

I'm really proud of you for standing up for yourself about this :) The way they treated you wasn't fair, and it wasn't just one, either. Great idea getting help from family, and of course we can look it over too if you like :)

Allthe best
Aimee x