Michelle la Belle wrote...

People are being kicked out of hospital too soon as it is.
Do they really think a happier environment is all it will
take to get people better more quickly? When you're that
sick, you could care less if you're staying in a pigsty.
They have got to come up with better solutions than this.
It's a pathetic waste of money.

Sorry to sound cynical, but ...........

It's hard to feel better at any speed when you're staying in
an inappropriate environment. One hospital I used to stay at
moved into the main hospital building. One long white hallway
with beds on one side, a sitting room at one end, a kitchen at
the other, and some meeting rooms down the center. Nurses'
station down at the sitting room end. Very sterile, very
clinical, very white. I never got better there. Felt like a
rat in an experiment.

Where I go now is rather homey with soft colors, some good
patient artwork on the walls, sitting area with a couch and
rocking chairs, and a kiva for alone time with rocking and
beanbag chairs, piped-in music if desired. I usually feel
better enough to go home within a week.

When you get there, you might not care where you are, but it
does make a difference.

-lisa

It's hard to feel better at any speed when you're staying in
an inappropriate environment. One hospital I used to stay at
moved into the main hospital building. One long white hallway
with beds on one side, a sitting room at one end, a kitchen at
the other, and some meeting rooms down the center. Nurses'
station down at the sitting room end. Very sterile, very
clinical, very white. I never got better there. Felt like a
rat in an experiment.

Where I go now is rather homey with soft colors, some good
patient artwork on the walls, sitting area with a couch and
rocking chairs, and a kiva for alone time with rocking and
beanbag chairs, piped-in music if desired. I usually feel
better enough to go home within a week.

When you get there, you might not care where you are, but it
does make a difference.

On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:28:00 -0800 (PST), Michelle la Belle



<aminotem...@hotmail.com> wrote:

On Nov 26, 2:34 pm, BoredToTears <beejayce...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7109594.stm=

"A centre described as the UK's most revolutionary mental health
hospital has opened its doors to patients.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said the =A319m Gartnavel Royal Hospital
in Glasgow would transform inpatient care.

Anne Hawkins, director of the mental health partnership, said the
modern, innovative building would transform perceptions of mental
health hospitals.

The hospital in the west end houses 117 single en-suite rooms, a
community cafe and is "light and spacious".

Patients and staff were involved in the design of the building.

Ms Hawkins said: "We wanted to create something special which would
radically improve the environment for our patients and staff.

"We also wanted to break down barriers and remove some of the stigma
associated with mental health hospitals."

The community cafe is one part of the efforts to remove that stigma.

'Large and gloomy'

The hospital has six separate wards - three adult wards, two elderly
wards and one intensive psychiatric care unit.

It also houses clinical and therapeutic areas including a patient gym
and a family-friendly room for patients with children.

Ms Hawkins added: "Many people have outdated views about mental health
hospitals and still think of them as large, gloomy institutions.

"This new hospital will challenge these misconceptions and prove that
mental health hospitals can be bright, attractive and welcoming.

"Every effort has been made to promote a feeling of comfort, privacy
and self-esteem."

The hospital serves those with mental health problems in the west end
of Glasgow.

It is hoped patients will be in the hospital for a shorter period of
time

People are being kicked out of hospital too soon as it is. Do they
really think a happier environment is all it will take to get people
better more quickly? When you're that sick, you could care less if
you're staying in a pigsty. They have got to come up with better
solutions than this. It's a pathetic waste of money.

Sorry to sound cynical, but ...........

and the facility will "showcase" what can be done.

Moira Gillespie, former service user and chair of the mental health
network for Greater Glasgow, applauded the privacy provided by the new
hospital."

Sad that it's taken this long.

I don't know where the original post is, but...

Aside from the single rooms, I can't see that they're revolutionizing
anything.

The psych hospital I worked in went the "open and spacious" route in
the early 90s. There's lots of glass to let the sun in... when it
first opened, staff didn't know how well the glass would work, but it
wasn't real glass, it was polycarbonate or something similar, and I
can tell you that it takes a mutha-lot of strength to even crack the
stuff.

IMO, the important stuff is cleanliness, a bed you can actually sleep
on, food you can eat, and most importantly, groups that are something
more than a way to pass time.

The single rooms are a good idea, though. Sometimes, you just need a
place to be by yourself, a place without a sick roomie stealing your
stuff, a place to get away from the noise of the milieu or the
prattling on of a roomie.

TT, been with and without the keys